ÿWPC ª†£=óú`J‰³-³š»YÛ€Ê58?Û ¬ž×ÈLr§[$¥ÚU#i²*]îŸýnÕ–%ÚÿÈS™=a ©š‰«;ú(õpêñû°Eé¢<«jG¶%ZØK B3}#ÃékÑÕçR„ûߤlÃûÂO´3‘ƒ…·.Ù,ùtÆDþÀ®'F¯Ëòê÷ ]}È´÷v×>h€I(B[àzk,”„BÄY÷¤Åè.r žFö·àÌÑnÙ5€¦J³ õš¹ü#ºÏrR©¢só‚ Ê¡6Ò­»Ñææ¼;pÇV‡”²¹?SðÅɬ=_âíß´$aïx ùÝ82yõ¶³¯wÍŠþ‡wÂرˆÆÏÎ!gÑ_kЩ) YäžÅëïpsEsd×û·FDS³ ß+”Ýø¥“㧩r·’ÃËSóÅ  < ÎS”‘øÛòü›ôŒ/¾“åJ_âcÌ¢ ÑOEž÷AÔ—ÛØßheÿUû¸W½”’Y‹Iqnâ'6ÊOJ$"…æLª`de¿öÃSË„Äs\¤ÿµª¦qÃðŒ–œ«JÝyŒw/­œå….·ïÊÕôgE$óifÚ -¦Ïä³hùà´ÃQ1ÉWºd¡{6:- šN¿$U>øÌ6 0µ 0<· 0Yó 0_L 0i«Æ 0ÑÚ 0(« D+Ó AMþ þ þ þ þ K K K K K O 0N_ 0¶­ #!c UN„ %Ò MØ (Ü N^ w@4Rf mhô\  `‹&Times New Roman' Mutombo v. Switzerland, Committee against Torture, Communication No. 13/1993, U.N. Doc. A/413/1993, U.N. Doc. A/"Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   6F , ÿÿ4Heading 3Ô S ÔÓ p^SÓÔ€£££Ôò òÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ€XXXÔó óÓ p^SÓ<ÿÿ:Default Para6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeóóòòÔ  ÔóóÔ  Ô< ÿÿ:Normal (Web)Ô S ÔÓ =jSÓÓ =jSÓ Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5(©2¯Ê$££Ý ƒ#!ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X`XXXÔÔ€X`XXX`ÔÝ  Ý(ÿÿ$’’'dxd A<< cÿÿd#|x7(ÍO$——ÔÿÔòòóóÔÿÔ(Ž#$¡¡ÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X£½XXXÔÔ€X£½XXX£½Ô˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX¶Š4)Æ ./{01E23{4E56D7as()rtyBar°¶Ÿ ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ#!ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X`XXXÔÔ€X`XXX`ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòÔ_ÔMutomboÔ_Ô€v.€SwitzerlandóóÐ ˆØ ÐÌCommunication€No.€13/1993ÌÌ27€April€1994ÌÌÌVIEWSó óÐ ü L  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€Mr.€Ô_ÔBalabouÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMutomboÔ_Ô€[represented€by€counsel]€Ð À  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€The€author€Ð ˜è  ÐÌòòState€party€concernedóó:€Switzerland€Ð pÀ ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€18€November€1993€Ð H˜ ÐÌòòDate€of€decisionóó:€27€April€1994€óóÐ  p ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓÓ  ÓThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€againstÐ ä4 ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,ÌÌòòMeetingóó€on€27€April€1994,Ð ¨ø ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€13/1993,€submitted€to€theÐ €Ð ÐCommittee€against€Torture€on€behalf€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔBalabouÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMutomboÔ_Ô€under€article€22€of€theÏConvention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€orÏPunishment,ÌÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theÐ #l! Ðcommunication,€and€by€the€State€party,ÌÌòòAdoptsóó€its€Ð à%0!$ ÐÌÌÓ*Óòòò òViews€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionó óóóÐ ¤(ô#' ÐÓÓÌÌ1.€The€author€of€the€communication€(dated€18€October€1993)€is€Ô_ÔBalabouÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMutomboÔ_Ô,€a€Ô_ÔZairianÔ_ÔÏcitizen,€born€on€24€November€1961,€at€present€living€in€Switzerland€and€seeking€recognitionÏas€a€refugee.€He€claims€to€be€a€victim€of€a€violation€by€Switzerland€of€article€3€of€theÐ @-(, ÐConvention€against€Torture.€He€is€represented€by€counsel.€ÌÌòòFacts€as€submitted€by€the€authoróóÐ ˆØ ÐÌ2.1€The€author€states€that€he€has€been€a€member€of€the€Ô_ÔZairianÔ_Ô€Armed€Forces€since€1982.€InÏ1988,€he€clandestinely€became€a€member€of€the€political€movement€Union€pour€laÏÔ_ÔdmocratieÔ_Ô€et€le€Ô_ÔprogrsÔ_Ô€social€(Ô_ÔUDPSÔ_Ô),€as€he€felt€discriminated€against€because€of€his€ethnicÏbackground€(Ô_ÔLubaÔ_Ô).€His€father€had€been€a€member€of€the€movement€since€its€launch€in€1982Ïand€was€allegedly€forced€to€retire€as€a€magistrate€at€the€Kinshasa€Magistrate's€CourtÏ(Tribunal€de€Grande€Instance)€because€of€that€affiliation.€The€author€participated€in€severalÏdemonstrations€and€attended€illegal€meetings.€ÌÌ2.2€On€20€June€1989,€the€author€was€arrested€by€three€members€of€the€Division€Ô_ÔSpcialeÔ_ÔÏÔ_ÔPrsidentielleÔ_Ô,€when€he€was€about€to€deliver€a€letter€from€his€father€to€Mr.€Ô_ÔEtienneÔ_ÔÏÔ_ÔTshisekediÔ_Ô,€a€founding€member€and€leader€of€Ô_ÔUDPSÔ_Ô.€He€was€detained€in€the€military€campÏof€Ô_ÔTshatsiÔ_Ô,€where€he€was€locked€up€in€a€cell€of€one€square€Ô_ÔmetreÔ_Ô.€During€the€four€days€thatÏfollowed,€he€was€tortured€by€his€interrogators,€whom€he€mentions€by€name.€He€was€subjectedÏto€electric€shocks,€beaten€with€a€rifle,€and€his€testicles€were€bruised€until€he€lostÏconsciousness.€On€24€June€1989,€he€was€brought€before€a€military€tribunal,€found€guilty€ofÏconspiracy€against€the€State€and€sentenced€to€15€years'€imprisonment.€He€was€transferred€toÏthe€military€prison€of€Ô_ÔNdoloÔ_Ô,€where€he€was€detained€for€seven€months.€Although€the€authorÏhad€lost€part€of€his€eyesight€and€suffered€a€head€injury€caused€by€the€torture,€he€was€not€givenÏany€medical€treatment.€On€20€January€1990,€he€was€released€under€the€condition€that€heÏpresent€himself€twice€a€week€at€the€Ô_ÔAuditoratÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔmilitaireÔ_Ô€of€Ô_ÔManteteÔ_Ô.€In€February€1990,€heÏsought€medical€treatment€for€his€eye€injury€at€the€General€Hospital€Mama€Ô_ÔYemoÔ_Ô.ÌÌ2.3€Subsequently,€the€author's€father€and€brothers€suggested€that€he€leave€Kinshasa,€to€avoidÏthe€police€finding€other€members€of€the€movement€by€following€him.€They€also€feared€forÏthe€author's€security.€On€30€March€1990,€the€author€left€Zaire,€leaving€behind€his€family,Ïincluding€his€two€children,€who€live€with€his€father;€after€15€days€he€arrived€at€Luanda,Ïwhere€he€stayed€with€friends€for€three€months.€A€friend€provided€him€with€a€visa€for€Italy,Ïwhere€he€arrived€on€29€July€1990,€using€the€passport€of€his€friend.€On€7€August€1990,€heÏillegally€crossed€the€border€to€enter€Switzerland;€on€8€August€1990,€he€applied€forÏrecognition€in€Switzerland€as€a€refugee.€In€the€course€of€that€month€he€learned€that€his€fatherÏhad€been€detained€after€his€departure.ÌÌ2.4€The€author€was€heard€by€the€Cantonal€Office€for€Asylum€Seekers€at€Lausanne€on€10ÏOctober€1990.€He€submitted€a€medical€report€written€by€a€medical€doctor€in€SwitzerlandÏindicating€that€the€scars€on€his€body€corresponded€with€the€alleged€torture.€A€report€by€anÏophthalmologist€indicated€that€the€author€had€an€eye€injury,€caused€by€a€trauma,€which,Ïaccording€to€the€author,€was€caused€by€a€blow€to€his€head€during€the€interrogation€in€JuneÏ1989.€On€31€January€1992,€the€Federal€Refugee€Office€(Office€Ô_ÔfdralÔ_Ô€des€Ô_ÔrfugisÔ_Ô)€rejectedÏhis€application€and€ordered€his€removal€from€Switzerland.€It€considered€that,€even€if€theÏauthor€had€been€detained€in€the€military€prison€of€Ô_ÔNdoloÔ_Ô,€it€was€unlikely€that€he€had€beenÏimprisoned€for€political€reasons,€since€the€International€Committee€of€the€Red€Cross€(Ô_ÔICRCÔ_Ô),Ð @-(, Ðwhich€had€visited€the€prison€in€November€1989,€had€stated€that€it€did€not€visit€him,€since€heÏapparently€did€not€belong€to€the€category€of€prisoners€which€fell€under€the€mandate€of€Ô_ÔICRCÔ_Ô.ÏThe€Refugee€Office€further€doubted€the€authenticity€of€the€provisional€release€order,€whichÏthe€author€had€submitted€as€evidence€of€his€detention.€With€regard€to€the€author's€return€toÏZaire,€the€Refugee€Office€considered€that€there€were€no€indications€that€he€would€be€exposedÏto€punishment€or€treatment€prohibited€by€article€3€of€the€European€Convention€for€theÏProtection€of€Human€Rights€and€Fundamental€Freedoms.ÌÌ2.5€On€6€March€1992,€the€author€appealed€the€decision.€On€10€August€1992,€the€decision€toÏexpel€him€was€stayed,€but€on€2€June€1993,€the€Commission€of€Appeal€in€Refugee€MattersÏ(Commission€Ô_ÔsuisseÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔrecoursÔ_Ô€en€Ô_ÔmatireÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôd'asileÔ_Ô)€dismissed€the€author's€appeal.€On€24€JuneÏ1993,€the€author€was€informed€that€he€had€to€leave€Switzerland€before€15€September€1993,Ïfailing€which€he€would€be€subject€to€expulsion.€The€author's€request€for€a€review€of€theÏdecision,€on€the€ground€that€the€authorities€had€not€sufficiently€taken€into€account€essentialÏdocuments,€such€as€a€report€of€Amnesty€International€and€medical€reports,€was€dismissed€onÏ13€September€1993.€On€17€September€1993,€the€author€received€permission€to€stay€inÏSwitzerland€until€17€October€1993.ÌÌòòComplaintóóÐ H˜ ÐÌ3.1€The€author€claims€that€a€real€risk€exists€that€he€would€be€subjected€to€torture€or€that€hisÏsecurity€would€be€endangered€if€he€were€to€be€returned€to€his€country.€It€is€submitted€thatÏevidence€exists€that€there€is€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross€and€massive€violations€of€humanÏrights€in€Zaire,€which,€according€to€article€3,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Convention€against€Torture,Ïare€circumstances€which€a€State€party€should€take€into€account€when€deciding€on€expulsion.ÏThe€author€contends€that€on€this€basis€alone€the€Swiss€authorities€should€refrain€fromÏexpelling€him.ÌÌ3.2€In€a€letter€to€counsel,€dated€3€November€1993,€Amnesty€International€supports€theÏauthor's€arguments€that€he€would€be€exposed€to€a€risk€of€torture€upon€return€to€Zaire.€ItÏconsiders€the€author's€story€credible€and€emphasizes€that€the€general€situation€in€Zaire€is€oneÏof€violence€and€repression.€Amnesty€International€submits€in€particular€that€hundreds€ofÏsoldiers€suspected€of€sympathizing€with€the€opposition€to€the€rule€of€President€Ô_ÔMobutoÔ_Ô€haveÏbeen€arrested€and€many€of€them€are€detained€in€secret€places.€In€Amnesty€International'sÏopinion,€members€of€the€opposition€are€subject€to€repression€and€the€simple€fact€of€seekingÏrecognition€as€a€refugee€is€seen€as€a€subversive€act.ÌÌ3.3€Since€the€author€could€be€expelled€at€any€moment,€he€asked€the€Committee€to€requestÏSwitzerland€to€take€interim€measures€of€protection€and€not€to€expel€him€while€hisÏcommunication€is€under€consideration€by€the€Committee.ÌÌòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€CommitteeóóÐ |*Ì%) ÐÌ4.€During€its€eleventh€session,€on€18€November€1993,€the€Committee€decided€to€solicit€fromÏthe€State€party€clarifications€or€observations€as€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication,Ð @-(, Ðand,€in€the€specific€circumstances€of€the€case,€to€request€the€State€party,€under€rule€108,Ïparagraph€9,€not€to€expel€the€author€while€his€communication€was€under€consideration€by€theÏCommittee.€The€State€party€was€also€invited€to€submit€explanations€or€statements€as€to€theÏmerits€of€the€communication,€in€case€it€had€no€objections€to€its€admissibility.ÌÌ5.€On€18€February€1994,€the€State€party€informed€the€Committee€that€it€would€comply€withÏthe€Committee's€request€not€to€expel€the€author€and€that€it€would€not€contest€the€admissibilityÏof€the€communication,€since€the€author€had€exhausted€all€available€domestic€remedies.ÌÌòòState€party's€observations€on€the€merits€of€the€communicationóóÐ ü L  ÐÌ6.1€By€submission€of€7€March€1994,€the€State€party€recalls€that€the€Federal€Refugee€OfficeÏhas,€on€31€January€1992,€rejected€the€author's€application€to€be€recognized€as€a€refugee,€onÏthe€basis€that€there€were€several€contradictions€in€his€testimony,€that€the€principal€document,Ïthe€provisional€release€order,€had€no€legal€value,€that€the€medical€certificates€were€notÏpersuasive€and€that€in€general€the€author's€allegations€were€not€reliable.€The€Federal€RefugeeÏOffice€was€of€the€opinion€that€the€situation€in€Zaire€was€not€one€of€systematic€violence.ÌÌ6.2€As€to€the€author's€specific€claim€that€his€expulsion€would€be€in€violation€of€article€3€ofÏthe€Convention,€the€State€party€notes€that€the€author€has€not€raised€this€objection€before€anyÏof€the€national€authorities,€but€has€only€invoked€article€3€of€the€European€Convention€for€theÏProtection€of€Human€Rights€and€Fundamental€Freedoms.€The€State€party€refers€to€theÏauthor's€argument€that€the€existence€in€a€State€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€human€rightsÏviolations€would€by€itself€be€sufficient€reason€not€to€return€anyone€to€that€State.€The€StateÏparty€considers€the€issue€raised€by€the€author€of€great€importance€for€the€interpretation€andÏapplication€of€article€3€of€the€Convention;€it€points€out€that,€if€the€general€situation€in€aÏcountry€alone€would€suffice€to€conclude€that€substantial€grounds€exist€for€believing€thatÏsomeone,€if€returned,€would€be€subjected€to€torture,€the€requirement€of€article€3,€paragraphÏ1,€that€the€belief€concerns€the€individual€personally,€would€no€longer€have€a€separateÏmeaning.€The€State€party€concludes€therefore€that€the€interpretation€as€suggested€by€theÏauthor€is€incompatible€with€article€3€and€with€a€systematic€and€teleological€interpretationÏthereof.€It€submits€that€article€3,€paragraph€1,€stipulates€the€conditions€in€which€a€State€partyÏis€precluded€from€expelling€an€individual€from€its€territory,€whereas€paragraph€2€prescribesÏhow€to€appreciate€the€evidence€when€determining€the€existence€of€such€conditions.ÌÌ6.3€The€State€party€submits€that,€even€if€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€massÏviolations€of€human€rights€exists€in€a€country,€this€should€only€be€taken€as€an€indicationÏwhen€examining€all€the€circumstances€to€determine€whether€the€person€to€be€returned€wouldÏbe€in€concrete€danger€of€being€tortured.€The€existence€of€the€"substantial€grounds"€ofÏparagraph€1€has€to€be€determined€in€the€light€of€all€the€circumstances€in€a€particular€case.€TheÏState€party€argues€that€only€in€exceptional€circumstances€would€a€reference€to€a€situation€ofÏgross€violations€of€human€rights€suffice€to€prove€the€existence€of€substantial€grounds€toÏbelieve€that€a€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture,€for€instance€if€theÏviolations€are€directed€against€a€particular€group€of€persons€in€a€confined€territory€and€theÏindividual€to€be€returned€belongs€to€that€group.€The€State€party€submits€that€this€is€not€theÐ @-(, Ðcase€with€the€author€of€the€present€communication.ÌÌ6.4€In€support€of€its€interpretation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention,€the€State€party€refers€to€theÏjurisprudence€of€the€European€Commission€of€Human€Rights,€establishing€that€a€decisionÏto€expel€an€asylum€seeker€may€give€rise€to€an€issue€under€article€3€of€the€EuropeanÏConvention€for€the€Protection€of€Human€Rights€and€Fundamental€Freedoms€whereÏsubstantial€grounds€have€been€shown€for€believing€that€he€faces€a€real€risk€of€being€subjectedÏto€torture.€In€the€Commission's€opinion,€a€reference€to€the€general€situation€in€a€country€isÏnot€sufficient€to€preclude€the€return€of€an€individual,€as€it€must€be€shown€that€the€individualÏhimself€is€at€risk.€The€State€party€further€refers€to€the€decision€of€the€European€Court€ofÏHuman€Rights€in€ò òÔ_ÔVilvarajahÔ_Ô€et€al.€v.€The€United€Kingdomó ó,€where€it€was€held€that€a€mereÐ è 8  Ðpossibility€of€ill„treatment€because€of€the€general€situation€in€a€country€was€not€in€itselfÏsufficient€to€give€rise€to€a€violation€of€article€3.€The€State€party€argues€that€article€3€of€theÏConvention€against€Torture€does€not€provide€a€wider€protection€than€article€3€of€theÏEuropean€Convention.€It€adds€that€the€author€himself€is€apparently€of€the€same€opinion,€sinceÏhe€did€not€deem€it€necessary€to€invoke€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€whileÏexhausting€his€domestic€remedies,€but€only€invoked€article€3€of€the€European€Convention.ÌÌ6.5€The€State€party€submits€that€the€author€of€the€present€communication€does€not€haveÏsubstantial€grounds€to€believe€that€he€himself€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toÏtorture€in€case€of€his€return€to€Zaire.€Even€taking€into€account€the€general€situation€in€Zaire,Ïthe€State€party€claims€that€the€evidence€adduced€by€the€author€does€not€support€hisÏallegations.€In€this€context,€the€State€party€submits€that€it€has,€on€several€occasions,€contactedÏits€embassy€at€Kinshasa€before€taking€its€decision€not€to€grant€the€author€asylum.€TheÏembassy€contacted€an€informant€from€the€human€rights€movement€in€Zaire,€who€advised€theÏembassy€that€the€author's€story€was€highly€unlikely.€He€affirmed€that€the€provisional€releaseÏorder€was€a€document€without€any€legal€value€and€that€all€released€prisoners€were€providedÏwith€a€"ò òfiche€de€Ô_ÔlibrationÔ_Ôó ó",€which€the€author€did€not€possess.€Moreover,€the€signature€onÐ ˜è Ðthe€order€produced€by€the€author€does€not€correspond€with€the€signature€of€the€director€of€theÏmilitary€prison€in€which€the€author€allegedly€was€detained.€The€State€party€further€submitsÏthat€the€author's€name€does€not€figure€in€the€Ô_ÔNdoloÔ_Ô€prison€registers€for€1989€and€1990€andÏthat€the€author's€father€has€declared€that€his€son€has€never€been€detained€in€a€military€prison.ÏIt€is€also€submitted€that€the€drawing€made€by€the€author€of€the€prison€lacks€importantÏelements€such€as€the€desk€of€the€prison's€director€and€the€division€of€the€prison€in€two€parts,Ïone€for€ordinary€soldiers€and€one€for€officers.ÌÌ6.6€As€regards€the€author's€father,€it€was€found€that€he€had€retired,€not€for€political€reasons,Ïbut€pursuant€to€the€applicable€rules€for€civil€servants.€The€leaders€of€the€Ô_ÔUDPSÔ_Ô€subsectionÏto€which€the€author's€father€geographically€belongs€have€stated€that€he€was€not€a€Ô_ÔUDPSÔ_ÔÏmember.ÌÌ6.7€Moreover,€the€State€party€argues€that,€even€if€the€author's€story€is€true,€it€still€does€notÏindicate€that€a€real€risk€exists€that€he€will€be€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return.€The€StateÏparty€argues€that€the€fact€that€the€author€was€provisionally€released€after€seven€months,€whileÏhaving€been€sentenced€to€15€years'€imprisonment,€shows€that€such€a€risk€is€minimal,€evenÐ H-˜(, ÐÔ_Ôif€he€was€subjected€to€torture€after€his€arrest€in€1989.€The€State€party€recalls€that€the€authorÏhas€admitted€having€received€a€new€military€uniform€upon€his€release.€The€State€party€furtherÏrefers€to€the€author's€communication€to€the€Committee,€and€concludes€that€he€left€ZaireÏmainly€because€he€did€not€want€to€endanger€his€family€and€friends,€not€because€he€wasÏpersonally€at€risk.ÌÌ6.8€As€regards€the€general€situation€in€Zaire,€the€State€party€acknowledges€that€the€countryÏsuffers€from€internal€political€unrest€and€from€incidental€outbursts€of€violence.€However,€itÏsubmits€that€this€cannot€lead€to€the€conclusion€that€a€personal€risk€exists€for€the€author€thatÏhe€will€be€tortured€after€his€return.€In€this€context,€the€State€party€refers€to€a€recent€letter€fromÏthe€Office€of€the€United€Nations€High€Commissioner€for€Refugees,€in€which€it€expressedÏconcern€for€the€situation€in€Zaire€and€recommended€great€prudence€in€the€return€of€personsÏto€Zaire,€but€did€not€recommend€a€suspension€of€expulsions€to€Zaire€altogether.ÌÌ7.1€In€his€comments€(dated€20€April€1994)€on€the€State€party's€submission,€counsel€arguesÏthat,€even€if€Mr.€Mutombo€did€not€invoke€the€Convention€against€Torture€but€only€theÏEuropean€Convention€for€the€Protection€of€Human€Rights€and€Fundamental€Freedoms€beforeÏthe€national€authorities,€the€Swiss€authorities€were,€according€to€the€Swiss€legal€system,Ïnevertheless€under€an€obligation€to€apply€the€Convention€against€Torture.€Counsel€furtherÏcontests€the€State€party's€argument€that€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€does€notÏprovide€a€wider€protection€than€article€3€of€the€European€Convention.€He€argues€that€theÏarticles€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€must€be€interpreted€in€such€a€way€as€to€give€theÏmost€effective€protection€against€torture.€In€this€context,€counsel€notes€that€article€3€of€theÏEuropean€Convention€prohibits€torture€but€does€not€directly€deal€with€the€issue€of€expulsionÏor€"ò òrefoulementó ó".€Its€application€to€situations€of€expulsion€has€been€developed€only€in€theÐ Ð  Ðjurisprudence€of€the€European€Commission€and€the€European€Court€on€Human€Rights,€whichÏhave€been€reluctant€to€interpret€it€broadly.€Since€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€TortureÏcontains€an€explicit€protection€against€forced€return€to€a€country€where€an€individual€wouldÏbe€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture,€counsel€argues€that€this€necessarily€has€to€lead€to€aÏdifferent,€wider€interpretation.ÌÌ7.2€Counsel€further€argues€that€the€criteria€to€establish€the€existence€of€a€risk€that€anÏindividual,€if€returned,€would€be€subjected€to€torture€are€not€the€same€under€the€twoÏconventions.€The€jurisprudence€on€the€basis€of€article€3€of€the€European€Convention€hasÏestablished€that€a€risk€must€be€concrete€and€serious€to€engage€the€applicability€of€article€3.ÏUnder€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€the€existence€of€substantial€grounds€forÏbelieving€that€such€risk€exists€is€sufficient€to€prohibit€the€individual's€return;€among€theseÏgrounds€is€the€existence€in€the€country€concerned€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€orÏmass€violations€of€human€rights.€Counsel€contests€the€State€party's€interpretation€of€theÏsecond€paragraph€of€article€3,€and€argues€that€the€existence€of€systematic€human€rightsÏviolations€in€a€country€sufficiently€shows€the€existence€of€substantial€grounds€for€believingÏthat€a€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture,€on€the€basis€of€which€theÏperson's€return€to€that€country€is€prohibited.€ÌÌ7.3€Counsel€further€argues€that€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€lays€the€Ô_ÔburdenÐ D-”(, Ðof€proof€on€the€State€party,€thereby€reinforcing€the€protection€of€the€individual.€In€thisÏconnection,€counsel€notes€that€it€is€difficult€for€an€individual€to€prove€the€existence€of€theÏdanger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.€As€regards€the€State€party's€contention€that€Mr.ÏÔ_ÔMutomboÔ_Ô's€story€is€not€credible,€and€its€investigation€to€adduce€evidence€to€that€effect,Ïcounsel€notes€that€the€secretive€nature€of€the€investigation€and€the€use€of€an€anonymousÏinformant€makes€it€impossible€for€him€to€verify€the€credibility€and€the€objectivity€of€theÏinformation€furnished.€Counsel€furthermore€doubts€that€the€informant€would€have€had€accessÏto€the€register€of€the€Ô_ÔNdoloÔ_Ô€prison,€which€normally€would€not€be€open€to€anyone€from€theÏoutside.€He€therefore€requests€that€the€State€party€disclose€the€name€of€the€informant€and€theÏname€of€the€human€rights€movement€of€which€he€is€a€member,€failing€which€the€informationÏprovided€by€the€State€party€should€not€be€taken€into€account€by€the€Committee.€ToÏsubstantiate€the€credibility€of€the€author's€story,€counsel€refers€to€the€initial€communicationÏand€the€position€taken€by€Amnesty€International€in€support€of€it.ÌÌ7.4€Counsel€further€argues€that€the€fact€that€the€author€was€conditionally€released€fromÏdetention€does€not€diminish€the€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€return€to€the€country.ÏIn€this€connection,€counsel€points€out€that€the€situation€in€Zaire€has€considerably€deterioratedÏsince€1990€and€that€it€is€the€present€danger€facing€the€author€upon€his€return€to€Zaire€whichÏis€at€issue.€To€support€his€argument,€counsel€refers€to€several€reports€written€by€non„¼governmental€organizations€and€to€the€report€concerning€Zaire€prepared€by€the€Secretary„¼General€for€the€United€Nations€Commission€on€Human€Rights,€a/€€which€indicate€that€tortureÏand€ill„treatment€of€detainees€are€common€practice€in€Zaire€and€are€perpetrated€withÏimpunity.€Counsel€argues€that€the€State€party's€reference€to€the€failure€of€the€United€NationsÏHigh€Commissioner€for€Refugees€to€recommend€the€suspension€of€all€expulsions€to€ZaireÏis€irrelevant,€because€this€was€related€to€another€case€and€had€nothing€to€do€with€the€author'sÏsituation.€Counsel€further€states€that€the€language€used€in€the€letter€from€the€HighÏCommissioner€is€strongly€dissuasive€of€all€expulsions€to€Zaire.ÌÌ7.5€Finally,€counsel€refers€to€the€medical€report€submitted€by€the€author€and€written€by€aÏSwiss€medical€specialist,€indicating€that€the€author's€injuries€correspond€with€the€allegedÏtorture.€He€notes€that€the€State€party€has€rejected€this€report€as€not€persuasive€without€evenÏconducting€a€re„examination.ÌÌòòDecision€on€admissibility€and€examination€of€the€meritsóóÐ #l! ÐÌ8.€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€againstÏTorture€must€decide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€TheÏCommittee€has€ascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€25,€paragraph€5€(a),€of€theÏConvention,€that€the€same€matter€has€not€been€and€is€not€being€examined€under€anotherÏprocedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement.€The€Committee€notes€that€the€StateÏparty€has€not€raised€any€objections€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication€and€that€it€hasÏconfirmed€that€the€author€has€exhausted€all€available€domestic€remedies.€The€CommitteeÏtherefore€finds€that€no€obstacles€to€the€admissibility€of€the€present€communication€exist€andÏproceeds€with€the€consideration€of€the€merits€of€the€communication.ÌÔ_ÔÐ @-(, Ð9.1€The€Committee€observes€that€it€is€not€called€upon€to€determine€whether€the€author'sÏrights€under€the€Convention€have€been€violated€by€Zaire,€which€is€not€a€State€party€to€theÏConvention.€The€issue€before€the€Committee€is€whether€the€expulsion€or€return€of€the€authorÏof€the€communication€to€Zaire€would€violate€the€obligation€of€Switzerland€under€article€3€ofÏthe€Convention€not€to€expel€or€return€a€person€to€another€State€where€there€are€substantialÏgrounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.ÌÌ9.2€The€Committee€is€aware€of€the€concerns€of€the€State€party€that€the€implementation€ofÏarticle€3€of€the€Convention€might€be€abused€by€asylum€seekers.€The€Committee€considersÏthat,€even€if€there€are€doubts€about€the€facts€adduced€by€the€author,€it€must€ensure€that€hisÏsecurity€is€not€endangered.ÌÌ9.3€The€relevant€provisions€are€contained€in€article€3:ÌÌ"1.€No€State€party€shall€expel,€return€("ò òÔ_ÔrefoulerÔ_Ôó ó")€or€extradite€a€person€to€another€State€whereÐ ˜è  Ðthere€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toÏtorture.ÌÌ"2.€For€the€purpose€of€determining€whether€there€are€such€grounds,€the€competent€authoritiesÏshall€take€into€account€all€relevant€considerations€including,€where€applicable,€the€existenceÏin€the€State€concerned€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€humanÏrights."ÌÌThe€Committee€must€decide,€pursuant€to€paragraph€1€of€article€3,€whether€there€areÏsubstantial€grounds€for€believing€that€Mr.€Ô_ÔMutomboÔ_Ô€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjectedÏto€torture.€In€reaching€this€conclusion,€the€Committee€must€take€into€account€all€relevantÏconsiderations,€pursuant€to€paragraph€2€of€article€3,€including€the€existence€of€a€consistentÏpattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€The€aim€of€the€determination,Ïhowever,€is€to€establish€whether€the€individual€concerned€would€be€personally€at€risk€ofÏbeing€subjected€to€torture€in€the€country€to€which€he€would€return.€It€follows€that€theÏexistence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€aÏcountry€does€not€as€such€constitute€a€sufficient€ground€for€determining€that€a€person€wouldÏbe€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return€to€that€country;€additional€groundsÏmust€exist€that€indicate€that€the€individual€concerned€would€be€personally€at€risk.€Similarly,Ïthe€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross€violations€of€human€rights€does€not€mean€that€aÏperson€cannot€be€considered€to€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€his€specificÏcircumstances.ÌÌ9.4€The€Committee€considers€that€in€the€present€case€substantial€grounds€exist€for€believingÏthat€the€author€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.€The€Committee€has€notedÏthe€author's€ethnic€background,€alleged€political€affiliation€and€detention€history€as€well€asÏthe€fact,€which€has€not€been€disputed€by€the€State€party,€that€he€appears€to€have€deserted€fromÏthe€army€and€to€have€left€Zaire€in€a€clandestine€manner€and,€when€formulating€an€applicationÏfor€asylum,€to€have€adduced€arguments€which€may€be€considered€defamatory€towards€Zaire.ÏThe€Committee€considers€that,€in€the€present€circumstances,€his€return€to€Zaire€would€haveÐ D-”(, Ðthe€foreseeable€and€necessary€consequence€of€exposing€him€to€a€real€risk€of€being€detainedÏand€tortured.€Moreover,€the€belief€that€"substantial€grounds"€exist€within€the€meaning€ofÏarticle€3,€paragraph€1,€is€strengthened€by€"the€existence€in€the€State€concerned€of€a€consistentÏpattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights",€within€the€meaning€of€articleÏ3,€paragraph€2.ÌÌ9.5€The€Committee€is€aware€of€the€serious€human€rights€situation€in€Zaire,€as€reported,€òòinterÐ 8 ˆ Ðaliaóó,€to€the€United€Nations€Commission€on€Human€Rights€by€the€Secretary„General€a/€€andÐ $ t Ðby€the€Commission's€Special€Rapporteur€on€extrajudicial,€summary€or€arbitrary€executions,Ïb/€€the€Special€Rapporteur€on€the€question€of€torture€c/€€and€the€Working€Group€on€EnforcedÏor€Involuntary€Disappearances.€ñ/ññ.ñdñ.ññ/ññ1ññ/ñDñ/ññ0ñ/€ñ0ññ1ññ3ññ2ñdñ2ññ3ññ4ññ3ñDñ3ññ4ññ5ñd/€ñ5ññ6ñ[Ô4‚e€`ÔÝ‚ÍOÝÔÿÔòòÝ  ÝÔ5  ÔÝ‚ÿÝóóòòÔÿÔóóóóÝ  ÝdÝ‚ÿÿÿ™wthorÝóóÔÿÔÝ  ÝÔ6wÔÝ‚'whe€pÝóóÔÿÔñ6ññ5ñóóóóóóñ5ññ4ñóóñ4ññ3ñóóñ3ññ1ñóóóóóóñ1ññ0ñóóóóñ0ññ/ñóóóóñ/ññ6ñÝ  ÝÔ7e€ÄUwÔ]€ñ6ññ7ñ€ñ7ñThe€Committee€notes€the€serious€concern€expressed€byÏthe€Commission€in€this€regard,€in€particular€in€respect€of€the€persistent€practices€of€arbitraryÏarrest€and€detention,€torture€and€inhuman€treatment€in€detention€Ô_ÔcentresÔ_Ô,€disappearances€andÏsummary€and€arbitrary€executions,€which€prompted€the€Commission€to€decide,€in€MarchÏ1994,€to€appoint€a€special€rapporteur€specifically€to€examine€and€to€report€on€the€humanÏrights€situation€in€Zaire.€The€Committee€cannot€but€conclude€that€a€consistent€pattern€ofÏgross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€does€exist€in€Zaire€and€that€the€situation€may€beÏdeteriorating.ÌÌ9.6€Moreover,€the€Committee€considers€that,€in€view€of€the€fact€that€Zaire€is€not€a€party€toÏthe€Convention,€the€author€would€be€in€danger,€in€the€event€of€expulsion€to€Zaire,€not€onlyÏof€being€subjected€to€torture€but€of€no€longer€having€the€legal€possibility€of€applying€to€theÏCommittee€for€protection.ÌÌ9.7€The€Committee€therefore€concludes€that€the€expulsion€or€return€of€the€author€to€Zaire€inÏthe€prevailing€circumstances€would€constitute€a€violation€of€article€3€of€the€ConventionÏagainst€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment.ÌÌ10.€In€the€light€of€the€above,€the€Committee€is€of€the€view€that,€in€the€prevailingÏcircumstances,€the€State€party€has€an€obligation€to€refrain€from€expelling€Ô_ÔBalabouÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMutomboÔ_ÔÏto€Zaire,€or€to€any€other€country€where€he€runs€a€real€risk€of€being€expelled€or€returned€toÏZaire€or€of€being€subjected€to€torture.ÌÌÌòòNotesóóÐ $X" ÐÌa/€€€€E/CN.4/1994/49.€ÌÌb/€€€€E/CN.4/1994/7,€paras.€653„662.€ÌÌc/€€€€E/CN.4/1994/31,€paras.€657„664.€ÌÌd/€€€€E/CN.4/1994/26,€paras.€509„513€ÌÓ¸ÓÌ