Holding Iceland accountable for failing DV victim

Photo credit Golli

Nara Walker has taken her case to The European Court of human Rights and it has been accepted for consideration! 

The complaint and documents were submitted to the court on Wednesday, June 5, shortly after a letter dated the 19th of June stated a reference number and the acceptance for further consideration in the Court, with specific interest in following the handling of the charges against her now former husband.


Nara Vs. Iceland

Sigrún Ingibjörg Gísladóttir, an attorney from the leading Human Rights, internationally recognised law firm Réttur - Adalsteinsson & Partners ehf is Nara's representative attorney for her complaint to the European Court of Human Rights.


ARTICLES OF LAW

The complaint addresses Nara's rights that have been violated by the Icelandic state with attention brought to Articles 3, 6, 8 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Among the main complaints is that Nara did not enjoy legal protection as a victim of domestic violence because of a lack of investigation into the case’s background and her assertion of self-defence therefore dismissed.

"Icelandic courts considered this as an isolated incident, disregarding that Nara’s ex-husband had been abusing her for years. “This [history of abuse] was neither investigated nor taken into account in any way by the District Court,” Nara’s application to the ECHR states. It adds that the Icelandic court “examined this act in an isolated manner, as if it had happened in a vacuum and had not been a desperate response from a victim of recurrent abuse who was getting a tongue forced into her mouth by her abuser while he held her down and impeded her from leaving the premises.” The application goes on to state “The ex-husband had no other injuries whereas the Applicant’s injuries were consistent with being pushed, pulled, held, and beaten.” 
-As seen on Iceland Review June 12th 2019. 

MORE DETAILS 

Nara was presumed guilty, rather than innocent until proven guilty and her rights not properly introduced to her. In addition, that she has been subjected to demeaning treatment, i.e. by being denied medical help for her injuries. And, that by being treated as noted above, she has been discriminated against, evident in her sentence - a foreign woman’s - is heavier than in similar cases before the Icelandic courts.

WORLDWIDE SUPPORT

Thank you!

Nara's case has attracted worldwide attention and she and her family appreciate the recognition to her voice and story. For instance, over 43 thousand people have signed a petition in her support. Nara delivered these signatures to the Vice President of Althingi (Icelandic Parliament), on Wednesday, June 12th. Along with the petition was a personal letter requesting that the MPs to do more to protect victims of domestic violence. 

"I bring forward this petition and call on the lawmakers to set an example that domestic violence, intimate partner violence and gender-based violence is unacceptable in Iceland," she says in the letter. "I believe my case reflects severe faults in the Icelandic justice system in cases of violence against women and domestic abuse."

The acceptance of the case to be further considered is a giant leap in recognising the treatment she, a survivor of domestic violence, has endured past the parameters of her intimate relationship. 

Nara and her family are reaching out for her case to be further supported with crowd funding. The recent news from the European Court of Human Rights enables her case to be reviewed outside of Iceland and by doing so further the conversation and fight for equal rights.

WHERE IS NARA AND WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP

July 7th 2019 marks 614 days Nara has been held in Iceland without her passport. She is an Australian National and has NO civil rights in Iceland, including medical or work rights.

Nara served the beginning of her sentence in an Icelandic high security prison and finished her sitting sentence is a low security half-way house due to good behaviour.

She is still without her passport and unable to move freely from Iceland. She has an ongoing suspended sentence of 15 month.

It is not clear if she does not have access to her passport and freedom to move - which affects her freedom to work - due to an on-going case regarding deportation / re-entry to Schengen area (which would further hinder her ability to work as an international artist) or the suspended sentence. 

Nara has not been formally notified.

For this reason it is unclear when Nara will be able to re-enter her home country or move freely and work freely within her profession again. 

Her fight continues and we ask that you help in any way you can. This case has the ability to empower the future of equal rights and bring justice that has to date been non-existent for Nara.  And by doing so bring awareness to the laws which were implemented in the Istanbul Convention to protect women like Nara. 

We and future women thank you for your help!


COST BREAKDOWN

NOTE this cost breakdown is in AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS

Among other injuries her serious injuries included a fractured rib, internal bruising to her abdomen and a sprained vertebrae in her spine..

For an example of medical costs. Nara will be having an ultrasound on her shoulder this week as her injuries continue to not heal 20 months after the attack.

She suffers from PTSD and visits a therapist most weeks. Her impending future with the continued abuse that has transferred the abuse from intimate partner violence to abuse within the system, this treatment escalates her PTSD and inability to heal her phycological health.

The initial application to the European Court of Human Rights equates to over $6,000 AUD (this includes the cost of the official translation of the Appeals Court Verdict.) 

We are setting a cost breakdown of $10,000 AUD to cover the initial application to the ECHR, to cover previous fees and continuing costs. Including but not limited to; deportation and re-entry to Schengen area; Supreme Court application and medical costs/emergencies.

Nara was ordered to pay all legal fees and compensation to the "said victim" - this cost breakdown does not include these fees.

Go Fund Me takes a swipe fee - if preferred direct transactions may be made to the Law firm Rettur . Details can be shared privately.


PETITION

The petition authored by Jessica Lauren Ireland continues to stay open:

Bring Nara Home 


Photo credit Golli

MEDIA LINKS 

Selected media links

July 2019 Icelandic:

TODAY Frettabladid

June 2019 : 

Metro 

Iceland Review 

Icelandic: 

Frettabladid 


Visir 


MBL 


May 2019: 

ABC Interview with Nara, her mum and lawyers.


Mamamia 

Iceland (in depth interview after being released from prison): 

Mannlif 


Icelandic:

Frettabladid 

March 2019:


Metro 

9news 


Icelandic (photos leading up to Nara entering High Security Prison): 

Stundin 


February 2019: 

Grapevine 

News Hub 

9news 


Iceland (in English with video footage): 

Grapevine 


Icelandic: 
Ruv 


January 2019: 

NY Post 


Icelandic: 

Visir