Background
Horst Zaunegger had a daughter. He was not married to the mother. When the couple separated, Horst was refused joint custody of their child. This was because, as the couple had not been married, joint custody could only be granted if the mother agreed to it, or if the child’s well-being was threatened.
Horst applied to the European Court of Human Rights, claiming that the law amounted to unjustified discrimination and breached his right to family life.