ÿWPCE ‘b;‡ºÑÛéX2§q1'¼ØiJ;w8Ó“åÉÁ¸g¬Õ<èD_ï3Fˆú¯J‘°L Z¼O²ô Ù‚Î}$ÖáSf¢LåÊ"ÿŒ#Ï< E¯x.y'~î\ð!5Ã5‚{q1×2ÊJc"Ej§ãpK¥gÏGC0»ã~Ö,hš)\v°D€šK¸•Ð%žJhÄ OTâãØ«¼ð ƒ±áÿ\Nœ#Zã9ÑA€hVü OÍ$EGò•¯œsÜ#ãÌ&»Ö®™ÈSžÙõ„[èyî:¤&LÞ›%€XíÐEvãK%£'ïøáúiìq8Ò\a;òÙóÞ^{Ô,ñyXƒðÅ>~N.$sÔoŸê³—}ŽûÏYg6ƒOòÏŠ9ÃGÕ½-¨ #Á¨UNi %· 0:½^ ÷w4* m,NC˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ûœ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,ÔV¥·, eû*¤(’€Corel3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ  Óò òHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEÐ ° ÐÌòòS.€E.€v.€ArgentinaóóÐ ˆØ ÐÌCommunication€No.€275/1988€òòa/óóÐ `° ÐÌ26€March€1990Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌÌADMISSIBILITYó óÐ ü L  ÐÌòòóóÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€S.E.€(Name€deleted)Ð À  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimsóó:€The€author€and€her€disappeared€childrenÐ ˜è  ÐÌòòState€party€concernedóó:€ArgentinaÐ pÀ ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€10€February€1988€(date€of€initial€letter)óóÐ H˜ ÐÌÌòòThe€Human€Rights€Committeeóó,€established€under€article€28€of€the€International€Covenant€on€CivilÐ  \ Ðand€Political€Rights,€Ð øH ÐÌòòMeetingóó€on€26€March€1990,Ð Ð  ÐÌòòAdoptsóó€the€following:€€Ð ¨ø ÐÌÌÓ=Óòòò òÓ  ÓDecision€on€admissibilityó óóóÐ l¼ ÐÓ…ÓÓÓÌÌ1.€€The€author€of€the€communication€is€an€Argentine€citizen€residing€in€Argentina.€She€writes€on€herÐ 0"€  Ðown€behalf€and€on€behalf€of€her€three€disappeared€children,€born€in€1951,€1953€and€1956,Ð #l! Ðrespectively,€alleging€violations€of€the€Covenant€by€the€Government€of€Argentina.€She€is€representedÐ $X" Ðby€counsel.€Ð ô$D # ÐÌòòThe€backgroundóóÐ Ì&"% ÐÌ2.1€€The€author€states€that€her€eldest€son,€L.€M.€E.,€was€abducted€in€Argentina€on€10€August€1976Ð ¤(ô#' Ðby€persons€belonging€to€or€associated€with€the€police,€security€forces€or€armed€forces,€apparently€onÐ )à$( Ðaccount€of€his€political€opinions.€Another€son,€Ô_ÔC.E.Ô_Ô€and€her€daughter,€L.€E.,€were€detained€on€4Ð |*Ì%) ÐNovember€1976€in€Uruguay€and€were€allegedly€seen€in€November/December€1976€at€a€detentionÐ h+¸&* Ðcamp€in€Argentina€known€as€"The€Bank"€and€at€a€police€station,€Ô_ÔBrigadaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔGuenesÔ_Ô,€in€Buenos€Aires.Ð T,¤'+ ÐTheir€whereabouts€have€been€unknown€ever€since,€in€spite€of€all€the€steps€undertaken€by€the€authorÐ @-(, Ðto€discover€what€happened€to€them.€Ð ° ÐÌ2.2€€On€24€December€1986€the€Argentine€legislature€proclaimed€Law€No.€23,492,€the€so-calledÐ ˆØ Ð"Finality€Act"€(Ley€de€Ô_ÔPuntoÔ_Ô€Final),€which€established€a€deadline€of€60€days€for€commencing€newÐ tÄ Ðcriminal€investigations€with€regard€to€the€events€of€the€so-called€"dirty€war"€(òòÔ_ÔguerraÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔsuciaÔ_Ôóó).€ThisÐ `° Ðdeadline€expired€on€22€February€1987.€On€8€June€1987,€Law€No.€23,521,€the€Due€Obedience€ActÐ L œ Ð(Ley€de€Ô_ÔObedienciaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔDebidaÔ_Ô),€was€promulgated,€introducing€an€Ô_ÔirrebuttableÔ_Ô€presumption€thatÐ 8 ˆ Ðmembers€of€the€security,€police€and€prison€services€cannot€be€punished€for€such€crimes€if€committedÐ $ t Ðin€due€obedience€to€orders.€The€Act€further€extends€protection€to€senior€officers€who€did€not€haveÐ  ` Ða€decision-making€role€with€regard€to€the€violations.€The€Argentine€Supreme€Court€has€upheld€theÐ ü L  Ðconstitutionality€of€this€Act.€Ð è 8  ÐÌ2.3€€On€the€basis€of€an€application€filed€on€19€June€1984,€the€National€Commission€on€theÐ À  ÐDisappearance€of€Persons€(Ô_ÔCONADEPÔ_Ô)€opened€investigation€files€on€the€disappearances€of€L.€M.Ð ¬ü  ÐE.€(Ô_ÔCONADEPÔ_Ô€file€No.€5448),€L.€E.€(No.€5449)€and€C.€E.€(No.€5450).€The€whereabouts€of€theÐ ˜è  Ðdisappeared€persons,€however,€could€not€be€established.€Ð „Ô  ÐÌ2.4€€Article€6€of€the€Finality€Act€specifically€provides€that€"The€extinction€of€penal€action€pursuantÐ \¬ Ðto€article€1€does€not€affect€civil€proceedings".€Ð H˜ ÐÌ2.5€€The€author€has€not€instituted€civil€proceedings€to€obtain€compensation.€Ð  p ÐÌ2.6€€By€operation€of€article€4037€of€the€Argentinian€Civil€Code,€the€period€of€limitations€forÐ øH Ðinstituting€civil€proceedings€is€two€years.€This€period€runs€from€the€date€of€the€alleged€violation.Ð ä4 ÐÌòòThe€complaintóóÐ ¼  ÐÌ3.1€€The€author€claims€that€the€enactment€of€the€Finality€Act€and€the€Due€Obedience€Act€constituteÐ ”ä Ðviolations€by€Argentina€of€its€obligations€under€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€in€particular€"to€adopt€suchÐ €Ð Ðlegislative€or€other€measures€as€may€be€necessary€to€give€effect€to€the€rights€recognized€in€the€presentÐ l¼ ÐCovenant"€(art.€2,€para.€2),€"to€ensure€that€any€person€whose€rights€or€freedoms€as€herein€recognizedÐ X ¨ Ðare€violated€shall€have€an€effective€remedy€.€..€"€(art.€2,€para.€3(a))€and€"to€ensure€that€any€personÐ D!” Ðclaiming€such€a€remedy€shall€have€his€right€thereto€determined€by€competent€judicial,€administrativeÐ 0"€  Ðor€legislative€authorities€.€.€.€and€to€develop€the€possibilities€of€judicial€remedy"€(art.€2,€para.€3(b)).Ð #l! ÐÌ3.2€€In€particular,€the€author€claims€that€the€disappearance€of€her€children€was€never€fullyÐ ô$D # Ðinvestigated.€She€requests€that€the€inquiries€be€reopened.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌòòThe€State€party's€observationsóóÐ ¸'#& ÐÌ4.1€€The€State€party€points€out€that€the€disappearances€took€place€in€1976€during€the€period€ofÐ )à$( Ðmilitary€government,€10€years€prior€to€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Covenant€and€of€the€OptionalÐ |*Ì%) ÐProtocol€for€Argentina.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ4.2€€With€respect€to€the€temporal€application€of€the€Covenant€and€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€the€StateÐ @-(, Ðparty€submits€that€the€general€rule€for€all€juridical€norms€is€non-retroactivity.€In€the€specific€area€ofÐ ° Ðtreaty€law,€a€firmly-established€international€practice€leads€to€the€same€conclusion.€Both€theÐ œì ÐPermanent€Court€of€International€Justice€(Series€A/B,€No.€4,€24)€and€the€International€Court€ofÐ ˆØ ÐJustice€(òòI.€C.€J.€Reports€1952,€40óó)€have€maintained€that€a€treaty€has€to€be€considered€as€having€aÐ tÄ Ðretroactive€effect€only€when€this€intention€is€explicitly€stated€in€the€treaty€or€may€be€clearly€inferredÐ `° Ðfrom€its€provisions.€The€validity€of€the€principle€of€non-retroactivity€of€treaties€was€enshrined€in€theÐ L œ Ð1969€Vienna€Convention€on€the€Law€of€Treaties€(in€force€on€27€January€1980),€article€28€of€whichÐ 8 ˆ Ðcodifies€this€rule€of€customary€international€law:€Ð $ t ÐÌà0  à"Unless€a€different€intention€appears€from€the€treaty€or€is€otherwise€established,€itsÐ ü L  Ðprovisions€do€not€bind€a€party€in€relation€to€any€act€or€fact€which€took€place€or€any€situationÐ è 8  Ðwhich€ceased€to€exist€before€the€date€of€the€entry€into€force€of€the€treaty€with€respect€to€thatÐ Ô$  Ðparty".ÐÀ (#(# ÐÌThe€communication€should€therefore€be€declared€inadmissible€òòÔ_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔtemporisÔ_Ôóó.€Ð ˜è  ÐÌ4.3€€As€to€the€inquiries€into€the€disappearance€of€the€author's€three€children,€the€State€party€refers€toÐ pÀ Ðthe€Ô_ÔCONADEPÔ_Ô€investigations,€which,€unfortunately€did€not€yield€positive€results.€In€this€connection,Ð \¬ Ðthe€State€party€cites€the€Ô_ÔCONADEPÔ_Ô€final€report,€which€concerns€over€8,900€disappearances.Ð H˜ ÐÌ4.4€€The€case€of€the€author's€children€was€also€submitted€to€the€United€Nations€Working€Group€onÐ  p ÐEnforced€or€Involuntary€Disappearances€on€13€August€1980.€The€State€party's€investigations€in€thisÐ  \ Ðrespect€failed€to€establish€the€whereabouts€of€the€author's€children,€or€when€and€where€they€wereÐ øH Ðdeprived€of€their€lives.€Ð ä4 ÐÌ4.5€€With€regard€to€the€possibility€of€instituting€civil€proceedings€for€compensation,€the€State€partyÐ ¼  Ðpoints€out€that€although€the€author€could€have€presented€a€claim,€she€did€not€do€so.€The€period€ofÐ ¨ø Ðlimitations€for€lodging€civil€actions€for€compensation€has€now€elapsed.Ð ”ä ÐÌòòIssues€and€Proceedings€before€the€CommitteeóóÐ l¼ ÐÌ5.1€€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Human€Rights€CommitteeÐ D!” Ðmust,€in€accordance€with€rule€87€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€decide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissibleÐ 0"€  Ðunder€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant.€Ð #l! ÐÌ5.2€€With€regard€to€the€application€òòÔ_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔtemporisÔ_Ôóó€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€andÐ ô$D # ÐPolitical€Rights€and€of€the€Optional€Protocol€for€Argentina,€the€Committee€recalls€that€bothÐ à%0!$ Ðinstruments€entered€into€force€on€8€November€1986.€It€observes€that€the€Covenant€cannot€be€appliedÐ Ì&"% Ðretroactively€and€that€the€Committee€is€precluded€òòÔ_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔtemporisÔ_Ôóó€from€examining€alleged€violationsÐ ¸'#& Ðthat€occurred€prior€to€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Covenant€for€the€State€partyÐ ¤(ô#' Ðconcerned.Ð )à$( ÐÌ5.3€€It€remains€for€the€Committee€to€determine€whether€there€have€been€any€violations€of€theÐ h+¸&* ÐCovenant€subsequent€to€its€entry€into€force.€The€author€has€invoked€article€2€of€the€Covenant€andÐ T,¤'+ Ðclaimed€a€violation€of€the€right€to€a€remedy.€In€this€context€the€Committee€recalls€its€priorÐ @-(, Ðjurisprudence€that€article€2€of€the€Covenant€constitutes€a€general€undertaking€by€States€and€cannotÐ ° Ðbe€invoked,€in€isolation,€by€individuals€under€the€Optional€Protocol€(òòM.€G.€B.€and€S.€P.€v.€TrinidadÐ œì Ðand€Tobagoóó,€communication€No.€268/1987,€para.€6.2,€declared€inadmissible€on€3€November€1989).Ð ˆØ ÐBearing€in€mind€that€article€2€can€only€be€invoked€by€individuals€in€conjunction€with€other€articlesÐ tÄ Ðof€the€Covenant,€the€Committee€observes€that€article€2,€paragraph€3€(a),€of€the€Covenant€stipulatesÐ `° Ðthat€each€State€party€undertakes€"to€ensure€that€any€person€whose€rights€or€freedoms€as€òòhereinÐ L œ Ðrecognizedóó€are€violated€shall€have€an€effective€remedy€..."€(emphasis€added).€Thus,€under€article€2Ð 8 ˆ Ðthe€right€to€a€remedy€arises€only€after€a€violation€of€a€Covenant€right€has€been€established.€However,Ð $ t Ðthe€events€which€could€have€constituted€violations€of€several€articles€of€the€Covenant€and€in€respectÐ  ` Ðof€which€remedies€could€have€been€invoked,€occurred€prior€to€the€entry€into€force€of€the€CovenantÐ ü L  Ðand€of€the€Optional€Protocol€for€Argentina.€Therefore,€the€matter€cannot€be€considered€by€theÐ è 8  ÐCommittee,€as€this€aspect€of€the€communication€is€inadmissible€òòÔ_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔtemporisÔ_Ôóó.Ð Ô$  ÐÌ5.4€€The€Committee€finds€it€necessary€to€remind€the€State€party€that€it€is€under€an€obligation,€inÐ ¬ü  Ðrespect€of€violations€occurring€or€continuing€òòafteróó€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Covenant,€thoroughlyÐ ˜è  Ðto€investigate€alleged€violations€and€to€provide€remedies€where€applicable,€for€victims€or€theirÐ „Ô  Ðdependants.Ð pÀ ÐÌ5.5€€To€the€extent€that€the€author€claims€that€the€enactment€of€Law€No.€23,521€frustrated€a€right€toÐ H˜ Ðsee€certain€government€officials€prosecuted,€the€Committee€refers€to€its€prior€jurisprudence€that€theÐ 4„ ÐCovenant€does€not€provide€a€right€for€an€individual€to€require€that€the€State€party€criminallyÐ  p Ðprosecute€another€person€(òòH.€C.€M.€A.€v.€The€Netherlandsóó,€communication€No.€213/1986,€para.€11.6,Ð  \ Ðdeclared€inadmissible€on€30€March€1989).€Accordingly,€this€part€of€theÐ øH Ðcommunication€is€inadmissible€òòÔ_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔmateriaeÔ_Ôóó€as€incompatible€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.Ð ä4 ÐÌ6.€€The€Human€Rights€Committee€therefore€decides:€Ð ¼  ÐÌà0  à(a)€€The€communication€is€inadmissible;€Ð”ä(#(# ÐÌà0  à(b)€€This€decision€shall€be€communicated€to€the€State€party€and€to€the€author€through€herÐ l¼ Ðcounsel.ÐX ¨(#(# ÐÌ__________Ð 0"€  ÐòòNotes:óóÐ #l! ÐÌòòa/óó€€The€text€of€an€individual€opinion€submitted€by€Mr.€Ô_ÔBertilÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔWennergrenÔ_Ô€pursuant€to€rule€92,Ð ô$D # Ðparagraph€3,€of€the€Committeeððs€rules€of€procedure€is€appended.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌÌÌÓÕÓÓ  ÓAPPENDIXÐ )à$( ÐÓ€4ÓÓÓÌòòIndividual€opinion:€submitted€by€Mr.€Ô_ÔBertilÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔWennergrenÔ_Ô€pursuant€to€rule€92,€paragraph€3,€of€theÐ h+¸&* ÐCommitteeððs€rules€of€procedure,€concerning€the€Committeeððs€decision€to€declare€communication€No.Ð T,¤'+ Ð275/1988,€S.E.€v.€Argentina€inadmissibleóóÐ @-(, Їà  àI€concur€in€the€views€expressed€in€the€Committeeððs€decision.€However,€in€my€opinion,€theÐ ° Ðarguments€in€paragraph€5.4€of€the€decision€need€to€be€clarified€and€expanded.€In€this€paragraph,€theÐ œì ÐCommittee€reminds€the€State€party€that€it€is€under€an€obligation,€in€respect€of€violations€occurringÐ ˆØ Ðor€continuing€after€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Covenant,€thoroughly€to€investigate€alleged€violationsÐ tÄ Ðand€to€provide€remedies,€where€applicable,€for€victims€or€their€dependents.Ð `° ÐÌà  àAccording€to€article€28€of€the€1969€Vienna€Convention€on€the€Law€of€Treaties€(cited€underÐ 8 ˆ Ðparagraph€4.2€in€the€Committeeððs€decision)€a€treatyððs€provisions€do€not€bind€a€party€in€relation€to€anyÐ $ t Ðact€or€fact€which€took€place€or€any€situation€which€ceased€to€exist€before€the€date€of€entry€into€forceÐ  ` Ðof€the€treaty€in€respect€of€that€party;€the€Permanent€Court€of€International€Justice€(Ô_ÔPCIJÔ_Ô€Series€A/B,Ð ü L  ÐNo.€74€(1938),€p.€10„48€„€Phosphates€in€Morocco€case)€has€held€in€this€context€that€both€the€termsÐ è 8  Ðconcerning€the€limitation€òòÔ_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔtemporisÔ_Ôóó€and€the€underlying€intention€are€clear:€This€clause€wasÐ Ô$  Ðinserted€in€order€to€deprive€the€acceptance€of€the€compulsory€jurisdiction€of€any€retroactive€events.Ð À  ÐIn€this€case€the€Court€had€to€decide€whether€or€not€issues€arose€from€factors€subsequent€to€theÐ ¬ü  Ðacceptance€of€its€jurisdiction€(which€the€Court€refers€to€as€the€ð ðcrucial€dateðð),€first€because€certainÐ ˜è  Ðacts,€which,€if€considered€separately,€were€in€themselves€unlawful€international€acts,€were€actuallyÐ „Ô  Ðaccomplished€after€the€ð ðcrucial€dateðð;€secondly,€because€these€acts,€if€taken€in€conjunction€withÐ pÀ Ðearlier€acts€to€which€they€were€closely€linked,€constituted€as€a€whole,€a€single,€continuing€andÐ \¬ Ðprogressive€illegal€act€which€was€not€fully€accomplished€until€after€the€ð ðcrucial€dateðð;€and€lastly,Ð H˜ Ðbecause€certain€acts€which€were€carried€out€prior€to€the€ð ðcrucial€dateðð€nevertheless€gave€rise€to€aÐ 4„ Ðpermanent€situation€which€was€inconsistent€with€international€law€and€which€existed€after€the€saidÐ  p Ðdate.€The€question€of€whether€a€given€situation€or€fact€occurs€prior€to€or€subsequent€to€a€particularÐ  \ Ðdate€is,€the€Court€explains,€one€to€be€decided€in€respect€of€each€specific€case,€just€as€the€question€ofÐ øH Ðthe€situations€or€facts€with€regard€to€which€the€issues€arise€must€be€decided€in€regard€of€each€specificÐ ä4 Ðcase.€I€note€that€the€ð ðcrucial€dateðð€in€this€case€is€8€November€1986.Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àThe€Committee€has€repeatedly€indicated€in€prior€decisions€that€it€ð ðcan€consider€only€anÐ ¨ø Ðalleged€violation€of€human€rights€occurring€on€or€after€(the€date€of€entry€into€force€of€the€CovenantÐ ”ä Ðand€the€Protocol€for€the€State€party)€unless€it€is€an€alleged€violation€which,€although€occurring€beforeÐ €Ð Ðthe€date,€continues€or€has€effects€which€themselves€constitute€a€violation€after€that€dateðð.Ð l¼ ÐDisappearance€cases€that€cannot€be€attributed€to€natural€causes€(accidents,€voluntary€escapes,Ð X ¨ Ðsuicides,€etc)€but€that€give€rise€to€reasonable€assumptions€and€suspicions€of€illegal€acts,€such€asÐ D!” Ðkilling,€deprivation€of€liberty€and€human€treatment,€may€lead€to€claims€not€only€under€the€respectiveÐ 0"€  Ðmaterial€articles€in€the€Covenant€(articles€6,€7,€9€and€10)€but€in€connection€therewith€also€underÐ #l! Ðarticle€2€of€the€Covenant,€concerning€a€State€partyððs€obligation€to€adopt€such€measures€as€may€beÐ $X" Ðnecessary€to€give€effect€to€the€rights€recognized€in€the€Covenant€and€to€ensure€that€any€person€whoseÐ ô$D # Ðrights€or€freedoms€are€violated€shall€have€an€effective€remedy.€In€an€early€decision€involving€aÐ à%0!$ Ðdisappearance€(30/1978€Ô_ÔBleierÔ_Ô€v.€Uruguay)€the€Committee,€after€noting€that€according€to€Ô_ÔunrefutedÔ_ÔÐ Ì&"% Ðallegations€ð ðEduardo€Ô_ÔBleierÔ_Ôððs€name€was€on€a€list€of€prisoners€read€out€once€a€week€at€an€army€unitÐ ¸'#& Ðin€Montevideo€where€his€family€delivered€clothing€for€him€and€received€his€dirty€clothing€until€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðsummer€of€1976"€(i.e.€after€the€ð ðcrucial€dateðð),€urged€the€Uruguayan€Government€ð ðto€take€effectiveÐ )à$( Ðsteps...to€establish€what€has€happened€to€Eduardo€Ô_ÔBleierÔ_Ô€since€October€1975€(i.e.€before€the€crucialÐ |*Ì%) Ðdate€but€with€continuation€after€that€date),€to€bring€to€justice€any€person€found€to€be€responsible€forÐ h+¸&* Ðhis€death,€disappearance€or€ill„treatment,€and€to€pay€compensation€to€him€or€his€family€for€any€injuryÐ T,¤'+ Ðwhich€he€has€sufferedðð.€In€another€case€(107/1981€Ô_ÔQuinterosÔ_Ô€v.€Uruguay)€the€Committee€was€of€theÐ @-(, Ðview€that€the€information€before€it€revealed€breaches€of€articles€7,€9€and€10,€paragraph€1,€of€theÐ ° ÐCovenant€and€concluded€that€the€responsibility€for€the€disappearance€of€Elena€Ô_ÔQuinterosÔ_Ô€fell€on€theÐ œì Ðauthorities€of€Uruguay€and€that€the€State€party€should€take€immediate€and€effective€steps€(Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô)€toÐ ˆØ Ðestablish€what€has€happened€to€Elena€Ô_ÔQuinterosÔ_Ô€since€28€June€1976,€and€secure€her€release,€(ii)€toÐ tÄ Ðbring€to€justice€any€persons€found€to€be€responsible€for€her€disappearance€and€ill„treatment,€(iii)€toÐ `° Ðpay€compensation€for€the€wrongs€suffered,€and€(iv)€to€ensure€that€similar€violations€do€not€occur€inÐ L œ Ðthe€future.€In€the€latter€case,€the€author€of€the€communication€was€the€mother€of€the€disappearedÐ 8 ˆ Ðvictim€who€had€alleged€that€she,€too,€was€a€victim€of€a€violation€of€article€7,€(psychological€tortureÐ $ t Ðbecause€she€did€not€know€about€the€whereabouts€of€her€daughter)€and€who€had€given€ampleÐ  ` Ðdescription€of€her€sufferings.€The€Committee€expressed€its€understanding€with€the€anguish€and€stressÐ ü L  Ðcaused€to€the€mother€both€by€the€disappearance€of€her€daughter€and€by€the€continuing€uncertaintyÐ è 8  Ðconcerning€her€fate€and€whereabouts.€She€had€the€right€to€know€what€had€happened€to€her€daughter.Ð Ô$  ÐThe€Committee€therefore€found€that€in€these€respects€she€was€also€a€victim€of€a€violation€of€theÐ À  ÐCovenant.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àI€draw€the€following€conclusions.€A€disappearance€òòper€seóó€does€not€raise€any€issue€under€theÐ „Ô  ÐCovenant.€For€it€to€do€so,€a€link€to€some€of€the€material€articles€of€the€Covenant€is€required.€And€itÐ pÀ Ðis€solely€with€such€a€link€that€article€2€of€the€Covenant€may€become€applicable€and€an€issue€mayÐ \¬ Ðarise€under€that€article€too.€Should€it€become€clear€that€the€cause€of€the€disappearance€is€attributableÐ H˜ Ðto€a€killing€for€which€the€State€party€must€be€held€responsible,€but€that€the€killing€took€place€beforeÐ 4„ Ðthe€ð ðcrucial€dateðð,€then€this€killing€cannot€be€deemed€to€constitute€a€violation€of€article€6€of€theÐ  p ÐCovenant,€notwithstanding€that€it€was€a€crime€against€the€right€to€life€under€domestic€penal€law.Ð  \ ÐConsequently,€a€claim€regarding€the€non„Ô_ÔfulfillmentÔ_Ô€of€a€State€partyððs€obligations€under€article€2€ofÐ øH Ðthe€Covenant€also€cannot€arise.€But,€on€the€other€hand,€if€a€killing€before€the€ð ðcrucial€dateðð€is€merelyÐ ä4 Ðone€hypothesis€among€several€others,€the€case€law€of€the€Committee€clearly€indicates€that€underÐ Ð  Ðarticle€2€of€the€Covenant€the€State€part€is€under€a€duty€to€carry€out€a€meaningful€investigation.€OnlyÐ ¼  Ðwhen€it€is€unimaginable€that€any€act,€fact€or€situation€which€would€constitute€a€violation€of€theÐ ¨ø ÐCovenant€may€have€continued€to€exist€or€have€occurred€subsequent€to€the€ð ðcrucial€dateðð,€such€anÐ ”ä Ðobligation€does€not€arise.€It€should€be€added€that€a€declaration€under€domestic€civil€law€in€respectÐ €Ð Ðof€a€disappeared€personððs€death€does€not€set€aside€a€State€partyððs€obligation€under€the€Covenant.Ð l¼ ÐDomestic€civil€law€provisions€cannot€be€given€precedence€over€international€legal€obligations.Ð X ¨ ÐWhatever€the€length€and€thoroughness€be€deemed€necessary€for€an€investigation€to€satisfy€theÐ D!” Ðrequirements€under€the€Covenant€is€to€be€considered€case€by€case,€but€an€investigation€must€underÐ 0"€  Ðall€circumstances€be€conducted€fairly,€objectively€and€impartially.€Any€negligence,€suppression€ofÐ #l! Ðevidence€or€other€irregularity€jeopardizing€the€outcome€must€be€regarded€as€a€violation€of€theÐ $X" Ðobligations€under€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€in€conjunction€with€a€relevant€material€article.€And€onceÐ ô$D # Ðan€investigation€has€been€closed€due€to€lack€of€adequate€results,€it€must€be€reopened€if€new€andÐ à%0!$ Ðpertinent€information€comes€to€light.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌÔ_ÔBertilÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔWENNERGRENÔ_ÔÐ ¤(ô#' ÐÌÓ¹4Ó