M.V. and Others v Belgium · Nos. 52836/22, 57898/22, 3913/23 and 4994/23
European Court of Human Rights · 9 April 2026 · Articles 3, 6 § 1 and 34
A judge in Brussels had already ordered the authorities to give each of four asylum seekers a place to stay. Each had applied for international protection and lacked the means to house themselves. They went to Strasbourg because they were still on the street, including during the winter.
The orders the applicants already held
Each applicant had obtained an enforceable order from the French-speaking Employment Tribunal in Brussels. The orders required the reception agency to provide accommodation and material assistance. A financial penalty for delay offered little practical help to someone without a bed that night.
When a place to sleep finally became available
Strasbourg issued an urgent interim measure for each applicant. Belgium provided accommodation 21 days later for M.V., 107 days later for B.L., 261 days later for S.N. and 64 days later for G.D. Those periods run from the Strasbourg measures. All four had received shelter by the time the Court delivered its judgment.
What the final judgment added
The Court found degrading treatment, a failure to enforce the domestic orders within a reasonable time and a failure to act promptly on its interim measures. It awarded M.V. €5,070, B.L. €8,450, S.N. €12,350 and G.D. €6,000 for the harm they suffered. These are the amounts ordered in the judgment, separate from the domestic penalties for delay.
Judgment and sources
Read the Strasbourg judgment in HUDOC
Court Registry summary with individual timelines and awards
More Strasbourg cases · Belgium national journal · Individual consultations
