ÿWPC)  (³!—Hó1ä9?HÂÓí‚P·š.R²ø•¶á4^ŠÄ8\ïe¶‘J`ß@åQ+¥žaî­èW¬d£õuZ­†=Ëë$è¨3|rvýÚЛˆó¦‹u…P#’^yêÝ‚Y£Ö¬’àrÓ±Hý4a%à©Æ´¤ŠµìÒµ;Ä™%¹ô¤ïž÷®ÍªÝ>ùV§-•Ù^Ĭ ‹*Q÷¬ÉíÝ!kov.2)­jWñ¬)CAWj¨:+kG†ï¦\>ärŒp•ë D¶Á>ZoQÀ<±C\øÀ‘œž˜n~á! ÅÆ‹QT«¨3÷nzH6¡ò#ÎýïbÑÕÝÏZBדaAóãÊÑåÿG‚׳`×Ý À0°xœ·ìü ¸#[ßtd„f@ïÜ^NëQ¾*òëåHÿâÞˆ—éNh»oý5 )oSP‡PT¹@Ä©PUs×y´87§ 1öøþÑ/OðiùÌsSÚñâµ~WÏ5â—OK ÁD¦öð¿—©@‹K²ÿ—º¸CRšu W¬å¶°ƒ>=;t‹B2'sb.iõä_KjÚ™$"øã{%¿¥I¤˜±8‡LPÄŽ 0µR 0< 0iCƬ 0Ñr 0(C D+k AM– ã 0¶ó #Á© UNj %¸ M¾ ( Nê ^ ì wø 4ü  m ô\  `‹&Times New Roman' Atkinson v. Canada, Communication No. 573/1994, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/55/D/573/1994 (1995).,/573/1994 (1995)."Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   6F , ÿÿ4Heading 3Ô S ÔÓ p^SÓÔ€£££Ôò òÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ€XXXÔó óÓ p^SÓ<ÿÿ:Default Para< ÿÿ:Normal (Web)Ô S ÔÓ =jSÓÓ =jSÓ Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5(©2 Ç$££Ý ƒ ÅÚ!ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X§€XXXÔÔ€X§€XXX§€ÔÝ  Ý(ÿÿ$’’'dxd A<< cÿÿ#|x(ŽÅÚ$¡¡ÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X°ôXXXÔÔ€X°ôXXX°ôÔ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularXÔuô* Äpì*¢Ø+00 ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ ÅÚ!ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X§€XXXÔÔ€X§€XXX§€ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEÐ ° ÐÌòòAtkinson€et€al.€Ô_Ôv.Ô_Ô€CanadaóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€No.€573/1994Ð H˜ ÐÌ31€October€1995Ð  d ÐÌÔ_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/55/D/573/1994Ð à 0 ÐÌÌADMISSIBILITYó óÐ ’â  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€Harry€Atkinson,€John€Ô_ÔStroudÔ_Ô€and€Roger€Ô_ÔCyrÔ_Ô€[represented€by€counsel]Ð D”  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimsóó:€The€authors€and€the€Hong€Kong€veteransÐ ` ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€CanadaÐ Ü, ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€30€May€1993€(initial€submission)óóÐ ¨ø ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓThe€Human€Rights€Committeeóóò ò,ó ó€established€under€article€28€of€the€International€CovenantÐ Zª Ðon€Civil€and€Political€Rights,Ð @ ÐÌòòMeeting€onò òóó€ó ó31€October€1995,Ð  \ ÐÌòòAdopts€óóthe€following:€Ð Ø( ÐÌÌÓÓò òÓ  ÓòòDecision€on€admissibilityóóó ó:Ð Š Ú ÐÓÆÓÓÓÌÌ1.€The€authors€of€the€communication€are€Harry€Atkinson,€John€Ô_ÔStroudÔ_Ô€and€Roger€Ô_ÔCyrÔ_Ô,Ð <#Œ" ÐCanadian€citizens,€who€submit€the€communication€on€their€own€behalf€and€on€that€of€theÐ "$r# ÐHong€Kong€veterans.€They€claim€to€be€victims€of€a€violation€by€Canada€of€articles€2,Ð %X $ Ðparagraph€3(a),€and€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€They€areÐ î%>!% Ðrepresented€by€counsel.Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌòòThe€facts€as€submitted€by€the€authorsóó:Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ2.1€The€authors€belonged€to€two€battalions€dispatched€by€the€Canadian€Government€to€HongÐ l*¼%* ÐKong€late€in€the€year€1941€for€the€purpose€of€defending€it€from€an€impending€invasion€byÐ R+¢&+ Ðthe€Japanese.€The€Hong€Kong€garrison€was€forced€to€surrender€to€the€Japanese€ImperialÐ 8,ˆ', ÐForces€on€25€December€1941.€The€surviving€members€of€the€Canadian€Hong€Kong€forcesÐ -n(- Ðwere€interned€in€camps€operated€by€the€Japanese,€both€in€Japan€and€in€Japanese€administeredÐ ° Ðterritories.€They€were€liberated€in€September€1945,€following€the€Japanese€surrender€to€theÐ –æ ÐAllied€Forces.Ð |Ì ÐÌ2.2€The€authors€submit€that€the€conditions€in€the€Japanese€camps€were€inhuman.Ð H˜ ÐMaltreatment€and€torture€took€place€regularly.€Prisoners€were€forced€to€march€long€distancesÐ . ~ Ðunder€hard€conditions,€many€of€those€dropping€out€being€killed€by€the€guards.€They€wereÐ  d Ðforced€to€do€slave€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô€in€tropical€heat€without€protection€against€the€sun.€Lack€of€housing,Ð ú J Ðfood,€and€medical€supplies€led€to€diseases€and€deaths.€In€this€context,€reference€is€made€toÐ à 0 Ðthe€judgment€of€the€International€Military€Tribunal€for€the€Far€East€of€November€1948,Ð Æ   Ðwhich€found€that€it€was€general€practice€and€indeed€policy€of€the€Japanese€forces€to€subjectÐ ¬ ü  Ðthe€prisoners€of€war€to€serious€maltreatment,€torture€and€arbitrary€executions,€in€flagrantÐ ’â  Ðviolation€of€the€laws€of€war€and€humanitarian€law€See€pages€395€to€448€of€the€judgment..Ð xÈ  ÐÌ2.3€As€a€consequence€of€the€barbaric€conditions€in€the€camps,€the€released€prisoners€wereÐ D”  Ðin€bad€physical€condition,€suffered€severely€from€malnutrition€with€vitamin€deficiencyÐ *z  Ðdiseases€such€as€Ô_ÔberiÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔberiÔ_Ô€and€pellagra,€malaria€and€other€tropical€diseases,€tuberculosis,Ð ` Ðtropical€sores€and€the€effects€of€physical€ill„treatment.€It€is€submitted€that€as€a€directÐ öF Ðconsequence,€the€Hong€Kong€veterans€still€suffer€significant€residual€disabilities€andÐ Ü, Ðincapacities.Ð Â ÐÌ2.4€The€Peace€Treaty€of€1952€between€Japan€and€the€Allied€Forces€did€not€includeÐ ŽÞ Ðappropriate€compensation€for€the€slave€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô€and€brutality€experienced€by€the€Hong€KongÐ tÄ Ðveterans.€Article€14€of€the€Peace€Treaty€gave€Canada€the€right€to€seize€Japanese€property€inÐ Zª ÐCanada.€The€total€amount€thus€appropriated€was€slightly€over€three€million€dollars.€With€thisÐ @ Ðmoney€the€War€Crimes€Fund€was€constituted,€which€granted€the€Hong€Kong€veterans€aÐ &v Ðpayment€of€$1.00,€later€raised€to€$1.50,€per€day€of€imprisonment.€No€other€source€of€fundsÐ  \ Ðwas€available€to€satisfy€the€claims€of€the€veterans€and€no€attempt€was€made€by€the€CanadianÐ òB ÐGovernment€to€obtain€funds€from€Japan,€as€it€was€the€Government's€position€that€it€hadÐ Ø( Ðwaived€all€claims€against€Japan€in€signing€the€Peace€Treaty.Ð ¾ ÐÌ2.5€The€authors€submit€that€the€compensation€received€falls€far€short€of€what€can€beÐ Š Ú Ðconsidered€adequate€and€reasonable.€They€claim€that€a€payment€of€$18.00€per€dayÐ p!À  Ð(approximately€$23,940€in€total€per€person)€could€be€considered€an€appropriate€level€ofÐ V"¦! Ðcompensation€for€their€sufferings.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ2.6€The€authors€refer€to€a€publication€by€Carl€Vincent€"No€Reason€Why"€and€note€that€theÐ %X $ Ðbook€shows€that€they€and€their€colleagues€were€sent€to€Hong€Kong€for€purely€politicalÐ î%>!% Ðreasons€at€a€time€when€it€was€known€that€the€Hong€Kong€garrison€could€not€withstand€anÐ Ô&$"& Ðattack€from€the€Japanese€troops€and€that€there€was€no€hope€of€evacuating€the€Hong€KongÐ º' #' Ðdefenders.€It€is€therefore€argued€that€the€Canadian€Government€was€from€the€outsetÐ  (ð#( Ðresponsible€for€their€plight€and€that€the€disregard€for€their€safety€is€exacerbated€by€theÐ †)Ö$) ÐGovernment's€later€failure€to€protect€their€interests€in€accordance€with€international€law€atÐ l*¼%* Ðthe€time€of€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Peace€Treaty€with€Japan€and€its€failure€to€provideÐ R+¢&+ Ðappropriate€financial€assistance€and/or€compensation.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð2.7€In€this€context,€it€is€pointed€out€that€it€has€remained€the€consistent€position€of€theÐ ° ÐCanadian€Government€that€any€reparation€to€be€paid€to€Canadian€prisoners€of€war€wasÐ –æ Ðprovided€for€in€the€Peace€Treaty€with€Japan.€The€authors€reiterate€that€the€Peace€Treaty€didÐ |Ì Ðnot€encompass€the€damages€suffered€by€the€Hong€Kong€veterans€under€the€conditions€ofÐ b² Ðimprisonment€imposed€by€the€Japanese€Government€during€the€war€and€more€particularly,Ð H˜ Ðthat€the€Peace€Treaty€did€not€address€the€question€of€indemnification€for€the€gross€violationsÐ . ~ Ðof€human€rights€and€slave€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô.€It€is€further€submitted€that€as€a€matter€of€law€the€CanadianÐ  d ÐGovernment€had€no€legal€authority€or€mandate€to€waive€the€veterans'€rights€to€a€remedy€forÐ ú J Ðthe€gross€violations€of€their€rights.€In€support€of€this€argument,€the€authors€refer€to€the€HagueÐ à 0 ÐConvention€of€18€October€1907,€the€Third€Geneva€Convention€of€1949,€Protocol€I€of€theÐ Æ   ÐGeneva€Convention€and€the€legal€commentaries€prepared€by€the€International€CommitteeÐ ¬ ü  Ðof€the€Red€Cross,€as€well€as€to€the€Study€concerning€the€right€to€reparation€for€grossÐ ’â  Ðviolations€of€human€rights,€presented€to€the€Sub„Commission€on€Prevention€ofÐ xÈ  ÐDiscrimination€and€Protection€of€Minorities€by€Mr.€Theo€van€Ô_ÔBovenÔ_Ô.Ð ^®  ÐÌ2.8€Upon€their€return€to€Canada,€the€authors€continued€to€suffer€from€severe€physical,€mentalÐ *z  Ðand€psychological€problems€as€a€direct€consequence€of€the€44€months€of€imprisonment€andÐ ` Ðslave€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô€imposed€upon€them€by€the€Japanese.€It€is€submitted€that€the€CanadianÐ öF Ðauthorities€failed€to€recognize€the€nature€and€extent€of€the€residual€disabilities€andÐ Ü, Ðincapacities€suffered€by€them.€A€study€undertaken€by€the€Canadian€Pension€Commission€inÐ Â Ð1966€concluded€that€the€health€problems€of€Hong€Kong€veterans€were€a€direct€consequenceÐ ¨ø Ðof€their€sufferings€in€the€internment€camps.€In€1968,€the€Committee€to€Survey€the€Work€andÐ ŽÞ ÐOrganization€of€the€Canadian€Pension€Commission€Ô_ÔrecognisedÔ_Ô€that€the€Hong€Kong€veteransÐ tÄ Ðhad€not€received€adequate€pensions€and€that€their€disabilities€were€constantly€under„assessed.Ð Zª ÐAmendments€to€the€Pension€Act€and€the€Prisoners€of€War€legislation,€in€March€1971,Ð @ Ðimproved€benefits.€However,€the€authors€emphasize€that€these€legislative€provisions€did€notÐ &v Ðspecifically€refer€to€any€form€of€compensation€for€the€slave€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô€carried€out€by€them,€norÐ  \ Ðwere€these€funds€paid€as€indemnification€for€the€violations€of€international€law€experiencedÐ òB Ðby€them.€Moreover,€the€authors€state€that€the€residual€effects€of€their€disabilities€were€notÐ Ø( Ðfully€addressed€by€the€statutory€reforms€and€they€submit€that€at€present€they€continue€to€beÐ ¾ Ðunable€to€obtain€pension€entitlement€for€a€significant€number€of€conditions€suffered€by€them.Ð ¤ô ÐÌ2.9€The€authors€indicate€that,€in€1987,€the€Hong€Kong€Veterans€Association€of€Canada€inÐ p!À  Ðcooperation€with€The€War€Amputations€of€Canada€submitted€a€claim€to€the€United€NationsÐ V"¦! ÐCommission€on€Human€Rights,€in€accordance€with€the€procedure€established€by€ECOSOC'sÐ <#Œ" ÐResolution€1503€(Ô_ÔXLVIIIÔ_Ô),€with€respect€to€the€gross€violations€of€human€rights€committedÐ "$r# Ðby€Japan€in€relation€to€the€incarceration€of€Canadian€servicemen€held€as€prisoners€of€war.Ð %X $ ÐIn€1991,€the€Sub„Commission€on€Prevention€of€Discrimination€and€Protection€of€MinoritiesÐ î%>!% Ðconcurred€with€the€interpretation€of€its€Working€Group€on€Communications€that€"theÐ Ô&$"& Ðprocedure€governed€by€Economic€and€Social€Council€Resolution€1503€(Ô_ÔXLVIIIÔ_Ô)€could€notÐ º' #' Ðbe€applied€as€a€reparation€or€relief€mechanism€in€respect€of€claims€of€compensation€forÐ  (ð#( Ðhuman€suffering€or€other€losses€which€had€occurred€during€the€Second€World€War".Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ2.10€The€authors€claim€that€they€have€exhausted€all€available€domestic€remedies€and€referÐ R+¢&+ Ðto€the€lengthy€exchange€of€correspondence€between€representatives€of€the€Hong€KongÐ 8,ˆ', ÐVeterans€Association€of€Canada€and€the€Canadian€Government.Ð -n(- ЇòòThe€complaintóó:Ð ° ÐÌ3.1€The€authors€claim€that€the€Canadian€Government€continues€to€deprive€them€of€their€rightÐ |Ì Ðto€a€remedy,€in€violation€of€article€2,€paragraph€3(a),€of€the€Covenant.€In€this€context,€theyÐ b² Ðsubmit€that€the€practical€result€of€the€failure€of€the€Canadian€Government€to€Ô_ÔrecogniseÔ_Ô€thatÐ H˜ Ðit€had€no€legal€authority€to€waive€the€authors'€rights€to€compensation€in€the€Peace€TreatyÐ . ~ Ðwith€Japan,€and€its€subsequent€failure€to€support€their€claim€against€Japan€in€the€appropriateÐ  d Ðinternational€fora,€has€left€them€without€an€effective€remedy€for€the€gross€violations€of€theirÐ ú J Ðhuman€rights.€It€is€submitted€that€the€Government€continues€to€support€Japan's€Ô_ÔdefenceÔ_Ô€thatÐ à 0 Ðthe€1952€Peace€Treaty€effectively€terminates€Japan's€legal€responsibility€to€former€PrisonersÐ Æ   Ðof€War€and€internees.€In€May€1991,€the€Canadian€Prime€Minister€advised€the€JapaneseÐ ¬ ü  ÐGovernment€that€it€remained€Canada's€position€that€the€Japanese€Government€had€satisfiedÐ ’â  Ðits€obligations€regarding€reparations€as€a€consequence€of€the€1952€Peace€Treaty.€Moreover,Ð xÈ  Ðthe€Prime€Minister€indicated€that€any€consideration€of€compensation€or€reparation€would€beÐ ^®  Ðthe€responsibility€of€Canada.€However,€in€response€to€requests€by€the€Hong€Kong€VeteransÐ D”  ÐAssociation,€the€Government€has€indicated€that€it€is€unwilling€to€consider€furtherÐ *z  Ðcompensation.Ð ` ÐÌ3.2€The€authors€further€claim€that€the€Canadian€Government's€failure€to€provide€them€withÐ Ü, Ðproper€financial€assistance€and€compensation€during€the€many€years€following€the€war€andÐ Â Ðthe€pension€deficiencies€still€being€suffered€to€the€current€day€constitute€a€violation€of€articleÐ ¨ø Ð26€of€the€Covenant.€They€contend€that€they€did€not€receive€appropriate€entitlement€and/orÐ ŽÞ Ðwere€Ô_ÔunderassessedÔ_Ô€for€their€specific€disabilities€in€comparison€to€other€Canadian€veteransÐ tÄ Ðwho€returned€from€the€war.€Ð Zª ÐÌ3.3€The€authors€emphasize€that€the€actions€and€failures€of€the€Canadian€GovernmentÐ &v Ðdescribed€above,€although€occurring€before€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Covenant€and€theÐ  \ ÐOptional€Protocol,€have€continuing€effects€which€in€themselves€constitute€a€violation€of€theÐ òB ÐCovenant.€In€this€context,€it€is€argued€that€the€authors€continue€to€suffer€from€physical€andÐ Ø( Ðmental€defects€caused€by€their€experiences€in€the€Japanese€camps.€To€support€this€argument,Ð ¾ Ðreference€is€made€to€a€report€prepared€by€Prof.€Ô_ÔGustaveÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔGingrasÔ_Ô€"The€Ô_ÔsequelaeÔ_Ô€of€inhumanÐ ¤ô Ðconditions€and€slave€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô€experienced€by€members€of€the€Canadian€Components€of€theÐ Š Ú ÐHong€Kong€Forces,€1941„1945,€while€prisoners€of€the€Japanese€Government".€The€authorsÐ p!À  Ðsubmit€that€these€continuing€and€ongoing€effects€of€the€violations€suffered€by€themÐ V"¦! Ðconstitute€in€themselves€a€violation€of€the€Covenant€on€and€after€19€August€1976,€the€dateÐ <#Œ" Ðof€entry€into€force€of€the€Covenant€and€the€Optional€Protocol€for€Canada.€In€this€context,€theÐ "$r# Ðauthors€refer€to€decisions€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee€in€communications€No.€123/1982Ð %X $ Ð(Ô_ÔManeraÔ_Ô€v.€Uruguay),€No.€196/1985€(Ô_ÔGueyeÔ_Ô€v.€France),€No.€6/1977€(Ô_ÔSequeiraÔ_Ô€v.€Uruguay)Ð î%>!% Ðand€No.€R6/24€(Lovelace€v.€Canada).Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌòòAdditional€information€provided€by€the€Ô_Ôauthorsóó:Ô_ÔÐ  (ð#( ÐÌ4.1€On€10€February€1994,€the€Committee's€Special€Rapporteur€for€New€CommunicationsÐ l*¼%* Ðrequested€the€authors,€under€rule€91€of€the€Committee's€rules€of€procedure,€to€furnishÐ R+¢&+ Ðadditional€information€with€regard€to€their€claim€that€they€did€not€receive€appropriateÐ 8,ˆ', Ðpension€entitlements€compared€to€other€Canadian€veterans.Ð -n(- Ї4.2€By€submission,€dated€25€March€1994,€the€authors€state€that€they€are€victims€ofÐ ° Ðdiscrimination€since€they€cannot€qualify€for€additional€benefits€(the€Exceptional€CapacityÐ –æ ÐAllowance,€the€Veterans€Independence€Program,€and€the€additional€primary€disability€orÐ |Ì Ðconsequential€disability€pensions€available€under€the€Pension€Act)€which€are€available€toÐ b² Ðother€veterans,€because€of€the€different€legal€basis€of€their€prisoner€of€war€pensions.Ð H˜ ÐÌ4.3€In€this€context,€they€explain€that€the€Exceptional€Incapacity€Allowance,€which€is€grantedÐ  d Ðto€veterans€who€suffer€from€extraordinary€incapacity,€is€only€available€for€persons€who€haveÐ ú J Ða€100%€pension€under€the€Pension€Act.€Since€the€Veterans€Pension€Act€does€not€recognizeÐ à 0 Ðthe€Hong€Kong€Veterans€Prisoner€of€War€benefit€as€a€form€of€pension€for€the€purpose€of€theÐ Æ   ÐExceptional€Incapacity€Allowance,€the€Hong€Kong€Veterans€cannot€qualify,€although€theÐ ¬ ü  Ðmajority€would€meet€the€other€requirements€for€the€allowance.Ð ’â  ÐÌ4.4€The€Veterans€Independence€Program,€which€allows€veterans€to€remain€self„sufficient€byÐ ^®  Ðproviding€certain€services,€bases€the€applicability€of€the€program,€on€a€"war„relatedÐ D”  Ðpensioned€condition".€Since€the€Canadian€Government€does€not€recognize€the€situation€ofÐ *z  Ðthe€Hong€Kong€Veterans€as€such€condition,€they€are€excluded€from€benefitting€from€theÐ ` Ðprogram,€notwithstanding€the€fact€that€the€Hong€Kong€Veterans'€Prisoners€of€War€benefitÐ öF Ðwas€intended€to€reflect€a€form€of€pension€directly€related€to€their€wartime€experience.Ð Ü, ÐÌ4.5€As€to€additional€pensions€available€under€the€Pension€Act,€it€is€submitted€that€theÐ ¨ø ÐCanadian€Pension€Commission€is€not€prepared€to€grant€entitlement€for€many€of€the€particularÐ ŽÞ Ðpension€applications€from€Hong€Kong€Veterans.€This€refusal€is€based€on€the€premise€thatÐ tÄ Ðthe€Hong€Kong€Veterans€have€received€pension€entitlement€as€part€and€parcel€of€theirÐ Zª ÐPrisoner€of€War€benefit.Ð @ ÐÌ4.6€It€is€further€argued€that€the€legislation€relating€to€Prisoner€of€War€Compensation€BenefitsÐ  \ Ðis€in€itself€discriminatory,€since€the€basis€for€the€compensation€is€directly€related€to€theÐ òB Ðperiod€of€time€spent€as€a€prisoner€of€war,€without€taking€into€account€the€nature€of€theÐ Ø( Ðprisoner€of€war€experience€(the€gross€violations€of€human€rights€suffered€by€the€Hong€KongÐ ¾ ÐVeterans).Ð ¤ô ÐÌ4.7€It€is€finally€argued€that€the€authors€are€victims€of€discrimination€because€of€Canada'sÐ p!À  Ðpolicy€of€selective€support€as€to€the€question€of€reparations€arising€from€World€War€II.€InÐ V"¦! Ðthis€connection,€it€is€submitted€that€the€Canadian€Government€has€actively€supported€theÐ <#Œ" Ðpayment€of€reparations€by€the€Federal€Republic€of€Germany€to€victims€of€gross€human€rightsÐ "$r# Ðviolations€committed€by€Nazi€Germany€but€has€failed€to€provide€similar€support€for€claimsÐ %X $ Ðby€the€victims€of€human€rights€violations€by€Japan.€In€this€context,€the€authors€also€refer€toÐ î%>!% Ðcompensatory€payments€by€the€Canadian€Government€to€Japanese€Canadians,€who€duringÐ Ô&$"& Ðthe€war€had€been€interned,€deported,€or€deprived€of€their€property,€solely€because€of€theirÐ º' #' Ðancestry.Ð  (ð#( ÐÌòòState€party's€observations€on€admissibility€and€authors'€comments€thereonóó:Ð l*¼%* ÐÌ5.1€By€submission€of€21€September€1994,€the€State€party€addresses€the€admissibility€of€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðcommunication€and€provides€background€information€on€the€overall€scheme€of€veteransÐ -n(- Ðcompensation€in€Canada.Ð ° ÐÌ5.2€Pursuant€to€the€Canadian€Pension€Act,€a€wide€variety€of€benefits€are€available€to€warÐ |Ì Ðveterans.€These€benefits€are€exempt€from€taxation€and€in€addition€to€income€received€fromÐ b² Ðemployment€or€other€sources.€The€State€party€distinguishes€the€following€benefits:Ð H˜ ÐÌ5.3€Disability€pensions€are€awarded€for€specific€disabilities€resulting€from€military€service.Ð  d ÐThe€amount€is€related€to€the€extent€of€the€veteran's€disabilities.€Of€the€547€former€prisonersÐ ú J Ðof€war€who€were€incarcerated€by€the€Japanese€for€more€than€a€year€(encompassing€all€HongÐ à 0 ÐKong€veterans)€180€receive€a€100%€pension€and€91€receive€a€50%€pension,€whereas€theÐ Æ   Ðremaining€former€prisoners€receive€amounts€in€between.€In€May€1991,€all€Hong€KongÐ ¬ ü  Ðveterans€were€automatically€assessed€at€a€minimum€of€50%€disability€pension€for€theÐ ’â  Ðcondition€of€avitaminosis.Ð xÈ  ÐÌ5.4€In€1971,€all€former€prisoners€of€war€of€the€Japanese€who€had€been€held€captive€for€oneÐ D”  Ðyear€or€more,€including€all€Hong€Kong€veterans,€and€who€had€an€assessable€disability€wereÐ *z  Ðgiven€prisoner€of€war€compensation€equivalent€to€50%€disability€pension.€However,€noÐ ` Ðadditional€POW€compensation€was€given€to€those€who€already€received€a€disability€pensionÐ öF Ðof€50%€or€more.€In€1976,€the€legal€basis€for€the€POW€compensation€was€changed,€theÐ Ü, Ðrequirement€of€assessable€disability€was€eliminated,€and€POW€compensation€was€providedÐ Â Ðto€former€prisoners€of€all€WW2€enemy€powers.€However,€substantially€higher€rates€wereÐ ¨ø Ðmaintained€for€former€prisoners€of€Japan€in€light€of€the€particular€hardships€they€suffered.Ð ŽÞ ÐAs€a€result,€Hong€Kong€veterans€were€entitled€to€50%€POW€compensation,€whereas€formerÐ tÄ Ðprisoners€of€war€of€European€countries€received€from€10%€to€20%,€depending€on€the€lengthÐ Zª Ðof€their€incarceration.€Furthermore,€the€POW€compensation€was€granted€in€addition€to€anyÐ @ Ðdisability€pension,€up€to€the€equivalent€of€a€100%€disability€pension.€In€1986,€this€ceilingÐ &v Ðwas€removed€and€POW€compensations€are€now€being€paid€regardless€the€percentage€of€theÐ  \ Ðdisability€pension€received.€This€means€that€the€least€disabled€Hong€Kong€veterans€receiveÐ òB Ðthe€equivalent€of€100%€disability€pension€(50%€automatic€disability€pension€plus€50%€POWÐ Ø( Ðcompensation),€and€the€most€severely€disabled€Hong€Kong€veterans€150%€disabilityÐ ¾ Ðpension.Ð ¤ô ÐÌ5.5€A€veteran€who€receives€the€maximum€war€disability€pension€may€also€be€awarded€anÐ p!À  Ðadditional€Exceptional€Incapacity€Allowance.€The€State€party€points€out€that€105€formerÐ V"¦! Ðprisoners€of€war€of€the€Japanese€receive€such€allowance.Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ5.6€A€pensioned€veteran€who€is€totally€disabled€and€requires€an€attendant€qualifies€for€anÐ %X $ Ðadditional€Attendance€Allowance.€The€State€party€submits€that€172€prisoners€of€war€of€theÐ î%>!% ÐJapanese€receive€this€allowance.Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌ5.7€The€Veterans€Independence€Program€pays€for€home€support€services€for€pensionedÐ  (ð#( Ðveterans,€such€as€housekeeping€and€"meals€on€wheels".€Entitlement€to€this€program€is€basedÐ †)Ö$) Ðon€the€nature€of€the€disability€and€the€needs€of€the€veteran.Ð l*¼%* ÐÌ5.8€The€War€Veterans€Allowance€is€an€income„tied€allowance€aimed€at€assisting€CanadianÐ 8,ˆ', Ðveterans€who€are€incapable€of€maintaining€themselves€economically.€Because€of€their€otherÐ -n(- Ðpension€entitlements,€Hong€Kong€veterans€are€precluded€from€qualifying€for€this€allowance.Ð ° ÐÌ5.9€Further€benefits€for€pensioned€veterans€include€supplemental€health€benefits,€clothingÐ |Ì Ðallowances€and€Ô_ÔcounsellingÔ_Ô.Ð b² ÐÌ5.10€Following€the€confiscation€of€Japanese€assets€in€Canada,€pursuant€to€the€1952€PeaceÐ . ~ ÐTreaty,€the€Hong€Kong€veterans€received€a€lump€sum€compensation€of€$1.50€per€day€ofÐ  d Ðincarceration,€in€recognition€of€the€undue€hardship€suffered.Ð ú J ÐÌ6.1€The€State€party€notes€that€the€three€authors€claim€to€act€on€behalf€of€all€Hong€KongÐ Æ   Ðveterans,€but€that€they€have€not€identified€the€remaining€members€of€the€group,€nor€haveÐ ¬ ü  Ðthey€demonstrated€their€authority€to€act€on€behalf€of€these€other€members.€The€State€partyÐ ’â  Ðrecalls€that€a€communication€must€be€submitted€by€the€individual€alleging€to€be€a€victim€orÐ xÈ  Ðby€a€duly€authorized€representative€and€refers€to€the€Committee's€jurisprudence€in€thisÐ ^®  Ðregard.€The€State€party€argues€therefore€that€to€the€extent€that€the€communication€is€filed€onÐ D”  Ðbehalf€of€all€Hong€Kong€veterans,€it€is€inadmissible€because€the€authors€have€no€authorityÐ *z  Ðto€act.Ð ` ÐÌ6.2€As€regards€the€authors'€claim€that€the€Canadian€Government€waived€their€right€to€aÐ Ü, Ðremedy€and€that€they€were€inadequately€indemnified€under€the€1952€Peace€Treaty,€inÐ Â Ðviolation€of€article€2,€paragraph€3(a),€of€the€Covenant,€the€State€party€submits€that€theÐ ¨ø Ðcompensation€received€by€the€authors€pursuant€to€the€Peace€Treaty€did€not€amount€to€aÐ ŽÞ Ðviolation€of€any€individual€human€right€or€freedom,€but€represented€a€portion€of€theÐ tÄ Ðcompensation€for€their€suffering.€The€State€party€recalls€that€there€is€no€autonomous€rightÐ Zª Ðto€compensation€under€the€Covenant€and€refers€to€the€Committee's€jurisprudence€withÐ @ Ðrespect€to€communications€Nos.€275,€343,€344€&€345/1988.€The€State€party€argues€thereforeÐ &v Ðthat€this€part€of€the€communication€is€inadmissible€as€incompatible€Ô_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔmateriaeÔ_Ô.€In€thisÐ  \ Ðcontext,€the€State€party€denies€that€it€waived€the€authors'€right€to€a€remedy€by€entering€intoÐ òB Ðthe€1952€Peace€Treaty€with€Japan,€and€states€that€the€Peace€Treaty€actually€facilitated€theÐ Ø( Ðavailability€of€an€expeditious€remedy€for€the€authors.Ð ¾ ÐÌ6.3€Further,€the€State€party€argues€that€the€authors'€claim€relating€to€the€1952€Peace€TreatyÐ Š Ú Ðis€inadmissible€Ô_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔtemporisÔ_Ô.€Reference€is€made€to€the€Committee's€jurisprudence€thatÐ p!À  Ðit€is€not€competent€to€examine€allegations€relating€to€events€which€took€place€before€theÐ V"¦! Ðentry€into€force€of€the€Covenant€and€the€Optional€Protocol,€unless€the€alleged€violationÐ <#Œ" Ðcontinues€or€has€effects€which€themselves€constitute€a€violation€after€the€date€of€entry€intoÐ "$r# Ðforce.€The€State€party€points€out€that€the€mistreatment€suffered€by€the€authors€took€placeÐ %X $ Ðbetween€1941€and€1945€at€the€hands€of€the€Japanese,€and€that€this€mistreatment€is€not€in€anyÐ î%>!% Ðway€continuing.€The€1952€Peace€Treaty,€on€which€the€authors€base€their€claim,€was€alsoÐ Ô&$"& Ðconcluded€before€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Covenant€and€the€Optional€Protocol.€The€StateÐ º' #' Ðparty€submits€that€an€argument€of€inadequate€compensation€cannot€turn€these€past€eventsÐ  (ð#( Ðinto€a€continuing€violation€for€the€purposes€of€the€Covenant.€The€State€party€states€that€theÐ †)Ö$) Ðjurisprudence€cited€by€the€authors€(No.€123/1982€(Ô_ÔManeraÔ_Ô€v.€Uruguay),€No.€196/1985Ð l*¼%* Ð(Ô_ÔGueyeÔ_Ô€v.€France),€No.€6/1977€(Ô_ÔSequeiraÔ_Ô€v.€Uruguay)€and€No.€R6/24€(Lovelace€v.€Canada))Ð R+¢&+ Ðdoes€not€support€their€claim,€since€the€first€two€cases€concerned€violations€resulting€from€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðcontinued€application€of€a€law,€and€the€other€two€cases€only€reinforce€the€argument€that€theÐ -n(- ÐCommittee€can€only€examine€violations€occurring€after€the€entry€into€force.Ð ° ÐÌ6.4€With€regard€to€the€authors'€claim€that€they€are€discriminated€against€because€POWÐ |Ì Ðcompensation€is€not€treated€as€part€of€their€disability€pension€and€that€they€are€therefore€notÐ b² Ðeligible€for€additional€benefits€such€as€Exceptional€Incapacity€or€Attendance€Allowances,Ð H˜ Ðthe€State€party€refers€to€the€Committee's€interpretation€of€article€26,€and€states€that€theÐ . ~ Ðauthors€must€submit€sufficient€evidence€in€substantiation€of€their€allegation€to€show€a€primaÐ  d Ðfacie€case.€According€to€the€State€party,€they€would€have€to€show€that€a€distinction€is€madeÐ ú J Ðwhich€impairs€the€enjoyment€of€their€rights€and€freedoms€on€an€equal€footing€with€otherÐ à 0 Ðpersons,€that€this€distinction€is€not€reasonable€or€objective€and€that€the€aim€of€the€distinctionÐ Æ   Ðis€illegitimate€under€the€Covenant.€The€State€party€points€out€that€POW€compensation€isÐ ¬ ü  Ðavailable€to€all€former€prisoners€of€war,€not€just€to€Hong€Kong€veterans,€and€that€no€recipientÐ ’â  Ðmay€treat€it€as€part€of€a€disability€pension.€The€State€party€argues€therefore€that€the€authorsÐ xÈ  Ðhave€not€demonstrated€a€distinction€which€adversely€affects€the€Hong€Kong€veterans,€norÐ ^®  Ðhave€they€demonstrated€that€the€basis€on€which€each€veteran€benefit€program€is€allocated,Ð D”  Ðis€unreasonable€or€illegitimate.€The€State€party€argues€that€the€criteria€used€for€the€allocationÐ *z  Ðof€benefits€(as€set€out€above)€are€not€discriminatory€and€fully€comply€with€the€Covenant.Ð ` ÐMoreover,€the€State€party€points€out€that€the€authors€have€not€identified€specific€disabilitiesÐ öF Ðfor€which€they€are€not€compensated,€nor€have€they€outlined€the€benefits€they€personallyÐ Ü, Ðreceive€from€the€Government's€veterans€programs.€As€regards€the€authors'€other€allegationsÐ Â Ðof€discrimination€regarding€payments€of€Japanese€Canadians€interned€during€WW2€inÐ ¨ø ÐCanada€and€regarding€the€position€of€Canadians€with€claims€against€Germany,€the€StateÐ ŽÞ Ðparty€submits€that€these€situations€are€materially€different€from€the€authors'€and€thereforeÐ tÄ Ðirrelevant.€The€State€party€concludes€that€the€authors€have€failed€to€substantiate,€for€purposesÐ Zª Ðof€admissibility,€their€claim€that€they€are€victims€of€discrimination,€in€violation€of€article€26Ð @ Ðof€the€Covenant.Ð &v ÐÌ6.5€Moreover,€the€State€party€argues€that€the€authors€have€failed€to€exhaust€all€domesticÐ òB Ðremedies€as€required€by€article€5,€paragraph€2(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€In€thisÐ Ø( Ðconnection,€the€State€party€points€out€that€the€right€to€equality€before€and€under€the€law€andÐ ¾ Ðthe€right€not€to€be€discriminated€against€are€protected€by€the€Canadian€Charter€of€Rights€andÐ ¤ô ÐFreedoms€which€was€entrenched€as€part€of€Canada's€constitution€in€1982.€Pursuant€to€sectionÐ Š Ú Ð24€of€the€Charter€anyone€whose€rights€and€freedoms,€as€guaranteed€by€the€Charter,€haveÐ p!À  Ðbeen€infringed€or€denied€may€apply€to€the€court€in€order€to€obtain€a€remedy.€Accordingly,Ð V"¦! Ðit€is€open€to€the€authors€to€commence€an€action€in€the€Federal€Court€to€obtain€a€remedy€forÐ <#Œ" Ðthe€alleged€discrimination€against€them.Ð "$r# ÐÌ6.6€Furthermore,€veterans€may€dispute€the€nature€and€extent€of€their€entitlement€before€theÐ î%>!% ÐCanadian€Pension€Commission,€an€independent€quasi„judicial€federal€agency€which€isÐ Ô&$"& Ðresponsible€for€the€initial€adjudication€of€both€entitlement€and€assessment€claims.€From€theÐ º' #' ÐCommission's€decisions,€appeal€is€open€to€the€Veterans€Appeal€Board,€whose€decisions€areÐ  (ð#( Ðsubject€to€review€by€the€Federal€Court„Trial€Division€and,€with€leave,€to€the€Federal€Court„Ð †)Ö$) ÐAppeal€Division,€whose€decisions€may€be€appealed,€with€leave,€to€the€Supreme€Court€ofÐ l*¼%* ÐCanada.€In€this€context,€the€State€party€submits€that€all€claimants€are€entitled€to€free€legalÐ R+¢&+ Ðassistance€for€applications€or€appeals€made€to€either€the€Canadian€Pension€Commission€orÐ 8,ˆ', Ðthe€Veterans€Appeal€Board.€Ð -n(- Ї7.1€In€their€comments€on€the€State€party's€submission,€the€authors€reiterate€that€for€30€yearsÐ ° Ðthey€received€totally€inadequate€pensions€and€that€a€significant€element€of€discriminationÐ –æ Ðremains€today€in€the€application€of€the€Veterans€Pension€Act€to€Hong€Kong€Veterans€whenÐ |Ì Ðcompared€to€the€pension€treatment€of€other€severely€disabled€veterans.€In€this€context,€theÐ b² Ðauthors€note€that€only€a€small€percentage€(20€to€30%)€of€Hong€Kong€veterans€have€actuallyÐ H˜ Ðqualified€for€special€allowances€such€as€the€Incapacity€Allowance€and€the€AttendanceÐ . ~ ÐAllowance.€They€claim€that€the€majority€of€Hong€Kong€veterans€would€have€received€theseÐ  d Ðforms€of€allowance€many€years€ago€save€and€except€for€the€discriminatory€aspects€of€theÐ ú J Ðcurrent€Pension€Act,€which€distinguishes€between€the€prisoner€of€war€allowance€which€allÐ à 0 ÐHong€Kong€veterans€receive€and€the€disability€pension.€Furthermore,€it€is€submitted€that€theÐ Æ   ÐGovernment€does€not€recognize€the€POW€benefit€in€relation€to€the€concept€of€"war€relatedÐ ¬ ü  Ðpension€condition"€when€assessing€eligibility€for€the€Veterans€Independence€Program.Ð ’â  ÐÌ7.2€The€authors€reiterate€that€the€State€party€had€no€right€to€waive€the€rights€of€the€HongÐ ^®  ÐKong€veterans€through€the€1952€Peace€Treaty.€It€is€argued€that€this€breach€has€the€continuingÐ D”  Ðand€ongoing€effect€of€depriving€the€Hong€Kong€veterans€of€the€specific€right€to€a€remedy€forÐ *z  Ðthe€gross€violations€committed€against€them€by€the€Japanese.Ð ` ÐÌ7.3€As€regards€their€standing,€the€authors€submit€that€the€Hong€Kong€Veterans€AssociationÐ Ü, Ðhas€passed€and€ratified€resolutions€authorizing€the€authors€to€act€on€their€behalf€in€relationÐ Â Ðto€these€communications.Ð ¨ø ÐÌ7.4€The€authors€further€state€that€their€communication€alleges€a€violation€of€article€26€inÐ tÄ Ðconjunction€with€article€2,€paragraph€3(a),€of€the€Covenant,€and€is€therefore€not€solely€basedÐ Zª Ðon€article€2(3).€Ð @ ÐÌ7.5€As€regards€the€State€party's€argument€that€the€communication€is€inadmissible€Ô_ÔrationeÔ_ÔÐ  \ ÐÔ_ÔtemporisÔ_Ô,€the€authors€state€that€the€State€party's€actions€(entering€into€the€1952€Peace€TreatyÐ òB Ðwith€Japan,€its€subsequent€failure€to€provide€appropriate€financial€assistance,€its€refusal€toÐ Ø( Ðsupport€the€claim€of€the€Hong€Kong€veterans€against€Japan)€have€resulted€in€a€continuingÐ ¾ Ðand€ongoing€violation€of€their€right€to€a€remedy€pursuant€to€article€2(3)(a)€and€has€amountedÐ ¤ô Ðto€a€form€of€discrimination€in€violation€of€article€26€of€the€Covenant.€In€this€context,€theÐ Š Ú Ðauthors€refer€to€the€severe€residual€disabilities€and€incapacities€suffered€by€the€Hong€KongÐ p!À  Ðveterans€until€the€present€day.€Furthermore,€Canada's€refusal€to€support€their€claim€in€theÐ V"¦! Ðinternational€fora€and€its€maintenance€of€discriminatory€legislation€in€regard€to€the€HongÐ <#Œ" ÐKong€veterans€pension€rights€are€said€to€reflect€a€continuing€and€ongoing€violation€of€theÐ "$r# ÐCovenant.Ð %X $ ÐÌ7.6€As€regards€the€State€party's€argument€that€all€prisoners€of€war€are€similarly€treated€andÐ Ô&$"& Ðthat€there€is€therefore€no€discrimination,€the€authors€state€that€the€appropriate€standard€forÐ º' #' Ðanalysis€relates€to€the€difference€in€treatment€between€Canadian€POWs€and€other€severelyÐ  (ð#( Ðdisabled€veterans.€It€is€stated€that€the€discrimination,€described€in€detail€in€the€authors'Ð †)Ö$) Ðoriginal€submission,€affects€the€Hong€Kong€Veterans€particularly€because€of€the€severeÐ l*¼%* Ðresidual€disabilities€and€incapacities€suffered,€as€a€consequence€of€which€they€would€haveÐ R+¢&+ Ðqualified€for€the€Special€Allowances€if€it€were€not€for€discriminatory€provisions€excludingÐ 8,ˆ', Ðthem.€In€this€context,€the€authors€refer€to€the€detailed€medical€history€relevant€to€the€HongÐ -n(- ÐKong€veterans'€residual€disabilities€and€incapacities€which€they€submitted€with€their€originalÐ ° Ðcommunication.Ð –æ ÐÌ7.7€As€regards€the€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies,€the€authors€state€that€for€50€years€theyÐ b² Ðhave€pursued€without€success€a€remedy€in€relation€to€their€claim,€and€that€they€haveÐ H˜ Ðpetitioned€the€Government€on€numerous€occasions€in€order€to€obtain€legislative€reform,€allÐ . ~ Ðto€no€avail.€The€authors€therefore€argue€that€the€application€of€domestic€remedies€in€theirÐ  d Ðcase€has€been€unreasonably€prolonged.€Moreover,€the€authors€note€that€their€claim€involvesÐ ú J Ðthe€application€of€international€legal€principles,€over€which€the€Canadian€courts€have€noÐ à 0 Ðauthority€to€rule.€Furthermore,€the€authors€note€that€the€Canadian€Pension€Commission€andÐ Æ   Ðthe€Veterans€Appeal€Board€have€no€authority€to€remove€the€discriminatory€aspects€of€theÐ ¬ ü  Ðlegislation.€The€authors€conclude€therefore€that,€for€all€practical€purposes,€they€haveÐ ’â  Ðexhausted€domestic€remedies.Ð xÈ  ÐÌÌòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€CommitteeóóÐ *z  ÐÌ8.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Human€RightsÐ öF ÐCommittee€must,€in€accordance€with€article€87€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€decide€whether€orÐ Ü, Ðnot€it€is€admissible€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant.Ð Â ÐÌ8.2€Part€of€the€authors'€communication€relates€to€the€alleged€waiver€of€their€right€toÐ ŽÞ Ðcompensation€by€Canada€through€the€1952€Peace€Treaty€with€Japan.€In€this€connection,€theÐ tÄ ÐCommittee€observes€that€the€alleged€failure€by€Canada€to€protect€the€authors'€right€to€obtainÐ Zª Ðcompensation€from€Japan€cannot€be€seen€Ô_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔmateriaeÔ_Ô€as€a€violation€of€a€Covenant€right.Ð @ ÐFurther,€the€Committee€recalls€its€established€jurisprudence€that€it€is€precluded€fromÐ &v Ðexamining€a€communication€when€the€alleged€violations€occurred€before€the€entry€into€forceÐ  \ Ðof€the€Covenant.€See€also€the€Committee's€decisions,€dated€26€March€1990,€declaringÐ òB Ðinadmissible€communication€No.€275/1988€(Ô_ÔS.E.Ô_Ô€v.€Argentina)€and€communications€Nos.Ð Ø( Ð343,€344€and€345/1988€(Ô_ÔR.A.V.N.Ô_Ô€òòet€al.óó€v.€Argentina).€In€the€present€case,€the€authors€haveÐ ¾ Ðnot€shown€how€any€of€the€acts€done€by€Canada€in€affirmation€of€the€Peace€Treaty€after€theÐ ¤ô Ðentry€into€force€of€the€Covenant€could€entail€continuing€effects€which€in€themselves€wouldÐ Š Ú Ðconstitute€violations€of€the€Covenant€by€Canada.€This€part€of€the€authors'€communicationÐ p!À  Ðis€therefore€inadmissible.Ð V"¦! ÐÌ8.3€The€authors€further€claim€that€they€are€victims€of€discrimination,€because€their€POWÐ "$r# Ðpension€is€not€counted€as€a€disability€pension€and€does€not€entitle€them€to€supplementaryÐ %X $ Ðallowances€available€only€to€persons€receiving€a€100%€disability€pension.€The€State€partyÐ î%>!% Ðhas€indicated€that€the€authors€have€not€exhausted€domestic€remedies€available€to€them€inÐ Ô&$"& Ðrelation€to€their€complaint€of€discrimination,€in€particular,€that€they€have€not€tried€to€obtainÐ º' #' Ða€remedy€under€the€Canadian€Charter€of€Rights€and€Freedoms.€The€authors€have€stated€that,Ð  (ð#( Ðfor€the€past€50€years,€they€have€pursued€domestic€remedies€through€political€channels.€TheÐ †)Ö$) Ðauthors,€however,€have€failed€to€indicate€what€concrete€steps€they€have€taken€to€challengeÐ l*¼%* Ðthe€alleged€discrimination€against€them€before€the€Canadian€Courts,€as€would€be€possibleÐ R+¢&+ Ðunder€the€Canadian€Charter.€The€Committee€concludes€therefore€that€the€communication€isÐ 8,ˆ', Ðinadmissible€under€article€5,€paragraph€2(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€In€the€circumstances,Ð -n(- Ðthe€Committee€need€not€address€other€admissibility€criteria,€such€as€whether€the€authors€haveÐ ° Ðsubstantiated€their€claim€for€purposes€of€article€2€of€the€Optional€Protocol.Ð –æ ÐÌ9.€The€Human€Rights€Committee€therefore€decides:Ð b² ÐÌ(a)€that€the€communication€is€inadmissible;Ð . ~ ÐÌ(b)€that€this€decision€shall€be€communicated€to€the€State€party,€to€the€authors€and€to€theÐ ú J Ðauthors'€counsel.Ð à 0 ÐÌ[Adopted€in€English,€French€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.Ð ¬ ü  ÐSubsequently€to€be€issued€also€in€Arabic,€Chinese€and€Russian€as€part€of€the€Committee'sÐ ’â  Ðannual€report€to€the€General€Assembly.]Ð xÈ  ÐÓÓ