Chassagnou v. France
Forum:
European Court of Human Rights
Rights:
To freedom of association, freedom of opinion and expression, own land and other property
Problem:
Nine landowners who opposed hunting on ethical grounds were statutorily required to join a municipal hunters’ association and transfer their hunting rights over to the association. Only those holding properties exceeding a minimum threshold land area could opt out of the membership and avoid such transfers.
Action:
Small landowners petitioned the European Court of Human Rights on the grounds that the compulsory membership was incompatible with their rights to freedom of association, to opinion and conscience, and to the peaceful enjoyment of their properties. The Court agreed, and ordered France to pay each of the nine applicants 30,000 francs in non-pecuniary damages.