Strand Lobben and others v. Norway

Ms Strand Lobben became pregnant in 2008. At the time she did not have a permanent home and was temporarily living with family. After giving birth, she agreed to move into a family centre organised by the child welfare authorities so that she could receive support. The following month, the mother left the facility and child welfare authorities took the child into immediate and compulsory care on the grounds that the mother was not providing the care necessary for the child. For a period, Ms. Strand Lobben was permitted court ordered visits, and during this time she married and had a second child who remained in her care. In 2011 the County Social Welfare Board terminated her parental responsibilities for the child and allowed the foster family to apply for adoption. The City Court upheld the Board’s decision. Ms. Strand Lobben unsuccessfully appealed to the High Court and was denied leave to appeal to the Supreme Court before she filed a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights.