ÿWPCû Î×ç]<6ˆÌ†íìÝtªçqÊ1JÆ»òÅ«oz¶þz02˜>@ǦI*¥­ç[·¹ò¸v©4\S#çQö»ƒó}h8ˆ!駻Üaðɉ7*=hæ}Ív½¥]oæW «„ÊÐ9ú½ íÌ"qõ$é2(ÊŒ<ÝR'€Ð‚c!œVOç=4,kGx!môNŸ¶m ëµíÀ—S5YÖà!|8%Láò¯I+à€Øžù@R³Ð&ÖI%»•¸,uŸu©ygFÅHŸE(áÊÒÕþ‘ëV ëÛAE4MÅ t;äÞľ|¸10/úðW„:E­Û˜t.Ÿ3:žkIi~ÄÇO%Ð3ǃSüÁôènüÐd kÔ€¬ÝyÝ–;-'Ï…ÏÒp9mÌùëHæŒÌÉ¢£=8csÁ‡lI—†íoÍöûþ\êh[àû¢ÎüúöÄÔ–OvýÆüz.+Çu)öƒkÆÐßÉ ÑÙús;p™ç=JƒÿfÊÇTl‘Ð+ÖNey}Ǿ)sôTö|qp?¦×Õ £4ê ._‡<pãd= Þ!*÷ŸÏ>YþÑåCP—Pg˜g˜ôü~Úe•ç>Î˳“öÅí+þˆÈål–¾Z<¦ôJyÄ* «‚>µª:ùU>¤Ìâ 0µ® 0<c 0YŸ 0_ø 0iW 0PÀÆ 0áÖ 0(· D+ß AM W 0Ng 0Ƶ #Á{ UN< %ŠM(”N¼^ ¾wÊ4Îâ mäô\  `‹&Times New Roman' S. W. M. Brooks v. the Netherlands, Communication No. 172/1984 (9 April 1987), U.N. Doc. S4il 1987), U.N. Doc. S"Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   6F , ÿÿ4Heading 3Ô S ÔÓ p^SÓÔ€£££Ôò òÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ€XXXÔó óÓ p^SÓ<ÿÿ:Default Para6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeóóòòÔ  ÔóóÔ  Ô< ÿÿ:Normal (Web)Ô S ÔÓ =jSÓÓ =jSÓ0ÿÿ.Strongò òÔ  Ôó óÔ  Ô Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5(¹2FÐ$££Ý ƒf !ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X?öXXXÔÔ€X?öXXX?öÔÔÔÝ  Ý(ÿÿ$’’'dxd A<< cÿÿ#|x(ÍO$——ÔÿÔòòóóÔÿÔ(žf $¡¡ÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X&žXXXÔÔ€X&žXXX&žÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÙØÙÙØÈÙ0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularXz™w) K‹k)c(„³Corel ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒf !ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X6XXXÔÔ€X6XXX6ÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEÐ ° ÐÌòòS.€W.€M.€Brooks€v.€the€NetherlandsóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€No.€172/1984Ð H˜ ÐÌ9€April€1987Ð  d ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ Æ   ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€by:€óóS.€W.€M.€Brooks€(represented€by€Marie„Ô_ÔEmmieÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔDiepstratenÔ_Ô)€Ð xÈ  ÐÌòòAlleged€victim:€óóthe€author€Ð D”  ÐÌòòState€party€concerned:€óóthe€Netherlands€Ð ` ÐÌòòDate€of€communication:€óó1€June€1984€(date€of€initial€letter)€Ð Ü, ÐÌòòDate€of€decision€on€admissibility:€óó25€October€1985€óóÐ ¨ø ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓThe€Human€Rights€Committeeóó€established€under€article€28€of€the€International€Covenant€onÐ Zª ÐCivil€and€Political€Rights:€Ð @ ÐÌòòMeetingóó€on€9€April€1987;€Ð  \ ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€172/1984€submitted€to€theÐ Ø( ÐCommittee€by€S.€W.€M.€Ô_ÔBroeksÔ_Ô€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€International€CovenantÐ ¾ Ðon€Civil€and€Political€Rights;€Ð ¤ô ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€written€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theÐ p!À  Ðcommunication€and€by€the€State€party€concerned;€Ð V"¦! ÐÌòòAdoptsóó€the€following:€Ð "$r# ÐÌÌòòò òÓ  ÓViews€under€article€5,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Optional€Protocoló óóóÐ Ô&$"& ÐÓzÓÌÌ1.€The€author€of€the€communication€(initial€letter€dated€1€June€1984€and€subsequent€lettersÐ †)Ö$) Ðdated€17€December€1984,€5€July€1985€and€20€June€1986)€is€Mrs.€S.€W.€M.€Ô_ÔBroeksÔ_Ô,€aÐ l*¼%* ÐNetherlands€citizen€born€on€14€March€1951€and€living€in€the€Netherlands.€She€is€representedÐ R+¢&+ Ðby€legal€counsel.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð2.1€Mrs.€Broeks,€who€was€married€at€the€time€when€the€dispute€in€question€arose€(she€hasÐ ° Ðsince€divorced€and€not€remarried),€was€employed€as€a€nurse€from€7€August€1972€to€1Ð –æ ÐFebruary€1979,€when€she€was€dismissed€for€reasons€of€disability.€She€had€become€ill€inÐ |Ì Ð1975,€and€from€that€time€she€Ô_ÔbenefitedÔ_Ô€from€the€Netherlands€social€security€system€until€1Ð b² ÐJune€1980€(as€regards€disability€and€as€regards€unemployment),€when€unemploymentÐ H˜ Ðpayments€were€terminated€in€accordance€with€Netherlands€law.€Ð . ~ ÐÌ2.2€Mrs.€Ô_ÔBroeksÔ_Ô€contested€the€decision€of€the€relevant€Netherlands€authorities€to€discontinueÐ ú J Ðunemployment€payments€to€her€and€in€the€course€of€exhausting€domestic€remedies€invokedÐ à 0 Ðarticle€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€claiming€that€theÐ Æ   Ðrelevant€Netherlands€legal€provisions€were€contrary€'to€the€right€to€equality€before€the€lawÐ ¬ ü  Ðand€equal€protection€of€the€law€without€discrimination€guaranteed€by€article€26€of€theÐ ’â  ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€Legal€counsel€submits€that€domesticÐ xÈ  Ðremedies€were€exhausted€on€26€November€1983,€when€the€appropriate€administrativeÐ ^®  Ðauthority,€the€Central€Board€of€Appeal,€confirmed€a€decision€of€a€lower€municipal€authorityÐ D”  Ðnot€to€continue€unemployment€payments€to€Mrs.€Ô_ÔBroeksÔ_Ô.€Ð *z  ÐÌ2.3€Mrs.€Brooks€claims€that,€under€existing€law€(Unemployment€Benefits€Act€(Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô),€sect.Ð öF Ð13,€Ô_ÔsubsectÔ_Ô.€1€(1),€and€Decree€No.€61€452/Ô_ÔIIIaÔ_Ô€of€5€April€1976,€to€give€effect€to€sect.€13,Ð Ü, ÐÔ_ÔsubsectÔ_Ô.€1€(1),€of€the€Unemployment€Benefits€Act)€an€unacceptable€distinction€has€beenÐ Â Ðmade€on€the€grounds€of€sex€and€status.€She€bases€her€claim€on€the€following:€if€she€were€aÐ ¨ø Ðman,€married€or€unmarried,€the€law€in€question€would€not€deprive€her€of€unemploymentÐ ŽÞ Ðbenefits.€Because€she€is€a€woman,€and€was€married€at€the€time€in€question,€the€law€excludesÐ tÄ Ðher€from€continued€unemployment€benefits.€This,€she€claims,€makes€her€a€victim€of€aÐ Zª Ðviolation€of€article€26€of€the€Covenant€on€the€grounds€of€sex€and€status.€She€claims€thatÐ @ Ðarticle€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€was€meant€to€giveÐ &v Ðprotection€to€individuals€beyond€the€specific€civil€and€political€rights€enumerated€in€theÐ  \ ÐCovenant.€Ð òB ÐÌ2.4€The€author€states€that€she€has€not€submitted€the€matter€to€other€international€procedures.€Ð ¾ ÐÌ3.€By€its€decision€of€26€October€1984,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€transmitted€theÐ Š Ú Ðcommunication,€under€rule€91€of€the€provisional€rules€of€procedure,€to€the€State€partyÐ p!À  Ðconcerned,€requesting€information€and€observations€relevant€to€the€question€'of€admissibilityÐ V"¦! Ðof€the€communication.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ4.1€In€its€submission€dated€29€May€1985€the€State€party€underlined,€òòinter€alia,€óóthat:€Ð %X $ ÐÌ(a)€"The€principle€that€elements€of€discrimination€in€the€realization€of€the€right€to€socialÐ Ô&$"& Ðsecurity€are€to€be€eliminated€is€embodied€in€article€9€in€conjunction€with€articles€2€and€3€ofÐ º' #' Ðthe€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights;€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ(b)€"The€Government€of€the€Kingdom€of€the€Netherlands€has€accepted€to€implement€thisÐ l*¼%* Ðprinciple€under€the€terms€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€CulturalÐ R+¢&+ ÐRights.€Under€these€terms,€States€parties€have€undertaken€to€take€steps€to€the€maximum€ofÐ 8,ˆ', Ðtheir€available€resources€with€a€view€to€achieving€progressively€the€full€realization€of€Ô_ÔtheÐ -n(- Ðrights€recognized€in€that€Covenant€(art.€2,€para.€1);€Ð ° ÐÌ(c)€"The€process€of€gradual€realization€to€the€maximum€of€available€resources€is€well€on€itsÐ |Ì Ðway€in€the€Netherlands.€Remaining€elements€of€discrimination€in€the€realization€of€the€rightsÐ b² Ðare€being€and€will€be€gradually€eliminated;€Ð H˜ ÐÌ(d)€"The€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€has€establishedÐ  d Ðits€own€system€for€international€control€of€the€way€in€which€States€parties€are€fulfilling€theirÐ ú J Ðobligations.€To€this€end€States€parties€have€undertaken€to€submit€to€the€Economic€and€SocialÐ à 0 ÐCouncil€reports€on€the€measures€they€have€adopted€and€the€progress€they€are€making.€TheÐ Æ   ÐGovernment€of€the€Kingdom€of€the€Netherlands€to€this€end€submitted€its€first€report€inÐ ¬ ü  Ð1983."€Ð ’â  ÐÌ4.2€The€State€party€then€posed€the€question€whether€the€way€in€which€the€Netherlands€wasÐ ^®  Ðfulfilling€its€obligations€Under€article€9€in€conjunction€with€articles€2€and€3€of€theÐ D”  ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€could€become,€by€way€ofÐ *z  Ðarticle€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€the€object€of€anÐ ` Ðexamination€by€the€Human€Rights€Committee.€The€State€party€submitted€that€the€questionÐ öF Ðwas€relevant€for€the€decision€whether€the€communication€was€admissible.€Ð Ü, ÐÌ4.3€The€State€party€stressed€that€it€would€greatly€benefit€from€receiving€an€answer€from€theÐ ¨ø ÐHuman€Rights€Committee€to€the€question€mentioned€in€paragraph€4.2€above.€"Since€suchÐ ŽÞ Ðan€answer€could€hardly€be€given€without€going€into€one€aspect€of€the€merits€of€the€case€„€i.e.Ð tÄ Ðthe€question€of€the€scope€of€article€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€PoliticalÐ Zª ÐRights€„€the€Government€would€respectfully€request€the€Committee€to€join€the€question€ofÐ @ Ðadmissibility€to€an€examination€of€the€merits€of€the€case."€Ð &v ÐÌ4.4€In€case€the€Committee€did€not€grant€that€request€and€declared€the€communicationÐ òB Ðadmissible,€the€State€party€reserved€the€right€to€submit,€in€the€course€of€the€proceedings,Ð Ø( Ðobservations€which€might€have€an€effect€on€the€question€of€admissibility.€Ð ¾ ÐÌ4.5€The€State€party€also€indicated€that€a€change€of€legislation€had€been€adopted€recently€inÐ Š Ú Ðthe€Netherlands,€eliminating€article€13,€paragraph€1,€of€Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô,€which€was€the€subject€of€theÐ p!À  Ðauthor's€claim.€This€is€the€Act€of€29€April€1985,€S€230,€having€a€retroactive€effect€to€23Ð V"¦! ÐDecember€1984.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ4.6€The€State€party€confirmed€that€the€author€had€exhausted€domestic€remedies.€Ð %X $ ÐÌ5.1€In€a€memorandum€dated€5€July€1985,€the€author€commented€on€the€State€party'sÐ Ô&$"& Ðsubmission€under€rule€91.€The€main€issues€dealt€with€in€the€comments€are€set€out€inÐ º' #' Ðparagraphs€5.2€to€5.10€below.€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ5.2€Firstly,€the€author€stated€that€in€the€preambles€to€the€International€Covenant€onÐ l*¼%* ÐEconomic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€and€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€PoliticalÐ R+¢&+ ÐRights€an€explicit€connection€was€made€between€an€individual's€exercise€of€his€civil€andÐ 8,ˆ', Ðpolitical€rights€and€his€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights.€The€fact€that€those€differentÐ -n(- Ðkinds€of€rights€had€been€incorporated€into€two€different€covenants€did€not€detract€from€theirÐ ° Ðinterdependence.€It€was€striking,€the€author€submitted,€that€in€the€International€Covenant€onÐ –æ ÐCivil€and€Political€Rights,€apart€from€in€article€26,€there€were€specific€references€onÐ |Ì Ðnumerous€occasions€to€the€principle€of€equality€or€non„discrimination.€She€listed€them€asÐ b² Ðfollows:€Ð H˜ ÐÌòòarticle€2,€paragraph€1:óó€non„discrimination€with€reference€to€the€rights€recognized€in€theÐ  d ÐCovenant;€Ð ú J ÐÌòòarticle€3:óó€non„discrimination€on€the€grounds€of€sex€with€reference€to€the€rights€recognizedÐ Æ   Ðin€the€Covenant;€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌòòarticle€14:óó€equality€before€the€courts;€Ð xÈ  ÐÌòòarticle€23,€paragraph€4:€article€24,€paragraph€1:óó€equal€rights€of€spouses;€Ð D”  ÐÌòòarticle€24,€paragraph€1:óó€equal€rights€of€children€to€protective€measures;€Ð ` ÐÌòòarticle€25€and€under€(c):óó€equal€right€to€vote€and€equal€access€to€government€service.€Ð Ü, ÐÌ5.3€Further,€the€author€stated€that€article€26€of€the€Ô_ÔCovevantÔ_Ô€was€explicitly€not€confined€toÐ ¨ø Ðequal€treatment€with€reference€to€certain€rights,€but€stipulated€a€general€principle€of€equality.Ð ŽÞ ÐIt€was€even€regarded€as€of€such€importance€that€under€article€4,€paragraph€1,€of€theÐ tÄ ÐCovenant,€in€a€time€of€public€emergency,€the€prohibition€of€discrimination€on€the€groundsÐ Zª Ðof€race,€Ô_ÔcolourÔ_Ô,€sex,€religion€or€social€origin€must€be€observed.€In€other€words,€even€in€timeÐ @ Ðof€public€emergency,€the€equal€treatment€of€men€and€women€should€remain€intact.€In€theÐ &v Ðprocedure€to€approve€the€Covenant€it€had€been€assumed€by€the€Netherlands€legislativeÐ  \ Ðauthority,€as€the€Netherlands€Government€wrote€in€the€explanatory€memorandum€to€the€BillÐ òB Ðof€Approval,€that€"the€provision€of€article€26€is€also€applicable€to€areas€otherwise€notÐ Ø( Ðcovered€by€the€Covenant'.€That€(undisputed)€conclusion€was€based€on€the€difference€inÐ ¾ Ðformulation€between€article€2,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Covenant€and€of€article€14€of€theÐ ¤ô ÐEuropean€Convention€on€Human€Rights€on€the€one€hand€and€article€26€of€the€Covenant€onÐ Š Ú Ðthe€other.€Ð p!À  ÐÌ5.4€The€author€recalled€that€during€the€discussion€by€the€Human€Rights€Committee,€at€itsÐ <#Œ" Ðfourteenth€session,€of€the€Netherlands€report€submitted€in€compliance€with€article€40€of€theÐ "$r# ÐCovenant€(Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/10/Add.3,€Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/SR.321,€SR.322,€SR.325,€SR.326),€it€had€beenÐ %X $ Ðassumed€by€the€Netherlands€Government€that€article€26€of€the€Covenant€also€applied€in€theÐ î%>!% Ðfield€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights.€Mr.€Ô_ÔOldeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔKalterÔ_Ô€had€stated,€on€behalf€of€theÐ Ô&$"& ÐNetherlands€Government,€that€by€virtue€of€national,€constitutional€law€"direct€applicationÐ º' #' Ðof€article€26€in€the€area€of€social,€economic€and€cultural€rights€depended€on€the€character€ofÐ  (ð#( Ðthe€regulations€or€policy€for€which€that€direct€application€was€requested"€(seeÐ †)Ö$) ÐÔ_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/SR.325,€para.€50).€In€other€words,€in€his€opinion,€article€26€of€the€Covenant€wasÐ l*¼%* Ðapplicable€to€those€rights€and€the€only€relevant€question€in€terms€of€internal,€constitutionalÐ R+¢&+ Ðlaw€in€the€Netherlands€(sects.€93€and€94€of€the€Constitution)€was€whether€in€such€instancesÐ 8,ˆ', Ðarticle€26€was€self„executing€and€could€be€applied€by€the€courts.€He€had€regarded€it€as€self„Ð -n(- Ðevident€that€the€Netherlands€in€its€legislation,€among€other€things,€was€bound€by€article€26Ð ° Ðof€the€Covenant.€"In€that€connection€he€[Mr.€Ô_ÔOldeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔKalterÔ_Ô]€noted€that€the€Government€of€theÐ –æ ÐNetherlands€was€currently€Ô_ÔanalysingÔ_Ô€national€legislation€concerning€discrimination€onÐ |Ì Ðgrounds€of€sex€or€race".€In€the€observations€of€the€State€party€in€the€present€case,€the€authorÐ b² Ðadds,€this€last€point€is€confirmed.€Ð H˜ ÐÌ5.5€The€author€further€stated€that€in€various€national€constitutional€systems€of€countriesÐ  d Ðwhich€have€acceded€to€the€Covenant,€generally€formulated€principles€of€equality€could€beÐ ú J Ðfound€which€were€also€regarded€as€being€applicable€in€the€field€of€economic,€social€andÐ à 0 Ðcultural€rights.€Thus,€in€the€Netherlands€Constitution,€partly€inspired,€the€author€submitted,Ð Æ   Ðby€article€26€of€the€Covenant,€a€generally€formulated€prohibition€of€discrimination€(sect.€1)Ð ¬ ü  Ðwas€laid€down€which€was€irrefutably€regarded€in€the€Netherlands€as€being€applicable€toÐ ’â  Ðeconomic,€social€and€cultural€rights€as€well.€The€only€reason,€she€submitted,€why€the€presentÐ xÈ  Ðissue€had€not€been€settled€at€a€national€level€by€virtue€of€section€1€of€the€Constitution€wasÐ ^®  Ðbecause€the€courts€were€forbidden€to€test€legislation,€such€as€that€being€dealt€with€currently,Ð D”  Ðagainst€the€Constitution€(sect.€120€of€the€Constitution).€The€courts,€she€stated,€were€allowedÐ *z  Ðto€test€legislation€against€self„executing€provisions€of€international€conventions.€Ð ` ÐÌ5.6€The€author€submitted€that€judicial€practice€in€the€Netherlands€had€been€consistent€inÐ Ü, Ðapplying€article€26€of€the€Covenant€also€in€cases€where€economic,€social€and€cultural€rightsÐ Â Ðhad€been€at€stake,€for€example:€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ(a)€Ô_ÔAfdelingÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRechtspraakÔ_Ô€van€de€Ô_ÔRaadÔ_Ô€van€State€(Judicial€Division€of€the€Council€of€State),Ð tÄ Ð29„1„1981€Ô_ÔGS81Ô_Ô€Ô_ÔP441Ô_Ô„442.€This€case€involved€discrimination€on€the€grounds€of€sex€withÐ Zª Ðreference€to€housing.€An€appeal€under€article€26€of€the€Covenant€in€conjunction€with€articleÐ @ Ð11,€paragraph€1,€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€wasÐ &v Ðfounded.€Ð  \ ÐÌ(b)€Ô_ÔGerechtshofÔ_Ô's€Gravenhage€(Court€of€Appeal€at€the€Hague),€17€June€1982€NJ€1983,€345Ð Ø( Ðappendix€3.€Again€with€regard€to€housing,€an€appeal€was€made€under€article€26€of€theÐ ¾ ÐCovenant€and€was€granted.€Ð ¤ô ÐÌ(c)€Ô_ÔCentraleÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRaadÔ_Ô€van€Ô_ÔBeroepÔ_Ô€(Central€Board€of€Appeal),€1€November€1983,€Ô_ÔNJCMÔ_Ô„Bulletin.€Ð p!À  ÐÌ(d)€Ô_ÔCentraleÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRaadÔ_Ô€van€Ô_ÔBeroepÔ_Ô€(Central€Board€of€Appeal),€1€November€1983,€Ô_ÔNJCMÔ_Ô„BulletinÐ <#Œ" Ð9„1€(1984)€appendix€4.€In€this€case,€which€constitutes€the€basis€for€the€petition€to€the€HumanÐ "$r# ÐRights€Committee,€the€Central€Board€of€Appeal€considered€'that€article€26€is€not€applicableÐ %X $ Ðonly€to€the€civil€and€political€rights€which€are€recognized€by€the€Covenant".€The€appealÐ î%>!% Ðunder€article€26€was€subsequently€rejected€for€other€reasons.€Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌ(e)€Board€of€Appeal,€Groningen,€2€May€1985,€reg.€No.€Ô_ÔAAWÔ_Ô€181„1095€appendix€5.€On€theÐ  (ð#( Ðbasis€of€article€26€of€the€Covenant€among€other€things€a€discriminatory€provision€in€theÐ †)Ö$) ÐGeneral€Disablement€Benefits€Act€was€declared€null€and€void.€Ð l*¼%* ÐÌ5.7€The€author€further€submitted€that€the€question€of€equal€treatment€in€the€field€ofÐ 8,ˆ', Ðeconomic,€social€and€cultural€rights€was€not€fundamentally€different€from€the€problem€ofÐ -n(- Ðequality€with€regard€to€freedom€to€express€one's€opinion€or€the€freedom€of€association,€inÐ ° Ðother€words€with€regard€to€civil€and€political€rights.€The€fact€was,€she€argued,€that€in€bothÐ –æ Ðcases€it€was€not€a€question€of€the€level€at€which€social€security€had€been€set€or€the€degree€toÐ |Ì Ðwhich€freedom€of€opinion€was€guaranteed,€but€purely€and€simply€whether€equal€treatmentÐ b² Ðor€the€prohibition€of€discrimination€was€respected.€The€level€of€social€security€did€not€comeÐ H˜ Ðwithin€the€scope€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€nor€was€itÐ . ~ Ðrelevant€in€a€case€of€unequal€treatment.€The€only€relevant€question,€she€submitted,€wasÐ  d Ðwhether€unequal€treatment€was€compatible€with€article€26€of€the€Covenant.€A€contraryÐ ú J Ðinterpretation€of€article€26,€the€author€argued,€would€turn€that€article€into€a€completelyÐ à 0 Ðsuperfluous€provision,€for€then€it€would€not€differ€from€article€2,€paragraph€1,€of€theÐ Æ   ÐCovenant.€Consequently,€she€submitted,€such€an€interpretation€would€be€incompatible€withÐ ¬ ü  Ðthe€text€of€article€26€of€the€Covenant€and€with€the€object€and€purpose€of€the€Covenant€as€laidÐ ’â  Ðdown€in€article€26€of€the€preamble.€Ð xÈ  ÐÌ5.8€The€author€recalled€that€in€its€observations€the€State€party€had€put€forward€the€questionÐ D”  Ðwhether€the€way€in€which€the€Netherlands€was€meeting€its€commitments€under€theÐ *z  ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€(via€article€26€of€theÐ ` ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights),€might€be€judged€by€the€Human€RightsÐ öF ÐCommittee.€The€question,€she€submitted,€was€based€on€a€wrong€point€of€departure,€andÐ Ü, Ðtherefore€required€no€answer.€The€fact€was,€the€author€argued,€that€the€only€question€that€theÐ Â ÐHuman€Rights€Committee€was€required€to€answer€in€that€case€was€whether,€òòÔ_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔmateriaeÔ_Ô,Ð ¨ø Ðóóthe€alleged€violation€came€under€article€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€andÐ ŽÞ ÐPolitical€Rights.€The€author€submitted€that€Ô_ÔthatÔ_Ô€question€must€be€answered€in€the€affirmative.€Ð tÄ ÐÌ5.9€The€author€further€recalled€that€the€State€party€was€of€the€opinion€that€the€allegedÐ @ Ðviolation€could€also€fall€under€article€9€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€SocialÐ &v Ðand€Cultural€Rights€in€conjunction€with€articles€2€and€3€of€the€same€Covenant.€Although€thatÐ  \ Ðquestion€was€not€relevant€in€the€case€in€point,€the€author€submitted,€it€was€obvious€thatÐ òB Ðcertain€issues€were€related€to€provisions€in€both€Covenants.€Although€civil€and€politicalÐ Ø( Ðrights€on€the€one€hand€and€economic€and€social€and€cultural€rights€on€the€other€had€beenÐ ¾ Ðincorporated€for€technical€reasons€into€two€different€Covenants,€it€was€a€fact,€the€authorÐ ¤ô Ðsubmitted,€that€those€rights€were€highly€interdependent.€That€interdependence,€she€argued,Ð Š Ú Ðhad€not€only€emerged€in€the€preamble€to€both€Covenants,€but€was€also€once€again€underlinedÐ p!À  Ðin€General€Assembly€resolution€543€(VI),€in€which€it€had€been€decided€to€draw€up€twoÐ V"¦! Ðcovenants:€"the€enjoyment€of€civic€and€political€freedoms€and€of€economic,€social€andÐ <#Œ" Ðcultural€rights€are€interconnected€and€interdependent".€The€State€party,€too,€she€submitted,Ð "$r# Ðhad€explicitly€recognized€that€interdependence€earlier€in€the€Explanatory€Memorandum€toÐ %X $ Ðthe€Act€of€Approval,€appendix€1,€page€8:€'the€drafters€of€the€two€Covenants€wanted€toÐ î%>!% Ðunderline€the€parallel€nature€of€the€present€international€conventions€by€formulating€theÐ Ô&$"& Ðpreambles€in€almost€entirely€identical€words.€The€point€is€that€they€have€expressed€in€theÐ º' #' Ðpreambles€that,€although€civil€rights€and€political€rights€on€the€one€hand€and€economic,Ð  (ð#( Ðsocial€and€cultural€rights€on€the€other,€have€been€incorporated€into€two€separate€documents,Ð †)Ö$) Ðthe€enjoyment€of€all€these€rights€is€essential'.€If€the€State€party€was€intending€to€imply€thatÐ l*¼%* Ðthe€subject„matter€covered€by€the€one€covenant€did€not€come€under€the€other,€that€wasÐ R+¢&+ Ðdemonstrably€incorrect:€even€a€summary€comparison€of€the€opening€articles€of€the€twoÐ 8,ˆ', Ðcovenants€bore€witness€to€the€contrary,€the€author€argued.€Ð -n(- Ї5.10€In€her€opinion,€the€author€added,€the€State€party€seemed€to€wish€to€say€that€the€HumanÐ ° ÐRights€Committee€was€not€competent€to€take€note€of€the€present€complaint€because€theÐ –æ Ðmatter€could€also€be€brought€up€as€part€of€the€supervisory€procedure€under€the€InternationalÐ |Ì ÐCovenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€(see€art.€16„22).€That€assertion,€theÐ b² Ðauthor€contended,€was€not€valid€because€the€reporting€procedure€under€the€InternationalÐ H˜ ÐCovenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€could€not€be€regarded€as€'anotherÐ . ~ Ðprocedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement'€in€the€sense€of€article€5,€paragraph€2Ð  d Ð(a)€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€Ð ú J ÐÌ6.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Human€RightsÐ Æ   ÐCommittee€must,€in€accordance€with€rule€87€of€its€provisional€rules€of€procedure,€decideÐ ¬ ü  Ðwhether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant.€Ð ’â  ÐÌ6.2€Article€5,€paragraph€2€(a),€of€the€Optional€Protocol€precludes.€the€Committee€fromÐ ^®  Ðconsidering€a€communication€if€the€same€matter€is€being€examined€under€another€procedureÐ D”  Ðof€international€investigation€or€settlement.€In€this€connection€the€Committee€observes€thatÐ *z  Ðthe€examination€of€State€reports,€submitted€under€article€16€of€the€International€CovenantÐ ` Ðon€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights,€does€not,€within€the€meaning€of€article€5,Ð öF Ðparagraph€2€(a),€constitute€an€examination€of€the€"same€matter"€as€a€claim€by€an€individualÐ Ü, Ðsubmitted€to€the€Human€Rights€Committee€under€the€Optional€Protocol.€Ð  ÐÌ6.3€The€Committee€further€observes€that€a€claim€submitted€under€the€Optional€ProtocolÐ ŽÞ Ðconcerning€an€alleged€breach€of€a€provision€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€andÐ tÄ ÐPolitical€Rights,€cannot€be€declared€inadmissible€solely€because€the€facts€also€relate€to€aÐ Zª Ðright€protected€by€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€orÐ @ Ðany€other€international€instrument.€The€Committee€need€only€test€whether€the€allegationÐ &v Ðrelates€to€a€breach€of€a€right€protected€by€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€PoliticalÐ  \ ÐRights.€Ð òB ÐÌ6.4€Article€5,€paragraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol€precludes€the€Committee€fromÐ ¾ Ðconsidering€a€communication€unless€domestic€remedies€have€been€exhausted.€The€partiesÐ ¤ô Ðto€the€present€communication€agree€that€domestic€remedies€have€been€exhausted.€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ6.5€With€regard€to€the€State€party's€inquiry€concerning€the€scope€of€article€26€of€theÐ V"¦! ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€the€Committee€did€not€consider€itÐ <#Œ" Ðnecessary€to€pronounce€on€its€scope€prior€to€deciding€on€the€admissibility€of€theÐ "$r# Ðcommunication.€However,€having€regard€to€the€State€party's€statement€(para.€4.4€above)€thatÐ %X $ Ðit€reserved€the€right€to€submit€further€observations€which€might€have€an€effect€on€theÐ î%>!% Ðquestion€of€the€admissibility€of€the€case,€the€Committee€pointed€out€that€it€would€take€intoÐ Ô&$"& Ðaccount€any€further€observations€received€on€the€matter.€Ð º' #' ÐÌ7.€On€25€October€1985,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€therefore€decided€that€theÐ †)Ö$) Ðcommunication€was€admissible.€In€accordance€with€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€OptionalÐ l*¼%* ÐProtocol,€the€State€party€was€requested€to€submit€to€the€Committee,€within€six€months€of€theÐ R+¢&+ Ðdate€of€transmittal€to€it€of€the€decision€on€admissibility,€written€explanations€or€statementsÐ 8,ˆ', Ðclarifying€the€matter€and€the€measures,€if€any,€that€might€have€been€taken€by€it.€Ð -n(- Ї8.1€In€its€submission€under€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€dated€22€MayÐ ° Ð1986,€the€State€party€again€objected€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication,€reiteratingÐ –æ Ðthe€arguments€advanced€in€its€submission€of€29€May€1985.€Ð |Ì ÐÌ8.2€In€discussing€the€merits€of€the€case,€the€State€party€elucidates€first€the€factual€backgroundÐ H˜ Ðas€follows:€Ð . ~ ÐÌ"When€Mrs.€Brooks€applied€for€Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô€benefits€in€February€1980,€section€13,€subsection€1Ð ú J Ð(1),€was€still€applicable.€This€section€laid€down€that€Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô€benefits€could€not€be€claimed€byÐ à 0 Ðthose€married€women€who€were€neither€breadwinners€nor€permanently€separated€from€theirÐ Æ   Ðhusbands.€The€concept€of€'breadwinner'€as€referred€to€in€section€13,€subsection€1€(1),€ofÐ ¬ ü  ÐÔ_ÔWWVwasÔ_Ô€of€particular€significance,€and€was€further€amplified€in€statutory€instrumentsÐ ’â  Ðbased€on€the€Act€(the€last€relevant€instrument€being€the€ministerial€decree€of€5€April€1976,Ð xÈ  ÐNetherlands€Government€Gazette€1976,€72).€Whether€a€married€woman€was€deemed€to€beÐ ^®  Ða€breadwinner€depended,€òòinter€alia,€óóon€the€absolute€amount€of€the€family's€total€income€andÐ D”  Ðon€what€proportion€of€it€was€contributed€by€the€wife.€That€the€conditions€for€grantingÐ *z  Ðbenefits€laid€down€in€section€13,€subsection€1€(1),€of€Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô€applied€solely€to€married€womenÐ ` Ðand€not€to€married€men€is€due€to€the€fact€that€the€provision€in€question€corresponded€to€theÐ öF Ðthen€prevailing€views€in€society€in€general€concerning€the€roles€of€men€and€women€withinÐ Ü, Ðmarriage€and€society.€Virtually€all€married€men€who€had€jobs€could€be€regarded€as€theirÐ Â Ðfamily's€breadwinner,€so€that€it€was€unnecessary€to€check€whether€they€met€this€criterion€forÐ ¨ø Ðthe€granting€of€benefits€upon€becoming€unemployed.€These€views€have€gradually€changedÐ ŽÞ Ðin€later€years.€This€aspect€will€be€further€discussed€below€(see€para.€8.4).€Ð tÄ ÐÌ"The€Netherlands€is€a€member€State€of€the€European€Economic€Community€(EEC).€On€19Ð @ ÐDecember€1978€the€Council€of€the€European€Communities€issued€a€directive€on€theÐ &v Ðprogressive€implementation€of€the€principle€of€equal€treatment€for€men€and€women€inÐ  \ Ðmatters€of€social€security€(79/7/EEC),€giving€member€States€a€period€of€six€years,€until€23Ð òB ÐDecember€1984,€within€which€to€make€any€amendments€to€legislation€which€might€beÐ Ø( Ðnecessary€in€order€to€bring€it€into€line€with€the€directive.€Pursuant€to€this€directive€theÐ ¾ ÐNetherlands€Government€examined€the€criterion€for€the€granting€of€benefits€laid€down€inÐ ¤ô Ðsection€13,€subsection€1€(1),€of€Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô€in€the€light€of€the€principle€of€equal€treatment€of€menÐ Š Ú Ðand€women€and€in€the€light€of€the€changing€role€patterns€of€the€sexes€in€the€years€since€aboutÐ p!À  Ð1960.€Ð V"¦! ÐÌ'Since€it€could€no€longer€be€assumed€as€a€matter€of€course€in€the€early€Ô_Ô1980sÔ_Ô€that€marriedÐ "$r# Ðmen€with€jobs€should€always€be€regarded€as€'breadwinners',€the€Netherlands€amendedÐ %X $ Ðsection€13,€subsection€1€(1),€of€Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô€to€meet€its€obligations€under€the€EEC€directive.€TheÐ î%>!% Ðamendment€consisted€of€the€deletion€of€section€13,€subsection€1€(1),€with€the€result€that€itÐ Ô&$"& Ðbecame€possible€for€married€women€who€were€not€breadwinners€to€claim€Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô€benefits,Ð º' #' Ðwhile€the€duration€of€the€benefits€was€reduced€for€people€aged€under€35.€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ"In€view€of€changes€in€the€status€of€women€„€and€particularly€married€women€„€in€recentÐ l*¼%* Ðdecades,€the€failure€to€award€Mrs.€Ô_ÔBroeksÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô€benefits€in€1979€is€explicable€in€historicalÐ R+¢&+ Ðterms.€If€she€were€to€apply€for€such€benefits€now,€the€result€would€be€different."€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð8.3€With€regard€to€the€scope€of€article€26€of€the€Covenant,€the€State€party€argues,€òòinter€alia,Ð ° Ðóóas€follows:€Ð –æ ÐÌ"The€Netherlands€Government€takes€the€view€that€article€26€of€the€Covenant€does€entail€anÐ b² Ðobligation€to€avoid€discrimination,€but€that€this€article€can€only€be€invoked€under€theÐ H˜ ÐOptional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant€in€the€sphere€of€civil€and€political€rights,€not€necessarilyÐ . ~ Ðlimited€to€those€civil€and€political€rights€that€are€embodied€in€the€Covenant.€The€GovernmentÐ  d Ðcould,€for€instance,€envisage€the€admissibility€under€the€Optional€Protocol€of€a€complaintÐ ú J Ðconcerning€discrimination€in€the€field€of€taxation.€But€it€cannot€accept€the€admissibility€ofÐ à 0 Ða€complaint€concerning€the€enjoyment€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights.€The€latterÐ Æ   Ðcategory€of€rights€is€the€object€of€a€separate€United€Nations€Covenant.€Mrs.€Ô_ÔBroeksÔ_Ô'Ð ¬ ü  Ðcomplaint€relates€to€rights€in€the€sphere€of€social€security,€which€fall€under€the€Ô_ÔtheÔ_ÔÐ ’â  ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights.€Articles€2,€3€and€9€of€thatÐ xÈ  ÐCovenant€are€of€particular€relevance€here.€That€Covenant€has€its€own€specific€system€andÐ ^®  Ðits€own€specific€organ€for€international€monitoring€of€how€States€parties€meet€theirÐ D”  Ðobligations€and€deliberately€does€not€provide€for€an€individual€complaints€procedure.€Ð *z  ÐÌ'The€Government€considers€it€incompatible€with€the€aims€of€both€the€Covenants€and€theÐ öF ÐOptional€Protocol€that€an€individual€complaint€with€respect€to€the€right€of€social€security,Ð Ü, Ðas€referred€to€in€article€9€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€CulturalÐ Â ÐRights,€could€be€dealt€with€by€the€Human€Rights€Committee€by€way€of€an€individualÐ ¨ø Ðcomplaint€under€the€Optional€Protocol€based€on€article€26€of€the€International€Covenant€onÐ ŽÞ ÐCivil€and€Political€Rights.€Ð tÄ ÐÌ'The€Netherlands€Government€reports€to€the€Economic€and€Social€Council€on€mattersÐ @ Ðconcerning€the€way€it€is€fulfilling€its€obligations€with€respect€to€the€right€to€social€security,Ð &v Ðin€accordance€with€the€relevant€rules€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€andÐ  \ ÐCultural€Rights€...€Ð òB ÐÌ"Should€the€Human€Rights€Committee€take€the€view€that€article€26€of€the€InternationalÐ ¾ ÐCovenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€ought€to€be€interpreted€more€broadly,€thus€that€thisÐ ¤ô Ðarticle€is€applicable€to€complaints€concerning€discrimination€in€the€field€of€social€security,Ð Š Ú Ðthe€Government€would€observe€that€in€that€case€article€26€must€also€be€interpreted€in€theÐ p!À  Ðlight€of€other€comparable€United€Nations€conventions€laying€down€obligations€to€combatÐ V"¦! Ðand€eliminate€discrimination€in€the€field€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights.€TheÐ <#Œ" ÐGovernment€would€particularly€point€to€the€International€Convention€on€the€Elimination€ofÐ "$r# ÐAll€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination€and€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€ofÐ %X $ ÐDiscrimination€against€Women.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ"If€article€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€were€deemedÐ º' #' Ðapplicable€to€complaints€concerning€discriminatory€elements€in€national€legislation€in€theÐ  (ð#( Ðfield€of€those€conventions,€this€could€surely€not€be€taken€to€mean€that€a€State€party€wouldÐ †)Ö$) Ðbe€required€to€have€eliminated€all€possible€discriminatory€elements€from€its€legislation€inÐ l*¼%* Ðthose€fields€at€the€time€of€ratification€of€the€Covenant.€Years€of€work€are€required€in€orderÐ R+¢&+ Ðto€examine€the€whole€complex€of€national€legislation€in€search€of€discriminatory€elements.Ð 8,ˆ', ÐThe€search€can€never€be€completed,€either,€as€distinctions€in€legislation€which€are€justifiableÐ -n(- Ðin€the€light€of€social€views€and€conditions€prevailing€when€they€are€first€made€may€becomeÐ ° Ðdisputable€as€changes€occur€in€the€views€held€in€society€....€Ð –æ ÐÌ"If€the€Human€Rights€Committee€should€decide€that€article€26€of€the€International€CovenantÐ b² Ðon€Civil€and€Political€Rights€entails€obligations€with€regard€to€legislation€in€the€economic,Ð H˜ Ðsocial€and€cultural€field,€such€obligations€could,€in€the€Government's€view,€not€compriseÐ . ~ Ðmore€than€an€obligation€of€States€to€subject€national€legislation€to€periodic€examination€afterÐ  d Ðratification€of€the€Covenant€with€a€view€to€seeking€out€discriminatory€elements€and,€if€theyÐ ú J Ðare€found,€to€progressively€taking€measures€to€eliminate€them€to€the€maximum€of€the€State'sÐ à 0 Ðavailable€resources.€Such€examinations€are€under€way€in€the€Netherlands€with€regard€toÐ Æ   Ðvarious€aspects€of€discrimination,€including€discrimination€between€men€and€women."€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌ8.4€With€regard€to€the€principle€of€equality€laid€down€in€article€26€of€the€Covenant€inÐ xÈ  Ðrelation€to€section€13,€subsection€1€(1),€of€Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô€in€its€unamended€form,€the€State€partyÐ ^®  Ðexplains€the€legislative€history€of€Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô€and€in€particular€the€social€justification€of€theÐ D”  Ð"breadwinner"€concept€at€the€time€the€law€was€drafted.€The€State€party€contends€that,€withÐ *z  Ðthe€"breadwinner"€concept,€"a€proper€balance€was€achieved€between€the€limited€availabilityÐ ` Ðof€public€funds€(which€makes€it€necessary€to€put€them€to€limited,€well„considered€andÐ öF Ðselective€use)€on€the€one€hand€and€the€Government's€obligation€to€provide€social€security€onÐ Ü, Ðthe€other.€The€Government€does€not€accept€that€the€'breadwinner'€concept€as€such€wasÐ Â Ð'discriminatory'€in€the€sense€that€equal€cases€were€treated€in€an€unequal€way€by€law."Ð ¨ø ÐMoreover,€it€is€argued€that€the€provisions€of€Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô€"are€based€on€reasonable€social€andÐ ŽÞ Ðeconomic€considerations€which€are€not€discriminatory€in€origin.€The€restriction€making€theÐ tÄ Ðprovision€in€question€inapplicable€to€men€was€inspired€not€by€any€desire€to€discriminate€inÐ Zª ÐÔ_ÔfavourÔ_Ô€of€men€and€against€women€but€by€the€òòdeóó€òòfacto€óósocial€and€economic€situation€whichÐ @ Ðexisted€at€the€time€when€the€Act€was€passed€and€which€would€have€made€it€pointless€toÐ &v Ðdeclare€the€provision€applicable€to€men.€At€the€time€when€Mrs.€Ô_ÔBroeksÔ_Ô€applied€forÐ  \ Ðunemployment€benefits€the€òòdeóó€òòfacto€óósituation€was€not€essentially€different.€There€wasÐ òB Ðtherefore€no€violation€of€article€26€of€the€Covenant.€This€is€not€altered€by€the€fact€that€a€newÐ Ø( Ðsocial€trend€has€been€growing€in€recent€years,€which€has€made€it€undesirable€for€theÐ ¾ Ðprovision€to€remain€in€force€in€the€present€social€context."€Ð ¤ô ÐÌ8.5€With€reference€to€the€decision€of€the€Central€Board€of€Appeal€of€26€November€1983,Ð p!À  Ðwhich€the€author€criticizes,€the€State€party€contends€that:€Ð V"¦! ÐÌ"The€observation€of€the€Central€Board€of€Appeal€that€the€Covenants€employ€differentÐ "$r# Ðinternational€control€systems€is€highly€relevant.€Not€only€do€parties€to€the€Covenants€reportÐ %X $ Ðto€different€United€Nations€bodies€but,€above€all,€there€is€a€major€difference€between€theÐ î%>!% ÐCovenants€as€regards€the€possibility€of€complaints€by€States€or€individuals,€which€exists€onlyÐ Ô&$"& Ðunder€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€The€contracting€partiesÐ º' #' Ðdeliberately€chose€to€make€this€difference€in€international€monitoring€systems,€because€theÐ  (ð#( Ðnature€and€substance€of€social,€economic€and€cultural€rights€make€them€unsuitable€forÐ †)Ö$) Ðjudicial€review€of€a€complaint€lodged€by€a€State€party€or€an€individual."€Ð l*¼%* ÐÌ9.1€In€her€comments,€dated€19€June€1986,€the€author€reiterates€that€'article€26€if€the€CovenantÐ 8,ˆ', Ðis€explicitly€not€confined€to€equal€treatment€with€reference€to€certain€rights,€but€stipulatesÐ -n(- Ða€general€principle€of€equality.'Ð ° ÐÌ9.2€With€regard€to€the€State€party's€argument€that€it€would€be€incompatible€with€the€aims€ofÐ |Ì Ðboth€the€Covenants€and€the€Optional€Protocol€if€an€individual€complaint€with€respect€to€theÐ b² Ðrights€of€social€security,€as€referred€to€in€article€9€of€the€International€Covenant€onÐ H˜ ÐEconomic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€could€be€dealt€with€by€the€Human€Rights€Committee,Ð . ~ Ðthe€author€contends€that€this€argument€is€ill„rounded,€because€she€is€not€complaining€aboutÐ  d Ðthe€level€of€social€security€or€other€issues€relating€to€article€9€of€the€International€CovenantÐ ú J Ðon€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights,€but€rather€she€claims€to€be€a€victim€of€unequalÐ à 0 Ðtreatment€prohibited€by€article€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ9.3€The€author€further€notes€that€the€State€party€"seems€to€admit€implicitly€that€theÐ ’â  Ðprovisions€of€the€Unemployment€Benefits€Act€were€contrary€to€article€26€at€the€time€whenÐ xÈ  Ð[she]€applied€for€unemployment€benefits,€by€stating€that€the€provisions€in€question€in€theÐ ^®  Ðmeantime€have€been€amended€in€a€way€compatible€with€article€26€of€the€InternationalÐ D”  ÐCovenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€Ð *z  ÐÌ10.€The€Human€Rights€Committee€has€considered€the€present€communication€in€the€light€ofÐ öF Ðall€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€parties,€as€provided€in€article€5,€paragraph€1,€ofÐ Ü, Ðthe€Optional€Protocol.€The€facts€of€the€case€are€not€in€dispute.€Ð  ÐÌ11.€Article€26€of€the€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€provides:€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ"All€persons€are€equal€before€the€law€and€are€entitled€without€any€discrimination€to€the€equalÐ Zª Ðprotection€of€the€law.€In€this€respect,€the€law€shall€prohibit€any€discrimination€and€guaranteeÐ @ Ðto€all€persons€equal€and€effective€protection€against€discrimination€on€any€ground€such€asÐ &v Ðrace,€Ô_ÔcolourÔ_Ô,€sex,€language,€religion,€political€or€other€opinion,€national€or€social€origin,Ð  \ Ðproperty,€birth€or€other€status."€Ð òB ÐÌ12.1€The€State€party€contends€that€there€is€considerable€overlapping€of€the€provisions€ofÐ ¾ Ðarticle€26€with€the€provisions€of€article€2€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€SocialÐ ¤ô Ðand€Cultural€Rights.€The€Committee€is€of€the€view€that€the€International€Covenant€on€CivilÐ Š Ú Ðand€Political€Rights€would€still€apply€even€if€a€particular€subject„matter€is€referred€to€orÐ p!À  Ðcovered€in€other€international€instruments,€for€example,€the€International€Convention€on€theÐ V"¦! ÐElimination€of€All€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination,€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€ofÐ <#Œ" ÐAll€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€Women,€or,€as€in€the€present€case,€the€InternationalÐ "$r# ÐCovenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights.€Notwithstanding€the€interrelated€draftingÐ %X $ Ðhistory€of€the€two€Covenants,€it€remains€necessary€for€the€Committee€to€apply€fully€the€termsÐ î%>!% Ðof€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€The€Committee€observes€in€thisÐ Ô&$"& Ðconnection€that€the€provisions€of€article€2€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€SocialÐ º' #' Ðand€Cultural€Rights€do€not€detract€from€the€full€application€of€article€26€of€the€InternationalÐ  (ð#( ÐCovenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ12.2€The€Committee€has€also€examined€the€contention€of€the€State€party€that€article€26€ofÐ R+¢&+ Ðthe€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€cannot€be€invoked€in€respect€of€aÐ 8,ˆ', Ðright€which€is€specifically€provided€for€under€article€9€of€the€International€Covenant€onÐ -n(- ÐEconomic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€(social€security,€including€social€insurance).€In€soÐ ° Ðdoing,€the€Committee€has€perused€the€relevant€òòÔ_ÔtravauxÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔpreparatoiresÔ_Ô€óóof€the€InternationalÐ –æ ÐCovenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€namely,€the€summary€records€of€the€discussions€thatÐ |Ì Ðtook€place€in€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€in€1948,€1949,€1950€and€1952€and€in€theÐ b² ÐThird€Committee€of€the€General€Assembly€in€1961,€which€provide€a€'supplementary€meansÐ H˜ Ðof€interpretation'€(art.€32€of€the€Vienna€Convention€on€the€Law€of€Treaties€a/).€TheÐ . ~ Ðdiscussions,€at€the€time€of€drafting,€concerning€the€question€whether€the€scope€of€article€26Ð  d Ðextended€to€rights€not€otherwise€guaranteed€by€the€Covenant,€were€inconclusive€and€cannotÐ ú J Ðalter€the€conclusion€arrived€at€by€the€ordinary€means€of€interpretation€referred€to€inÐ à 0 Ðparagraph€12.3€below.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ12.3€For€the€purpose€of€determining€the€scope€of€article€26,€the€Committee€has€taken€intoÐ ’â  Ðaccount€the€'ordinary€meaning'€of€each€element€of€the€article€in€its€context€and€in€the€lightÐ xÈ  Ðof€its€object€and€purpose€(art.€31€of€the€Vienna€Convention€on€the€Law€of€Treaties).€TheÐ ^®  ÐCommittee€begins€by€noting€that€article€26€does€not€merely€duplicate€the€guarantees€alreadyÐ D”  Ðprovided€for€in€article€2.€It€derives€from€the€principle€of€equal€protection€of€the€law€withoutÐ *z  Ðdiscrimination,€as€contained€in€article€7€of€the€Universal€Declaration€of€Human€Rights,Ð ` Ðwhich€prohibits€discrimination€in€law€or€in€practice€in€any€field€regulated€and€protected€byÐ öF Ðpublic€authorities.€Article€26€is€thus€concerned€with€the€obligations€imposed€on€States€inÐ Ü, Ðregard€to€their€legislation€and€the€application€thereof.€Ð  ÐÌ12.4€Although€article€26€requires€that€legislation€should€prohibit€discrimination,€it€does€notÐ ŽÞ Ðof€itself€contain€any€obligation€with€respect€to€the€matters€that€may€be€provided€for€byÐ tÄ Ðlegislation.€Thus€it€does€not,€for€example,€require€any€State€to€enact€legislation€to€provideÐ Zª Ðfor€social€security.€However,€when€such€legislation€is€adopted€in€the€exercise€of€a€State'sÐ @ Ðsovereign€power,€then€such€legislation€must€comply€with€article€26€of€the€Covenant.€Ð &v ÐÌ12.5€The€Committee€observes€in€this€connection€that€what€is€at€issue€is€not€whether€or€notÐ òB Ðsocial€security€should€be€progressively€established€in€the€Netherlands€but€whether€theÐ Ø( Ðlegislation€providing€for€social€security€violates€the€prohibition€against€discriminationÐ ¾ Ðcontained€in€article€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€and€theÐ ¤ô Ðguarantee€given€therein€to€all€persons€regarding€equal€and€effective€protection€againstÐ Š Ú Ðdiscrimination.€Ð p!À  ÐÌ13.€The€right€to€equality€before€the€law€and€to€equal€protection€of€the€law€without€anyÐ <#Œ" Ðdiscrimination€does€not€make€all€differences€of€treatment€discriminatory.€A€differentiationÐ "$r# Ðbased€on€reasonable€and€objective€criteria€does€not€amount€to€prohibited€discriminationÐ %X $ Ðwithin€the€meaning€of€article€26.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ14.€It€therefore€remains€for€the€Committee€to€determine€whether€the€differentiation€inÐ º' #' ÐNetherlands€law€at€the€time€in€question€and€as€applied€to€Mrs.€Brooks€constitutedÐ  (ð#( Ðdiscrimination€within€the€meaning€of€article€26.€The€Committee€notes€that€in€NetherlandsÐ †)Ö$) Ðlaw€the€provisions€of€articles€84€and€85€of€the€Netherlands€Civil€Code€impose€equal€rightsÐ l*¼%* Ðand€obligations€on€both€spouses€with€regard€to€their€joint€income.€Under€section€13,Ð R+¢&+ Ðsubsection€1€(1),€of€the€Unemployment€Benefits€Act€(Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô),€a€married€woman,€in€order€toÐ 8,ˆ', Ðreceive€Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô€benefits,€had€to€prove€that€she€was€a€'breadwinner'€„€a€condition€that€did€notÐ -n(- Ðapply€to€married€men.€Thus€a€differentiation€which€appears€on€one€level€to€be€one€of€statusÐ ° Ðis€in€fact€one€of€sex,€placing€married€women€at€a€disadvantage€compared€with€married€men.Ð –æ ÐSuch€a€differentiation€is€not€reasonable;€and€this€seems€to€have€been€effectivelyÐ |Ì Ðacknowledged€even€by€the€State€party€by€the€enactment€of€a€change€in€the€law€on€29€AprilÐ b² Ð1985,'€with€retroactive€effect€to€23€December€1984€(see€para.€4.5€above).€Ð H˜ ÐÌ15.€The€circumstances€in€which€Mrs.€Brooks€found€herself€at€the€material€time€and€theÐ  d Ðapplication€of€the€then€valid€Netherlands€law€made€her€a€victim€of€a€violation,€based€on€sex,Ð ú J Ðof€article€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€because€she€wasÐ à 0 Ðdenied€a€social€security€benefit€on€an€equal€footing€with€men.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ16.€The€Committee€notes€that€the€State€party€had€not€intended€to€discriminate€against€womenÐ ’â  Ðand€further€notes€with€appreciation€that€the€discriminatory€provisions€in€the€law€applied€toÐ xÈ  ÐMrs.€Brooks€have,€subsequently,€been€eliminated.€Although€the€State€party€has€thus€takenÐ ^®  Ðthe€necessary€measures€to€put€an€end€to€the€kind€of€discrimination€suffered€by€Mrs.€BrooksÐ D”  Ðat€the€time€complained€of,€the€Committee€is€of€the€view€that€the€State€party€should€offer€Mrs.Ð *z  ÐBrooks€an€appropriate€remedy.€Ð ` ÐÌÌòòNotesóó€Ð  ÐÌa/€€€United€Nations,€òòJuridical€Yearbook€1969€óó(United€Nations€publication,€Sales€No.Ð ŽÞ ÐE.71.Ô_ÔV.4Ô_Ô),€p.€140.€