I.C. v. the Republic of Moldova: A case note from an intersectional perspective

Intersectionality has long been recognised by legal scholars as a valid methodological and theoretical tool for analysing claims of multidimensional discrimination. Despite this, the European Court of Human Rights has remained silent on this matter, with intersectionality’s potential being limited to several obiter dicta and separate opinions. The 2025 verdict in I.C. v. the Republic of Moldova might be read as a positive development towards engaging in an intersectional analysis in the specific context of discrimination against women with intellectual disabilities. The present case note examines this judgment to understand how much value the Strasbourg judges have attached to intersectionality in addressing the applicant’s discrimination claims. The main argument of this analysis is that, despite several setbacks, the I.C. case might have opened the door for intersectionality in the Court’s jurisprudence.