ÿWPC3 ê¨ãðâ?±µj•›úm8Ÿ¨Ž´6ª§^êùïµ~†4Mœ½.¢¹Îò©ÊûC°ÐƒÒ 7û¹vú_&êÐú¯ñ~³ˆY»¡³QGÖhönÓ-Þö~¿ü(P6 ýœgzž)4Fˆª3Ó¬ÝEôÛ²ßÿÑ&ÖƒTøi¹®u¤b…—u-I¡žvbÐtʈ:#LÑË›(ßy÷…þÜÌ 0µæ 0<› 0Y× 0_0 0i 0PøÆH 0á 0(ï D+ AMB % • 0N¥ 0Æó #Á¹ UNzzMÈ(ÌNô^ öw4 mô\  `‹&Times New Roman' F. H. Zwaan-de Vries v. the Netherlands, Communication No. 182/1984 (9 April 1987), U.N. D49 April 1987), U.N. D"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(¹2S$££Ý ƒ–…!ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X=EXXXÔÔ€X=EXXX=EÔÔÔÝ  Ý(ÿÿ$’’'dxd A<< cÿÿX#|x(ÍO$——ÔÿÔòòóóÔÿÔ(ž–…$¡¡ÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X3}XXXÔÔ€X3}XXX3}ÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman Regularð™ù* Äpì*c(„³Corel ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ–…!ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X=EXXXÔÔ€X=EXXX=EÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEÐ ° ÐÌòòÔ_ÔZwaanÔ_Ô„de€Vries€v.€the€NetherlandsóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€No.€182/1984Ð H˜ ÐÌ9€April€1987Ð  d ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ Æ   ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€by:€óóF.€H.€Ô_ÔZwaanÔ_Ô„de€Vries€(represented€by€D.€J.€van€der€Ô_ÔVosÔ_Ô)€Ð xÈ  ÐÌòòAlleged€victim:€óóthe€author€Ð D”  ÐÌòòState€party€concerned:€óóthe€Netherlands€Ð ` ÐÌòòDate€of€communication:€óó28€September€1984€Ð Ü, ÐÌòòDate€of€decision€on€admissibility:€óó23€July€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.€182/1984€submitted€to€theÐ Ø( ÐCommittee€by€F.€H.€Ô_ÔZwaanÔ_Ô„de€Vries€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€InternationalÐ ¾ ÐCovenant€on€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 "$r# ÐÌÌòòò òÓ  ÓViews€under€Article€5,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Optional€Protocoló óóóÐ Ô&$"& ÐÓ‡ÓÌÌ1.€The€author€of€the€communication€(initial€letter€dated€28€September€1984€and€subsequentÐ †)Ö$) Ðletters€of€2€July€1985,€4€and€23€April€1986)€is€Mrs.€F.€H.€Ô_ÔZwaanÔ_Ô„de€Vries,€a€NetherlandsÐ l*¼%* Ðnational€residing€in€Amsterdam,€the€Netherlands,€who€is€represented€before€the€CommitteeÐ R+¢&+ Ðby€Mr.€D.€J.€van€der€Ô_ÔVosÔ_Ô,€head€of€the€Legal€Aid€Department€(Ô_ÔRechtskundigeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔDienstÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔFNVÔ_Ô),Ð 8,ˆ', ÐAmsterdam.€Ð -n(- Ї2.1€The€author€was€born€in€1943€and€is€married€to€Mr.€C.€Ô_ÔZwaanÔ_Ô.€She€was€employed€fromÐ ° Ðearly€1977€to€9€February€1979€as€a€computer€operator.€Since€then€she€has€been€unemployed.Ð –æ ÐUnder€the€Unemployment€Act€she€was€granted€unemployment€benefits€until€10€OctoberÐ |Ì Ð1979.€She€subsequently€applied€for€continued€support€on€the€basis€of€the€UnemploymentÐ b² ÐBenefits€Act€(Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô).€The€Municipality€of€Amsterdam€rejected€her€application€on€theÐ H˜ Ðground€that€she€did€not€meet€the€requirements€because€she€was€a€married€woman;€the€refusalÐ . ~ Ðwas€based€on€section€13,€subsection€1€(1),€of€Ô_ÔWWVÔ_Ô,€which€did€not€apply€to€married€men.€Ð  d ÐÌ2.2€Thus€the€author€claims€to€be€a€victim€of€a€violation€by€the€State€party€of€article€26€of€theÐ à 0 ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€which€provides€that€all€persons€areÐ Æ   Ðequal€before€the€law€and€are€entitled€without€any€discrimination€to€the€equal€protection€ofÐ ¬ ü  Ðthe€law.€The€author€claims€that€the€only€reason€why€she€was€denied€unemployment€benefitsÐ ’â  Ðis€because€of€her€sex€and€marital€status€and€contends€that€this€constitutes€discriminationÐ xÈ  Ðwithin€the€scope€of€article€26€of€the€Covenant.€Ð ^®  ÐÌ2.3€The€author€pursued€the€matter€before€the€competent€domestic€instances.€By€decision€ofÐ *z  Ð9€May€1980€the€Municipality€of€Amsterdam€confirmed€its€earlier€decision€of€12€NovemberÐ ` Ð1979.€The€author€appealed€against€the€decision€of€9€May€1980€to€the€Board€of€Appeal€inÐ öF ÐAmsterdam,€which,€by€an€undated€decision€sent€to€her€on€27€November€1981,€declared€herÐ Ü, Ðappeal€to€be€unfounded.€The€author€then€appealed€to€the€Central€Board€of€Appeal,€whichÐ Â Ðconfirmed€the€decision€of€the€Board€of€Appeal€on€1€November€1983.€Thus,€it€is€claimed€thatÐ ¨ø Ðthe€author€has€exhausted€all€national€legal€remedies.€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ2.4€The€same€matter€has€not€been€submitted€for€examination€to€any€other€procedure€ofÐ Zª Ðinternational€investigation€or€settlement.€Ð @ ÐÌ3.€By€its€decision€of€16€October€1984,€the€Working€Group€of€the€Human€Rights€CommitteeÐ  \ Ðtransmitted€the€communication€under€rule€91€of€the€provisional€rules€of€procedure,€to€theÐ òB ÐState€party€concerned,€requesting€information€and€observations€relevant€to€the€question€ofÐ Ø( Ðadmissibility€of€the€communication.€Ð ¾ ÐÌ4.1€In€its€submission€dated€29€May€1985€the€State€party€underlined,€òòinter€alia,€óóthat:€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ(a)€"The€principle€that€elements€of€discrimination€in€the€realization€of€the€right€to€socialÐ V"¦! Ðsecurity€are€to€be€eliminated€is€embodied€in€article€9€in€conjunction€with€articles€2€and€3€ofÐ <#Œ" Ðthe€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights;€Ð "$r# ÐÌ(b)€"The€Government€of€the€Kingdom€of€the€Netherlands€has€accepted€to€implement€thisÐ î%>!% Ðprinciple€under€the€terms€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€CulturalÐ Ô&$"& ÐRights.€Under€these€terms,€States€parties€have€undertaken€to€take€steps€to€the€maximum€ofÐ º' #' Ðtheir€available€resources€with€a€view€to€achieving€progressively€the€full€realization€of€theÐ  (ð#( Ðrights€recognized€in€that€Covenant€(art.€2,€para.€1);€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ(c)€"The€process€of€gradual€realization€to€the€maximum€of€available€resources€is€well€on€itsÐ R+¢&+ Ðway€in€the€Netherlands.€Remaining€elements€of€discrimination€in€the€realization€of€the€rightsÐ 8,ˆ', Ðare€being€and€will€be€gradually€eliminated;€Ð -n(- ÐÔ_Ô‡(d)€"The€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€has€establishedÐ ° Ðits€own€system€for€international€control€of€the€way€in€which€States€parties€are€fulfilling€theirÐ –æ Ðobligations.€To€this€end€States€parties€have€undertaken€to€submit€to€the€Economic€and€SocialÐ |Ì ÐCouncil€reports€on€the€measures€they€have€adopted€and€the€progress€they€are€making.€TheÐ b² ÐGovernment€of€the€Kingdom€of€the€Netherlands€to€this€end€submitted€its€first€report€inÐ H˜ Ð1983;".€Ð . ~ ÐÌ4.2€The€State€party€then€posed€the€question€whether€the€way€in€which€the€Netherlands€wasÐ ú J Ðfulfilling€its€obligations€under€article€9€in€conjunction€with€articles€2€and€3€of€theÐ à 0 ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€could€become,€by€way€ofÐ Æ   Ðarticle€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€the€object€of€anÐ ¬ ü  Ðexamination€by€the€Human€Rights€Committee.€The€State€party€submitted€that€that€questionÐ ’â  Ðwas€relevant€for€the€decision€whether€the€communication€was€admissible.€Ð xÈ  ÐÌ4.3€The€State€party€stressed€that€it€would€greatly€benefit€from€receiving€an€answer€from€theÐ D”  ÐHuman€Rights€Committee€to€the€question€mentioned€in€paragraph€4.2€above.€"Since€suchÐ *z  Ðan€answer€could€hardly€be€given€without€going€into€one€aspect€of€the€merits€of€the€case€„€i.e.Ð ` Ðthe€question€of€the€scope€of€article€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€PoliticalÐ öF ÐRights€„€the€Government€would€respectfully€request€the€Committee€to€join€the€question€ofÐ Ü, Ðadmissibility€to€an€examination€of€the€merits€of€the€case."€Ð  ÐÌ4.4€In€case€the€Committee€did€not€grant€the€request€and€declared€the€communicationÐ ŽÞ Ðadmissible,€the€State€party€reserved€the€right€to€submit,€in€the€course€of€the€proceedings,Ð tÄ Ðobservations€which€might€have€an€effect€on€the€question€of€admissibility.€Ð Zª ÐÌ4.5€The€State€party€also€indicated€that€a€change€of€legislation€had€been€adopted€recently€inÐ &v Ðthe€Netherlands,€eliminating€section€13,€subsection€1€(1),€of€the€Unemployment€Benefits€ActÐ  \ Ð(WWV),€which€was€the€subject€of€the€author's€claim.€This€is€the€Act€of€29€April€1985,€S€230,Ð òB Ðhaving€a€retroactive€effect€to€23€December€1984.€Ð Ø( ÐÌ4.6€The€State€party€confirmed€that€the€author€had€exhausted€domestic€remedies.€Ð ¤ô ÐÌ5.1€Commenting€on€the€State€party's€submission€under€rule€91,€the€author,€in€a€letter€datedÐ p!À  Ð2€July€1985,€contended€that€the€State€party's€question€to€the€Committee€as€well€as€the€answerÐ V"¦! Ðto€it€were€completely€irrelevant€with€regard€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication,Ð <#Œ" Ðbecause€the€author's€complaint€'pertains€to€the€failure€of€the€Netherlands€to€respect€articleÐ "$r# Ð26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€As€the€Netherlands€signedÐ %X $ Ðand€ratified€the€Optional€Protocol€to€that€Covenant,€the€complainant€is€by€virtue€of€articlesÐ î%>!% Ð1€and€2€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€entitled€to€file€a€complaint€with€your€Committee€pertainingÐ Ô&$"& Ðto€the€non„respect€of€article€26.€Therefore€her€complaint€is€admissible.".€Ð º' #' ÐÌ5.2€The€author€further€pointed€out€that,€although€section€13,€subsection€1€(1),€of€WWV€hadÐ †)Ö$) Ðbeen€eliminated,€her€complaint€concerned€legislation€in€force€in€1979.*€Ð l*¼%* ÐÌ6.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Human€RightsÐ 8,ˆ', ÐCommittee€must,€in€accordance€with€rule€87€of€its€provisional€rules€of€procedure,€decideÐ -n(- Ðwhether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant.€Ð ° ÐÌ6.2€Article€5,€paragraph€2€(a)€of€the€Optional€Protocol€precludes€the€Committee€fromÐ |Ì Ðconsidering€a€communication€if€the€same€matter€is€being€examined€under€another€procedureÐ b² Ðof€international€investigation€or€settlement.€In€this€connection€the€Committee€observes€thatÐ H˜ 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  d Ðparagraph€2€(a),€constitute€an€examination€of€the€'same€matter"€as€a€claim€by€an€individualÐ ú J Ðsubmitted€to€the€Human€Rights€Committee€under€the€Optional€Protocol.€Ð à 0 ÐÌ6.3€The€Committee€further€observes€that€a€claim€submitted€under€the€Optional€ProtocolÐ ¬ ü  Ðconcerning€an€alleged€breach€of€a€provision€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€andÐ ’â  ÐPolitical€Rights€is€not€necessarily€incompatible€with€the€provisions€of€that€Covenant€(see€art.Ð xÈ  Ð3€of€the€Optional€Protocol),€because€the€facts€also€relate€to€a€right€protected€by€theÐ ^®  ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€or€any€other€internationalÐ D”  Ðinstrument.€It€still€had€to€be€tested€whether€the€alleged€breach€of€a€right€protected€by€theÐ *z  ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€was€borne€out€by€the€facts.€Ð ` ÐÌ6.4€Article€5,€paragraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol€precludes€the€Committee€fromÐ Ü, Ðconsidering€a€communication€unless€domestic€remedies€have€been€exhausted.€The€partiesÐ Â Ðto€the€present€communication€agree€that€domestic€remedies€have€been€exhausted.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ6.5€With€regard€to€the€State€party's€inquiry€concerning€the€scope€of€article€26€of€theÐ tÄ ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€the€Committee€did€not€consider€itÐ Zª Ðnecessary€to€pronounce€on€its€scope€prior€to€deciding€on€the€admissibility€of€theÐ @ Ðcommunication.€However,€having€regard€to€the€State€party's€statement€(para.€4.4€above)€thatÐ &v Ðit€reserved€the€right€to€submit€further€observations€which€might€have€an€effect€on€theÐ  \ Ðquestion€of€the€admissibility€of€the€case,€the€Committee€pointed€out€that€it€would€take€intoÐ òB Ðaccount€any€further€observations€received€on€the€matter.€Ð Ø( ÐÌ7.€On€23€July€1984,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€therefore€decided€that€the€CommunicationÐ ¤ô Ðwas€admissible.€In€accordance€with€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€the€StateÐ Š Ú Ðparty€was€requested€to€submit€to€the€Committee,€within€six€months€of€the€date€of€transmittalÐ p!À  Ðto€it€of€the€decision€on€admissibility,€written€explanations€or€statements€clarifying€the€matterÐ V"¦! Ðand€the€measures,€if€any,€that€might€have€been€taken€by€it.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ8.1€In€its€submission€under€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€dated€14€JanuaryÐ %X $ Ð1986,€the€State€party€again€objected€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication,€reiteratingÐ î%>!% Ðthe€arguments€advanced€in€its€submission€of€29€May€1985.€Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌ8.2€In€discussing€the€merits€of€the€case,€the€State€party€elucidates€first€the€factual€backgroundÐ  (ð#( Ðas€follows:€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ"When€Mrs.€Zwaan€applied€for€WWV€benefits€in€October€1979,€section€13,€subsection€1€(1),Ð R+¢&+ Ðwas€still€applicable.€This€section€laid€down€that€WWV€benefits€could€not€be€claimed€byÐ 8,ˆ', Ðthose€married€women€who€were€neither€breadwinners€nor€permanently€separated€from€theirÐ -n(- Ðhusbands.€The€concept€of€'breadwinner'€as€referred€to€in€section€13,€subsection€1€(1),€ofÐ ° ÐWWV€was€of€particular€significance,€and€was€further€amplified€in€statutory€instrumentsÐ –æ Ðbased€on€the€Act€(the€last€relevant€instrument€being€the€ministerial€decree€of€5€April€1976,Ð |Ì ÐNetherlands€Government€Gazette€1976,€72).€Whether€a€married€woman€was€deemed€to€beÐ b² Ða€breadwinner€depended,€òòinter€alia,€óóon€the€absolute€amount€of€the€family's€total€income€andÐ H˜ Ðon€what€proportion€of€it€was€contributed€by€the€wife.€That€the€conditions€for€grantingÐ . ~ Ðbenefits€laid€down€in€section€13,€subsection€1€(1),€of€WWV€applied€solely€to€married€womenÐ  d Ðand€not€to€married€men€is€due€to€the€fact€that€the€provision€in€question€corresponded€to€theÐ ú J Ðthen€prevailing€views€in€society€in€general€concerning€the€roles€of€men€and€women€withinÐ à 0 Ðmarriage€and€society.€Virtually€all€married€men€who€had€jobs€could€be€regarded€as€theirÐ Æ   Ðfamily's€breadwinner,€so€that€it€was€unnecessary€to€check€whether€they€met€this€criterion€forÐ ¬ ü  Ðthe€granting€of€benefits€upon€becoming€unemployed.€These€views€have€gradually€changedÐ ’â  Ðin€later€years.€This€aspect€will€be€further€discussed€below€(see€para.€8.4).€Ð xÈ  ÐÌ"The€Netherlands€is€a€member€State€of€the€European€Economic€Community€(EEC).€On€19Ð D”  ÐDecember€1978€the€Council€of€the€European€Communities€issued€a€directive€on€theÐ *z  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 öF ÐDecember€1984,€within€which€to€make€any€amendments€to€legislation€which€might€beÐ Ü, Ðnecessary€in€order€to€bring€it€into€line€with€the€directive.€Pursuant€to€this€directive€theÐ Â ÐNetherlands€Government€examined€the€criterion€for€the€granting€of€benefits€laid€down€inÐ ¨ø Ðsection€13,€subsection€1€(1),€of€WWV€in€the€light€of€the€principle€of€equal€treatment€of€menÐ ŽÞ Ðand€women€and€in€the€light€of€the€changing€role€patterns€of€sexes€in€the€years€since€aboutÐ tÄ Ð1960.€Ð Zª ÐÌ"Since€it€could€no€longer€be€assumed€as€a€matter€of€course€in€the€early€1980s€that€marriedÐ &v Ðmen€with€jobs€should€always€be€regarded€as€'breadwinners',€the€Netherlands€amendedÐ  \ Ðsection€13,€subsection€1€(1},€of€WWV€to€meet€its€obligations€under€the€EEC€directive.€TheÐ òB Ðamendment€consisted€of€the€deletion€of€section€13,€subsection€1€(1),€with€the€result€that€itÐ Ø( Ðbecame€possible€for€married€women€who€were€not€breadwinners€to€claim€WWV€benefits,Ð ¾ Ðwhile€the€duration€of€the€benefits,€which€had€previously€been€two€years,€was€reduced€forÐ ¤ô Ðpeople€aged€under€35.€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ"In€view€of€changes€in€the€status€of€women€„€and€particularly€married€women€„€in€recentÐ V"¦! Ðdecades,€the€failure€to€award€Mrs.€Zwaan€WWV€benefits€in€1979€is€explicable€in€historicalÐ <#Œ" Ðterms.€If€she€were€to€apply€for€such€benefits€now,€the€result€would€be€different."€Ð "$r# ÐÌ8.3€With€regard€to€the€scope€of€article€26€of€the€Covenant,€the€State€party€argues€òòinter€aliaÐ î%>!% Ðóóas€follows:€Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌ"The€Netherlands€Government€takes€the€view€that€article€26€of€the€Covenant€does€entail€anÐ  (ð#( Ðobligation€to€avoid€discrimination,€but€that€this€article€can€only€be€invoked€under€theÐ †)Ö$) ÐOptional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant€in€the€sphere€of€civil€and€political€rights.€Civil€andÐ l*¼%* Ðpolitical€rights€are€to€be€distinguished€from€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights,€which€areÐ R+¢&+ Ðthe€object€of€a€separate€United€Nations€Covenant,€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,Ð 8,ˆ', ÐSocial€and€Cultural€Rights.€Ð -n(- Ї"The€complaint€made€in€the€present€case€relates€to€obligations€in€the€sphere€of€socialÐ ° Ðsecurity,€which€fall€under€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€CulturalÐ –æ ÐRights.€Articles€2,€3€and€9€of€that€Covenant€are€of€particular€relevance€here.€That€CovenantÐ |Ì Ðhas€its€own€specific€system€and€its€own€specific€organ€for€international€monitoring€of€howÐ b² ÐStates€parties€meet€their€obligations€and€deliberately€does€not€provide€for€an€individualÐ H˜ Ðcomplaints€procedure.€Ð . ~ ÐÌ"The€Government€considers€it€incompatible€with€the€aims€of€both€the€Covenants€and€theÐ ú J ÐOptional€Protocol€that€an€individual€complaint€with€respect€to€the€right€of€social€security,Ð à 0 Ðas€referred€to€in€article€9€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€CulturalÐ Æ   ÐRights,€could€be€dealt€with€by€the€Human€Rights€Committee€by€way€of€an€individualÐ ¬ ü  Ðcomplaint€under€the€Optional€Protocol€based€on€article€26€of€the€International€Covenant€onÐ ’â  ÐCivil€and€Political€Rights.€Ð xÈ  ÐÌ'The€Netherlands€Government€reports€to€the€Economic€and€Social€Council€on€mattersÐ D”  Ðconcerning€the€way€it€is€fulfilling€its€obligations€with€respect€to€the€right€to€social€security,Ð *z  Ðin€accordance€with€the€relevant€rules€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€andÐ ` ÐCultural€Rights€...€Ð öF ÐÌ'Should€the€Human€Rights€Committee€take€the€view€that€article€26€of€the€InternationalÐ Â ÐCovenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€ought€to€be€interpreted€more€broadly,€thus€that€thisÐ ¨ø Ðarticle€is€applicable€to€complaints€concerning€discrimination€in€the€field€of€social€security,Ð ŽÞ Ðthe€Government€would€observe€that€in€that€case€article€26€must€also€be€interpreted€in€theÐ tÄ Ðlight€of€other€comparable€United€Nations€conventions€laying€down€obligations€to€combatÐ Zª Ðand€eliminate€discrimination€in€the€field€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights.€TheÐ @ ÐGovernment€would€particularly€point€to€the€International€Convention€on€the€Elimination€ofÐ &v ÐAll€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination€and€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€ofÐ  \ ÐDiscrimination€against€Women.€Ð òB ÐÌ"If€article€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€were€deemedÐ ¾ Ðapplicable€to€complaints€concerning€discriminatory€elements€in€national€legislation€in€theÐ ¤ô Ðfield€of€those€conventions,€this€could€surely€not€be€taken€to€mean€that€a€State€party€wouldÐ Š Ú Ðbe€required€to€have€eliminated€all€possible€discriminatory€elements€from€its€legislation€inÐ p!À  Ðthose€fields€at€the€time€of€ratification€of€the€Covenant.€Years€of€work€are€required€in€orderÐ V"¦! Ðto€examine€the€whole€complex€of€national€legislation€in€search€of€discriminatory€elements.Ð <#Œ" ÐThe€search€can€never€be€completed,€either,€as€distinctions€in€legislation€which€are€justifiableÐ "$r# Ðin€the€light€of€social€views€and€conditions€prevailing€when€they€are€first€made€may€becomeÐ %X $ Ðdisputable€as€changes€occur€in€the€views€held€in€society€...€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ"If€the€Human€Rights€Committee€should€decide€that€article€26€of€the€International€CovenantÐ º' #' Ðon€Civil€and€Political€Rights€entails€obligations€with€regard€to€legislation€in€the€economic,Ð  (ð#( Ðsocial€and€cultural€field,€such€obligations€could,€in€the€Government's€view,€not€compriseÐ †)Ö$) Ðmore€than€an€obligation€of€States€to€subject€national€legislation€to€periodic€examination€afterÐ l*¼%* Ðratification€of€the€Covenant€with€a€view€to€seeking€out€discriminatory€elements€and,€if€theyÐ R+¢&+ Ðare€found,€to€progressively€taking€measures€to€eliminate€them€to€the€maxims€of€the€State'sÐ 8,ˆ', Ðavailable€resources.€Such€examinations€are€under€way€in€the€Netherlands€with€regard€toÐ -n(- Ðvarious€aspects€of€discrimination,€including€discrimination€between€men€and€women."€Ð ° ÐÌ8.4€With€regard€to€the€principle€of€equality€laid€down€in€article€26€of€the€Covenant€inÐ |Ì Ðrelation€to€section€13,€subsection€1€(1),€of€WWV€in€its€unamended€form,€the€State€partyÐ b² Ðexplains€the€legislative€history€of€WWV€and€in€particular€the€social€justification€of€theÐ H˜ Ð"breadwinner"€concept€at€the€time€the€law€was€drafted.€The€State€party€contends€that€withÐ . ~ Ðthe€"breadwinner"€concept€"a€proper€balance€was€achieved'€between€the€limited€availabilityÐ  d Ðof€public€funds€(which€makes€it€necessary€to€put€them€to€limited,€well„considered€andÐ ú J Ðselective€use)€on€the€one€hand€and€the€Government's€obligation€to€provide€social€security€onÐ à 0 Ðthe€other.€The€Government€does€not€accept€that€the€'breadwinner'€concept€as€such€wasÐ Æ   Ð'discriminatory'€in€the€sense€that€equal€cases€were€treated€in€an€unequal€way€by€law."Ð ¬ ü  ÐMoreover,€it€is€argued€that€the€provisions€of€WWV€"are€based€on€reasonable€social€andÐ ’â  Ðeconomic€considerations€which€are€not€discriminatory€in€origin.€The€restriction€making€theÐ xÈ  Ðprovision€in€question€inapplicable€to€men€was€inspired€not€by€any€desire€to€discriminate€inÐ ^®  Ðfayour€of€men€and€against€women€but€by€the€òòde€facto€óósocial€and€economic€situation€whichÐ D”  Ðexisted€at€the€time€when€the€Act€was€passed€and€which€would€have€made€it€pointless€toÐ *z  Ðdeclare€the€provision€applicable€to€men.€At€the€time€when€Mrs.€Zwaan€applied€forÐ ` Ðunemployment€benefits€the€òòde€facto€óósituation€was€not€essentially€different.€There€wasÐ öF Ðtherefore€no€violation€of€article€26€of€the€Covenant.€This€is€not€altered€by€the€fact€that€a€newÐ Ü, Ðsocial€trend€has€been€growing€in€recent€years,€which€has€made€it€undesirable€for€theÐ Â Ðprovision€to€remain€in€force€in€the€present€social€context."€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ8.5€With€reference€to€the€decision€of€the€Central€Board€of€Appeal€of€1€November€1983,Ð tÄ Ðwhich€the€author€criticizes,€the€State€party€contends€that€"The€observation€of€the€CentralÐ Zª ÐBoard€of€Appeal€that€the€Covenants€employ€different€international€control€systems€is€highlyÐ @ Ðrelevant.€Not€only€do€parties€to€the€Covenants€report€to€different€United€Nations€agenciesÐ &v Ðbut,€above€all,€there€is€a€major€difference€between€the€Covenants€as€regards€the€possibilityÐ  \ Ðof€complaints€by€States€or€individuals,€which€exists€only€under€the€International€CovenantÐ òB Ðon€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€The€contracting€parties€deliberately€chose€to€make€thisÐ Ø( Ðdifference€in€international€monitoring€systems,€because€the€nature€and€substance€of€social,Ð ¾ Ðeconomic€and€cultural€rights€make€them€unsuitable€for€judicial€review€of€a€complaint€lodgedÐ ¤ô Ðby€a€State€party€or€an€individual."€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ9.1€In€her€comments,€dated€4€and€23€April€1986,€the€author€reiterates€that€"article€13,Ð V"¦! Ðsubsection€1€(1)€contains€the€requirement€of€being€breadwinner€for€married€women€only,€andÐ <#Œ" Ðnot€for€married€men.€This€distinction€runs€counter€to€article€26€of€the€Covenant€...€TheÐ "$r# Ðobservations€of€the€Netherlands€Government€on€views€in€society€concerning€traditional€rolesÐ %X $ Ðof€men€and€women€are€completely€irrelevant€to€the€present€case.€The€question€...€is€in€factÐ î%>!% Ðnot€whether€those€roles€could€justify€the€existence€of€article€13,€subsection€1€(1),€of€WWV,Ð Ô&$"& Ðbut€...€whether€this€article€in€1979€constituted€an€infraction€of€article€26€of€the€Covenant€...Ð º' #' ÐThe€State€of€the€Netherlands€is€wrong€when€it€takes€the€view€that€the€complainant's€viewÐ  (ð#( Ðcould€imply€that€all€discriminatory€elements€ought€to€have€been€eliminated€from€its€nationalÐ †)Ö$) Ðlegislation€at€the€time€of€ratification€of€the€Covenant€...€The€complainant's€view€does€imply,Ð l*¼%* Ðhowever,€that€ratification€enables€all€Netherlands€citizens€to€invoke€article€26€of€theÐ R+¢&+ ÐCovenant€directly€...€if€they€believe€that€they€are€being€discriminated€against.€This€does€notÐ 8,ˆ', Ðimply€that€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€and€theÐ -n(- ÐConvention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€Women€have€becomeÐ ° Ðmeaningless.€Those€treaties€in€fact€compel€the€Netherlands€to€eliminate€discriminatoryÐ –æ Ðprovisions€from€more€specific€parts€of€national€legislation."€Ð |Ì ÐÌ9.2€With€respect€to€the€State€party's€contention€that€article€26€of€the€Covenant€can€only€beÐ H˜ Ðinvoked€in€the€sphere€of€civil€and€political€rights,€the€author€claims€that€this€view€is€notÐ . ~ Ðshared€by€Netherland€courts€and€that€it€also€"runs€counter€to€the€stand€taken€by€theÐ  d ÐGovernment€itself€during€parliamentary€approval.€It€then€stated€that€article€26€„€as€opposedÐ ú J Ðto€article€2,€paragraph€1€„€'also€applied€to€areas€otherwise€not€covered€by€the€Covenant'".€Ð à 0 ÐÌ9.3€The€author€also€disputes€the€State€party's€contention€that€applicability€of€article€26€withÐ ¬ ü  Ðregard€to€the€right€of€social€security,€as€referred€to€in€article€9€of€the€International€CovenantÐ ’â  Ðon€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights,€would€be€incompatible€with€the€aims€of€bothÐ xÈ  ÐCovenants.€The€author€claims€that€article€26€would€apply€"to€one€well„defined€aspect€ofÐ ^®  Ðarticle€9€only,€which€is€equal€treatment€before€the€law,€leaving€other€important€aspects€suchÐ D”  Ðas€the€level€of€social€security€aside".€Ð *z  ÐÌ9.4€With€regard€to€the€State€party's€argument€that,€even€if€article€26€were€to€be€consideredÐ öF Ðapplicable,€the€State€party€would€have€a€delay€of€several€years€from€the€time€of€ratificationÐ Ü, Ðof€the€Covenant€to€adjust€its€legislation,€the€author€contends€that€this€argument€runs€counterÐ Â Ðto€the€observations€made€by€the€Government€at€the€time€of€[parliamentary]€approval€withÐ ¨ø Ðregard€to€article€2,€paragraph€2,€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€RightsÐ ŽÞ Ðstating€that€such€a€òòterme€de€grace€óówould€be€applicable€only€with€respect€to€provisions€thatÐ tÄ Ðare€not€self„executing,€whereas€article€26€is€in€fact€recognized€by€the€Government€and€courtÐ Zª Ðrulings€as€self„executing.€The€author€adds€that€'it€can,€in€fact,€be€concluded€from€the€òòtravauxÐ @ Ðpreparatoires€óóof€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€that€according€toÐ &v Ðthe€majority€of€the€delegates€'it€was€essential€to€permit€a€certain€degree€of€elasticity€to€theÐ  \ Ðobligations€imposed€on€States€by€the€covenant,€since€all€States€would€not€be€in€a€positionÐ òB Ðimmediately€to€take€the€necessary€legislative€or€other€measures€for€the€implementation€ofÐ Ø( Ðits€provisions".€a/€Ð ¾ ÐÌ10.€The€Human€Rights€Committee€has€considered€the€present€communication€in€the€light€ofÐ Š Ú Ðall€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€parties,€as€provided€in€article€5€(1)€of€the€OptionalÐ p!À  ÐProtocol.€The€facts€of€the€case€are€not€in€dispute.€Ð V"¦! ÐÌ11.€Article€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€provides:€Ð "$r# ÐÌ"All€persons€are€equal€before€the€law€and€are€entitled€without€any€discrimination€to€the€equalÐ î%>!% Ðprotection€of€the€law.€In€this€respect,€the€law€shall€prohibit€any€discrimination€and€guaranteeÐ Ô&$"& Ðto€all€persons€equal€and€effective€protection€against€discrimination€on€any€ground€such€asÐ º' #' Ðrace,€colour,€sex,€language,€religion,€political€or€other€opinion,€national€or€social€origin,Ð  (ð#( Ðproperty,€birth€or€other€status.'€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ12.1€The€State€party€contends€that€there€is€considerable€overlapping€of€the€provisions€ofÐ R+¢&+ Ðarticle€26€with€the€provisions€of€article€2€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€SocialÐ 8,ˆ', Ðand€Cultural€Rights.€The€Committee€is€of€the€view€that€the€International€Covenant€on€CivilÐ -n(- Ðand€Political€Rights€would€still€apply€even€if€a€particular€subject„matter€is€referred€to€orÐ ° Ðcovered€in€other€international€instruments,€for€example€the€International€Convention€on€theÐ –æ ÐElimination€of€All€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination,€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€ofÐ |Ì ÐAll€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€Women,€or,€as€in€the€present€case,€the€InternationalÐ b² ÐCovenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights.€Notwithstanding€the€interrelated€draftingÐ H˜ Ðhistory€of€the€two€Covenants,€it€remains€necessary€for€the€Committee€to€apply€fully€the€termsÐ . ~ Ðof€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€The€Committee€observes€in€thisÐ  d Ðconnection€that€the€provisions€of€article€2€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€SocialÐ ú J Ðand€Cultural€Rights€do€not€detract€from€the€full€application€of€article€26€of€the€InternationalÐ à 0 ÐCovenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ12.2€The€Committee€has€also€examined€the€contention€of€the€State€party€that€article€26€ofÐ ’â  Ðthe€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€cannot€be€invoked€in€respect€of€aÐ xÈ  Ðright€which€is€specifically€provided€for€under€article€9€of€the€International€Covenant€onÐ ^®  ÐEconomic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€(social€security,€including€social€insurance).€In€soÐ D”  Ðdoing,€the€Committee€has€perused€the€relevant€òòtravaux€preparatoires€óóof€the€InternationalÐ *z  ÐCovenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€namely€the€summary€records€of€the€discussions€thatÐ ` Ðtook€place€in€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€in€1948,€1949,€1950€and€1952€and€in€theÐ öF ÐThird€Committee€of€the€General€Assembly€in€1961,€which€provide€a€'supplementary€meansÐ Ü, Ðof€interpretation'€(art.€32€of€the€Vienna€Convention€on€the€Law€of€Treaties€b/).€TheÐ Â Ðdiscussions,€at€the€time€of€drafting,€concerning€the€question€whether€the€scope€of€article€26Ð ¨ø Ðextended€to€rights€not€otherwise€guaranteed€by€the€Covenant,€were€inconclusive€and€cannotÐ ŽÞ Ðalter€the€conclusion€arrived€at€by€the€ordinary€means€of€interpretation€referred€to€inÐ tÄ Ðparagraph€12.3€below.€Ð Zª ÐÌ12.3€For€the€purpose€of€determining€the€scope€of€article€26,€the€Committee€has€taken€intoÐ &v Ðaccount€the€'ordinary€meaning'€of€each€element€of€the€article€in€its€context€and€in€the€lightÐ  \ Ðof€its€object€and€purpose€(art.€31€of€the€Vienna€Convention€on€the€Law€of€Treaties).€TheÐ òB ÐCommittee€begins€by€noting€that€article€26€does€not€merely€duplicate€the€guarantees€alreadyÐ Ø( Ðprovided€for€in€article€2.€It€derives€from€the€principle€of€equal€protection€of€the€law€withoutÐ ¾ Ðdiscrimination,€as€contained€in€article€7€of€the€Universal€Declaration€of€Human€Rights,Ð ¤ô Ðwhich€prohibits€discrimination€in€law€or€in€practice€in€any€field€regulated€and€protected€byÐ Š Ú Ðpublic€authorities.€Article€26€is€thus€concerned€with€the€obligations€imposed€on€States€inÐ p!À  Ðregard€to€their€legislation€and€the€application€thereof.€Ð V"¦! ÐÌ12.4€Although€article€26€requires€that€legislation€should€prohibit€discrimination,€it€does€notÐ "$r# Ðof€itself€contain€any€obligation€with€respect€to€the€matters€that€may€be€provided€for€byÐ %X $ Ðlegislation.€Thus€it€does€not,€for€example,€require€any€State€to€enact€legislation€to€provideÐ î%>!% Ðfor€social€security.€However,€when€such€legislation€is€adopted€in€the€exercise€of€a€State'sÐ Ô&$"& Ðsovereign€power,€then€such€legislation€must€comply€with€article€26€of€the€Covenant.€Ð º' #' ÐÌ12.5€The€Committee€observes€in€this€connection€that€what€is€at€issue€is€not€whether€or€notÐ †)Ö$) Ðsocial€security€should€be€progressively€established€in€the€Netherlands€but€whether€theÐ l*¼%* Ðlegislation€providing€for€social€security€violates€the€prohibition€against€discriminationÐ R+¢&+ Ðcontained€in€article€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€and€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðguarantee€given€therein€to€all€persons€regarding€equal€and€effective€protection€againstÐ -n(- Ðdiscrimination.€Ð ° ÐÌ13.€The€right€to€equality€before€the€law€and€to€equal€protection€of€the€law€without€anyÐ |Ì Ðdiscrimination€does€not€make€all€differences€of€treatment€discriminatory.€A€differentiationÐ b² Ðbased€on€reasonable€and€objective€criteria€does€not€amount€to€prohibited€discriminationÐ H˜ Ðwithin€the€meaning€of€article€26.€Ð . ~ ÐÌ14.€It€therefore€remains€for€the€Committee€to€determine€whether€the€differentiation€inÐ ú J ÐNetherlands€law€at€the€time€in€question€and€as€applied€to€Mrs.€Zwaan„de€Vries€constitutedÐ à 0 Ðdiscrimination€within€the€meaning€of€article€26.€The€Committee€notes€that€in€NetherlandsÐ Æ   Ðlaw€the€provisions€of€articles€84€and€85€of€the€Netherlands€Civil€Code€imposes€equal€rightsÐ ¬ ü  Ðand€obligations€on€both€spouses€with€regard€to€their€joint€income.€Under€section€13,Ð ’â  Ðsubsection€1€(1),€of€the€Unemployment€Benefits€Act€(WWV)€a€married€woman,€in€order€toÐ xÈ  Ðreceive€WWV€benefits,€had€to€prove€that€she€was€a€'breadwinner'€„€a€condition€that€did€notÐ ^®  Ðapply€to€married€men.€Thus€a€differentiation€which€appears€on€one€level€to€be€one€of€statusÐ D”  Ðis€in€fact€one€of€sex,€placing€married€women€at€a€disadvantage€compared€with€married€men.Ð *z  ÐSuch€a€differentiation€is€not€reasonable,€and€this€seems€to€have€been€effectivelyÐ ` Ðacknowledged€even€by€the€State€party€by€the€enactment€of€a€change€in€the€law€on€29€AprilÐ öF Ð1985,€with€retroactive€effect€to€23€December€1984€(see€para.€4.5€above).€Ð Ü, ÐÌ15.€The€circumstances€in€which€Mrs.€Zwaan„de€Vries€found€herself€at€the€material€time€andÐ ¨ø Ðthe€application€of€the€then€valid€Netherlands€law€made€her€a€victim€of€a€violation,€based€onÐ ŽÞ Ðsex,€of€article€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€because€sheÐ tÄ Ðwas€denied€a€social€security€benefit€on€an€equal€footing€with€men.€Ð Zª ÐÌ16.€The€Committee€notes€that€the€State€party€had€not€intended€to€discriminate€against€womenÐ &v Ðand€further€notes€with€appreciation€that€the€discriminatory€provisions€in€the€law€applied€toÐ  \ ÐMrs.€Zwaan„de€Vries€have,€subsequently,€been€eliminated.€Although€the€State€party€has€thusÐ òB Ðtaken€the€necessary€measures€to€put€an€end€to€the€kind€of€discrimination€suffered€by€Mrs.Ð Ø( ÐZwaan„de€Vries€at€the€time€complained€of,€the€Committee€is€of€the€view€that€the€State€partyÐ ¾ Ðshould€offer€Mrs.€Zwaan„de€Vries€an€appropriate€remedy.€Ð ¤ô ÐÌÌòòNotesóó€Ð V"¦! ÐÌa/€€€òòOfficial€Records€of€the€General€Assembly,€Tenth€Session,€Annexes,€óóagenda€item€28€(PartÐ "$r# ÐII),€document€A/2929,€chap.€V,€para.€8.€Ð %X $ ÐÌb/€€€United€Nations,€òòJuridical€Yearbook€1969€óó(United€Nations€publication,€Sales€No.Ð Ô&$"& ÐE.71.V.4),€p.€140.€Ð º' #' ÐÌ*/€€€The€Covenant€and€the€Optional€Protocol€entered€into€force€on€11€March€1979€in€respectÐ †)Ö$) Ðof€the€Netherlands.€