Odièvre v France - Desperately seeking mother - anonymous births in the European Court of Human Rights [2003] CFLQ 425

In Odièvre v France the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the French legislation on anonymous birthing was not in breach of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950. The commentary first examines in detail the relevant rules on anonymous births in French law and the arguments that have been raised in favour and against this legislation. It then critically assesses the European Court of Human Rights judgment in view of its own previous case-law on the issue of the right to know one's origins under Article 8 of the European Convention.