’WPC  )IeĪy—„ĢŌLžWéõ—c9ĄŽ[?ˆćŽyyļWœōL唄š;«Ų~WMFŽ7¢VééÕ4ŁSfÅ+U¹y›ĖĄč`ś<‰ą­ōōP6(sPÆ|äŲˆĆ-qÕ™°(ßĶ± ¼)2ž»hR×6e¼sĒ†“DŪ(“;ŽÄģ+2he3£²Ā@=‘Ɗš}ƒS°šKČī¬#ŚŪąA­Ż)g”B”&Ē”1xMöĶ–Ąi‘žĒhCÆ'mÜl :ƒęų[»'³Š’l½K+”ĘGFŹ¢ Īā¤›]» O^"±ÅīŽµ“g`Ļ xsƒ/ŲRē«R>Ż“iųĖz©Ńp“®Hfc“$Ō‚µY²F|3ßWŖPÆ5qį;01kpŪkõ?ĈŸĢ"®>ŗśšzh.¦Œ ÓÓĘ¼…ąšD2 eŚAŹæ]„ĻķcÅі‰.Gh²a¤‡Či^n7ķKtæV§»ß›!ågŽæ)pĖńœ”_č‰ø%®€sžŅ²’PJĪ„óć.L|vų:žū»²s] ŚÓ;±‰Č>H–azŻOLm*_®uö÷¦öÆŚ¤’U>BĢ€ 0nL 0iŗ 0Y# 0_| 0&ŪU6 %7 = 0ĘM #Į UNŌ Ō M" (& NN ^ P w\ 4` t mv ō\  `‹&Times New Roman' United Nations Human Rights Website - Treaty Bodies Database - Document - Jurisprudence - 4nt - Jurisprudence - "Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   <’’:Default ParaŌ€ōōōŌŌ€XXXŌ< ’’:Normal (Web)Ō S ŌÓ =jSÓÓ =jSÓ6’’4HyperlinkóóņņŌ ’ ŌóóŌ  Ō<’’:FollowedHypeóóņņŌ  ŌóóŌ  Ō<qy’’:HTML TypewriŌ€ōōōŌŌK€<ž6X9`(‹Courier NewKŌŌ  ŌŌ€XXXŌŌS€ō\  `‹&Times New RomanSŌŌ  Ō<ž6X9`(‹Courier New X#|x(ž…²$””ŅÜ°ŅŅÜ°ŅŌ..ŌŌ  ŌŌ  ŌÓ  ÓŌ€ XdčXX XŌŌ€XdčXX XdčŌŌŌ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ČhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularŖ{ō* Äpģ*TEST3“Ā ’U‹’ĄĄĄŻ ƒ …²!ŻŅÜ°ŅŅÜ°ŅŌ..ŌŌ  ŌŌ  ŌÓ  ÓŌ€ XtXXX XŌŌ€XtXXX XtXŌŌŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEŠ ° ŠņņĢŌ_ŌGauthierŌ_Ō€v.€CanadaóóŠ |Ģ ŠĢCommunication€Nšš€633/1995Š H˜ ŠĢ7€April€1999Š  d ŠĢŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/65/D/633/1995€Š ą 0 ŠĢĢVIEWSó óŠ ’ā  ŠĢĢņņņņSubmitted€byóó:€Robert€W.€Ō_ŌGauthierŌ_Ō€Š D”  ŠĢņņAlleged€victimóó:€The€author€Š ` ŠĢņņState€partyóó:€CanadaóóŠ Ü, ŠĢĢņņÓ  ÓÓ  ÓThe€Human€Rights€Committeeóó,€established€under€article€28€of€the€International€CovenantŠ ŽŽ Šon€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€Š tÄ ŠĢņņMeeting€onóó€7€April€1999,€Š @ ŠĢņņHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.633/1995€submitted€to€the€HumanŠ  \ ŠRights€Committee€by€Mr.€Robert€W.€Ō_ŌGauthierŌ_Ō€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€theŠ ņB ŠInternational€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€Š Ų( ŠĢņņHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€written€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theŠ ¤ō Šcommunication,€and€the€State€party,€Š Š Ś ŠĢņņAdoptsóó€the€following:€Š V"¦! ŠĢĢÓŽÓņņņ ņViews€under€article€5,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Optional€Protocoló óóóŠ %X $ ŠÓÓĢĢ1.€The€author€of€the€communication€is€Robert€G.€Ō_ŌGauthierŌ_Ō,€a€Canadian€citizen.€He€claims€toŠ ŗ' #' Šbe€a€victim€of€a€violation€by€Canada€of€article€19€of€the€Covenant.€Š  (š#( ŠĢņņThe€facts€as€presented€by€the€authoróó€Š l*¼%* ŠĢ2.1€The€author€is€publisher€of€the€National€Capital€News,€a€newspaper€founded€in€1982.€TheŠ 8,ˆ', Šauthor€applied€for€membership€in€the€Parliamentary€Press€Gallery,€a€private€association€thatŠ -n(- Šadministers€the€accreditation€for€access€to€the€precincts€of€Parliament.€He€was€provided€withŠ ° Ša€temporary€pass€that€gave€only€limited€privileges.€Repeated€requests€for€equal€access€on€theŠ –ę Šsame€terms€as€other€reporters€and€publishers€were€denied.€Š |Ģ ŠĢ2.2€The€author€points€out€that€a€temporary€pass€does€not€provide€the€same€access€as€aŠ H˜ Špermanent€membership,€since€it€denies€ņņinter€aliaóó€listing€on€the€membership€roster€of€theŠ . ~ ŠPress€Gallery,€as€well€as€access€to€a€mailbox€for€the€receipt€of€press€communiques.€Š  d ŠĢ2.3€As€regards€the€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies,€the€author€explains€that€he€has€filedŠ ą 0 Šnumerous€requests,€not€only€with€the€Press€Gallery,€but€also€with€the€Speaker€of€the€House,Š Ę   Šall€to€no€avail.€According€to€the€author,€no€reasons€have€been€given€for€denying€him€fullŠ ¬ ü  Šaccess.€The€author€applied€to€the€Federal€Court€for€a€review€of€the€decision€of€the€PressŠ ’ā  ŠGallery,€but€the€Court€decided€that€it€did€not€have€jurisdiction€over€decisions€of€the€PressŠ xČ  ŠGallery€since€it€is€not€a€department€of€the€Government€of€Canada.€A€complaint€filed€withŠ ^®  Šthe€Bureau€of€Competition€Policy,€arguing€that€the€exclusion€of€the€National€Capital€NewsŠ D”  Šfrom€equal€access€constituted€unfair€competition€was€dismissed.€Š *z  ŠĢ2.4€The€author€then€initiated€an€action€in€the€Provincial€Court€against€the€Speaker€of€theŠ öF ŠHouse€of€Commons,€requesting€a€declaration€by€the€court€that€the€denial€of€access€to€theŠ Ü, Šprecincts€of€Parliament€on€the€same€terms€as€members€of€the€Canadian€Parliamentary€PressŠ Ā ŠGallery€infringed€the€author's€right€to€freedom€of€the€press€as€provided€in€the€CanadianŠ Øų ŠCharter€of€Rights€and€Freedoms.€The€Court€ruled,€on€30€November€1994,€that€the€decisionŠ ŽŽ Šof€the€Speaker€not€to€permit€the€author€to€have€access€to€the€facilities€in€the€House€ofŠ tÄ ŠCommons€that€are€used€by€members€of€the€Press€Gallery€was€made€in€the€exercise€of€aŠ ZŖ Šparliamentary€privilege€and€therefore€not€subject€to€the€charter€or€to€review€by€the€Court.€Š @ ŠĢ2.5€The€author€points€out€that€he€has€been€trying€to€obtain€equal€access€to€press€facilities€inŠ  \ ŠParliament€since€1982,€and€he€argues€therefore€that€the€application€of€domestic€remedies€isŠ ņB Šunreasonably€prolonged,€within€the€meaning€of€article€5,€paragraph€2(b),€of€the€OptionalŠ Ų( ŠProtocol.€He€also€expresses€doubts€about€the€effectiveness€of€the€appeal.€Š ¾ ŠĢņņThe€complaintóó€Š Š Ś ŠĢ3.€The€author€claims€that€the€denial€of€equal€access€to€press€facilities€in€ParliamentŠ V"¦! Šconstitutes€a€violation€of€his€rights€under€article€19€of€the€Covenant.€Š <#Œ" ŠĢŌ_ŌņņStateŌ_Ō€party's€observationsóó€Š %X $ ŠĢ4.1€By€submission€of€28€November€1995,€the€State€party€argues€that€the€communication€isŠ Ō&$"& Šinadmissible.€Š ŗ' #' ŠĢ4.2€The€State€party€recalls€that€the€author€runs€an€Ottawa€based€publication,€the€NationalŠ †)Ö$) ŠCapital€News,€which€is€issued€with€varying€degrees€of€regularity.€Š l*¼%* ŠĢ4.3€The€Canadian€Parliamentary€Press€Gallery€is€a€private,€independent,€voluntaryŠ 8,ˆ', Šassociation€formed€for€the€purpose€of€bringing€together€media€professionals€whose€principalŠ -n(- Šoccupation€is€the€reporting,€interpreting€and€editing€of€news€about€Parliament€and€the€federalŠ ° ŠGovernment.€Š –ę ŠĢ4.4€The€Speaker€of€the€House€of€Commons€is€the€guardian€of€the€rights€and€privileges€of€theŠ b² ŠHouse€and€its€members,€and€as€such,€by€virtue€of€parliamentary€privilege,€has€exclusiveŠ H˜ Šcontrol€over€those€parts€of€the€Parliamentary€precincts€occupied€by€the€House€of€Commons.Š . ~ ŠOne€of€his€responsibilities€in€this€regard€is€controlling€access€to€these€areas.€Š  d ŠĢ4.5€The€State€party€explains€that€all€Canadian€citizens€enjoy€access€to€Parliament,€which€isŠ ą 0 Šobtained€by€means€of€a€pass,€of€which€there€are€different€types.€The€press€pass€providesŠ Ę   Šaccess€to€the€media€facilities€of€Parliament€and€is€issued€automatically€to€accreditedŠ ¬ ü  Šmembers€of€the€Press€Gallery.€Š ’ā  ŠĢ4.6€The€State€party€explains€that€there€is€no€formal,€official€or€legal€relationship€between€theŠ ^®  ŠSpeaker€and€the€Press€Gallery.€The€Press€Gallery€has€been€accommodated€by€the€SpeakerŠ D”  Šby€maintaining€the€media€facilities€of€Parliament,€such€as€working€space,€telephones,€accessŠ *z  Što€the€Library€and€Restaurant€and€the€provision€of€designated€seating€in€the€public€galleries.Š ` ŠThe€Speaker€has€no€involvement€with€the€day„to„day€operations€of€these€facilities,€which€areŠ öF Šindependently€run€by€the€Press€Gallery.€Š Ü, ŠĢ4.7€The€State€party€points€out€that€most€of€the€Press€Gallery's€facilities€are€located€offŠ Øų ŠParliament€Hill€and€thus€outside€the€Parliament's€precincts.€The€State€party€also€notes€thatŠ ŽŽ Šlive€television€coverage€of€all€proceedings€in€the€House€of€Commons€is€available€throughoutŠ tÄ ŠCanada€and€many€journalists€thus€seldom€actually€use€the€media€facilities€of€Parliament.€Š ZŖ ŠĢ4.8€The€Press€Gallery€knows€several€categories€of€membership,€the€most€relevant€being€theŠ &v Šactive€and€temporary€membership.€Active€membership€allows€access€to€all€media€facilitiesŠ  \ Šof€Parliament€for€as€long€as€the€member€meets€the€criteria,€that€is€for€as€long€as€he€or€sheŠ ņB Šworks€for€a€regularly€published€newspaper€and€requires€access€to€the€media€facilities€as€partŠ Ų( Šof€his€or€her€primary€occupation€of€reporting€Parliamentary€or€federal€Government€news.Š ¾ ŠTo€those€who€do€not€meet€these€criteria€the€Press€Gallery€grants€temporary€membershipŠ ¤ō Šwhich€is€granted€for€a€defined€period€and€provides€access€to€substantially€all€of€the€mediaŠ Š Ś Šfacilities€of€Parliament,€except€for€access€to€the€Parliamentary€Restaurant.€Š p!Ą  ŠĢ4.9€According€to€the€State€party,€the€author€has€applied€several€times€for€membership€in€theŠ <#Œ" ŠPress€Gallery€since€founding€the€National€Capital€News€in€1982.€His€requests€for€activeŠ "$r# Šmembership€have€not€been€granted,€because€the€Gallery€has€been€unable€to€ascertain€whetherŠ %X $ Šhe€satisfies€the€criteria.€Temporary€membership€was€given€to€him€instead,€which€wasŠ ī%>!% Šrenewed€on€several€occasions.€In€this€context,€the€State€party€points€out€that€the€author€hasŠ Ō&$"& Šbeen€uncooperative€in€providing€the€Press€Gallery€information€about€the€regularity€of€hisŠ ŗ' #' Šnewspaper.€Without€such€information€necessary€to€see€whether€the€author€fulfils€the€criteriaŠ  (š#( Šfor€active€membership,€the€Gallery€cannot€admit€him€as€a€full€member.€Š †)Ö$) ŠĢ4.10€The€author€has€requested€that€the€Speaker€of€the€House€of€Commons€intervene€on€hisŠ R+¢&+ Šbehalf.€The€position€of€the€Speaker's€office€being€one€of€strict€non„interference€with€PressŠ 8,ˆ', ŠGallery€matters,€the€Speaker€declined€to€intervene.€The€State€party€emphasizes€that€at€allŠ -n(- Štimes€the€author€has€enjoyed€access€to€the€precincts€of€Parliament,€and€access€to€the€mediaŠ ° Šfacilities€of€Parliament€during€the€periods€of€time€when€he€had€a€temporary€membership€cardŠ –ę Šof€the€Press€Gallery.€Š |Ģ ŠĢ4.11€The€State€party€submits€that€the€author€has€instituted€several€proceedings€against€theŠ H˜ Šrefusal€of€the€Press€Gallery€to€grant€him€active€membership.€In€1989,€he€filed€a€complaintŠ . ~ Šwith€the€Bureau€of€Competition€Policy,€which€concluded€that€the€Competition€Act€had€notŠ  d Šbeen€contravened.€In€October€1991,€the€author's€application€for€judicial€review€of€thisŠ ś J Šdecision€was€denied€by€the€Federal€Court€since€the€decision€was€not€Ō_ŌreviewableŌ_Ō.€In€1990,Š ą 0 Šthe€Federal€Court€dismissed€an€application€by€the€author€for€judicial€review€of€the€PressŠ Ę   ŠGallery's€decision€not€to€grant€him€active€membership,€since€the€Court€lacked€jurisdiction.€Š ¬ ü  ŠĢ4.12€An€action€against€the€Press€Gallery€in€the€Ontario€Court€(General€Division)€is€stillŠ xČ  Špending.€In€this€action,€the€author€seeks€damages€of€$€5€million.€Š ^®  ŠĢ4.13€On€30€November€1994,€the€Ontario€Court€(General€Division)€struck€out€the€actionŠ *z  Šbrought€by€the€author€against€the€Speaker€of€the€House€of€Commons,€in€which€he€sought€aŠ ` Šdeclaration€that€"the€denial€of€access€to€the€precincts€of€Parliament€on€the€same€terms€asŠ öF Šmembers€of€the€Canadian€Parliamentary€Press€Gallery"€infringed€his€right€to€freedom€of€theŠ Ü, Špress€as€guaranteed€in€the€Canadian€Charter€of€Rights€and€Freedoms.€The€Court€based€itselfŠ Ā Šon€jurisprudence€that€the€exercise€of€inherent€privileges€of€a€Canadian€legislative€body€is€notŠ Øų Šsubject€to€Charter€review.€The€author€has€filed€a€Notice€of€Appeal€against€this€decision€withŠ ŽŽ Šthe€Ontario€Court€of€Appeal,€but€has€not€as€yet€filed€the€required€documentation€in€properŠ tÄ Šform.€Š ZŖ ŠĢ4.14€The€State€party€argues€that€the€communication€is€inadmissible€for€non„exhaustion€ofŠ &v Šdomestic€remedies.€The€State€party€notes€that€the€focus€of€the€author's€communication,Š  \ Šagainst€the€Speaker€of€the€House€of€Commons,€is€misdirected€since€the€Speaker's€policy€hasŠ ņB Šbeen€to€administer€access€to€the€media€facilities€of€Parliament€based€on€the€Press€Gallery'sŠ Ų( Šdeterminations€regarding€membership.€Determination€of€membership€is€entirely€within€theŠ ¾ Šjurisdiction€of€the€Press€Gallery€and€lies€outside€the€competence€of€the€Speaker.€AccordingŠ ¤ō Što€the€State€party,€the€suggestion€that€the€Speaker€should€override€the€Press€Gallery's€internalŠ Š Ś Šaffairs€would€undermine€freedom€of€the€press.€Since€the€source€of€the€author's€complaint€isŠ p!Ą  Šthe€Press€Gallery's€refusal€to€grant€him€active€membership,€the€State€party€is€of€the€opinionŠ V"¦! Šthat€the€author€has€failed€to€exhaust€the€remedies€available€to€him€in€this€regard.€Š <#Œ" ŠĢ4.15€The€State€party€submits€that€the€author's€failure€to€cooperate€with€the€Press€GalleryŠ %X $ Šconstitutes€a€clear€failure€to€exhaust€remedies€available€to€him€domestically.€The€State€partyŠ ī%>!% Šfurther€notes€that€legal€proceedings€against€the€Press€Gallery€are€still€ongoing€in€the€OntarioŠ Ō&$"& ŠCourt€(General€Division)€and€that€the€author's€appeal€against€the€order€of€the€Ontario€CourtŠ ŗ' #' Š(General€Division)€striking€out€his€action€against€the€Speaker€of€the€House€of€CommonsŠ  (š#( Šremains€unresolved,€pending€his€satisfaction€of€procedural€requirements.€Š †)Ö$) ŠĢ4.16€Moreover,€the€State€party€argues€that€the€communication€is€inadmissible€for€failure€toŠ R+¢&+ Šsubstantiate€the€allegation€that€the€failure€to€grant€the€author€full€membership€of€the€PressŠ 8,ˆ', ŠGallery€amounts€to€a€denial€of€his€rights€under€article€19€of€the€Covenant.€In€this€context,Š -n(- Šthe€State€party€recalls€that€the€author€has€never€been€denied€access€to€the€ParliamentaryŠ ° Šprecincts,€and€that€he€has€had€access€to€the€media€facilities€of€Parliament€whenever€he€wasŠ –ę Šin€possession€of€a€temporary€press€pass.€The€author€has€not€shown€any€instance€in€which€heŠ |Ģ Šhas€been€frustrated€in€his€ability€to€gain€access€to€or€disseminate€information€aboutŠ b² ŠParliament.€Š H˜ ŠĢŌ_ŌņņTheŌ_Ō€author's€comments€on€the€State€party's€submissionóó€Š  d ŠĢ5.1€In€a€submission,€dated€17€January€1996,€the€author€informs€the€Committee€that€he€hasŠ ą 0 Šbeen€prohibited€access€to€the€media€facilities€in€Parliament€(since€he€has€no€press€pass).€TheŠ Ę   Šauthor€explains€that€while€the€visitors€gallery€is€open€to€him,€it€is€of€little€value€to€aŠ ¬ ü  Šprofessional€journalist€as€one€is€not€allowed€to€take€notes€when€seated€in€the€visitors€gallery.€Š ’ā  ŠĢ5.2€The€author€further€states€that€the€Press€Gallery€has€obtained€a€Court€order,€dated€8Š ^®  ŠJanuary€1996,€that€prohibits€him€from€entering€its€premises.€The€author€acknowledges€thatŠ D”  Šthese€premises€are€located€off€Parliament€Hill,€but€states€that€the€Government€press€releasesŠ *z  Šand€other€material€provided€in€the€Press€Gallery's€premises€are€funded€by€the€taxpayers€ofŠ ` ŠCanada€and€form€part€of€the€facilities€and€services€provided€by€the€Government€for€theŠ öF Šmedia.€Š Ü, ŠĢ6.1€In€his€comments€on€the€State€party's€submission,€dated€5€February€1996,€the€authorŠ Øų Šcontends€that€the€State€party's€reply€consists€of€false€or€incomplete€information€andŠ ŽŽ Šnumerous€misleading€statements.€Š tÄ ŠĢ6.2€He€submits€that€although€no€powers€or€authority€have€been€legally€transferred€fromŠ @ ŠParliament€or€the€Government€of€Canada€to€the€Canadian€parliamentary€Press€Gallery,€theŠ &v ŠGallery€assumes€powers€to€permit€or€deny€access€to€the€facilities€and€services€provided€byŠ  \ Šthe€Parliament€and€Government€of€Canada€to€the€media.€The€author€states€that€his€numerousŠ ņB Šrequests€for€access€were€presented€to€the€Press€Gallery€without€success,€and€that€he€madeŠ Ų( Šrepeated€applications€to€the€Administrative€Officials€within€the€Parliament€for€access€to€theŠ ¾ Šmedia€facilities,€also€without€success.€His€attempts€to€have€the€matter€remedied€by€theŠ ¤ō ŠCourts€have€also€been€unsuccessful.€Š Š Ś ŠĢ6.3€The€author€submits€that€he€has€been€trying€to€have€a€solution€to€his€denial€of€access€toŠ V"¦! Šthe€media€facilities€since€1982,€when€he€founded€his€newspaper,€and€argues€that€theŠ <#Œ" Šapplication€of€domestic€remedies€should€be€considered€as€unreasonably€prolonged.€In€thisŠ "$r# Šcontext,€the€author€points€to€"the€history€of€deliberate€and€contrived€delays,€failure€to€replyŠ %X $ Što€or€even€acknowledge€reasonable€requests€for€information€and€assistance,€and€the€evidenceŠ ī%>!% Šthat€these€delays€will€continue".€Š Ō&$"& ŠĢ6.4€In€addition,€the€author€states€that€the€possibility€of€achieving€an€effective€remedy€inŠ  (š#( ŠCanada€within€the€foreseeable€future€does€not€exist.€In€this€context,€he€notes€that€theŠ †)Ö$) Šmeasures€to€prevent€him€from€exercising€his€profession€have€only€increased€in€the€recentŠ l*¼%* Špast,€as€is€shown€by€the€notice€denying€him€access€to€the€Press€Gallery€premises,€theŠ R+¢&+ Šconviction€against€him€for€trespassing€on€the€premises€of€the€Press€Gallery,€the€convictionŠ 8,ˆ', Šagainst€him€for€trespassing€on€Parliament€Hill,€and€the€Court€order€prohibiting€him€accessŠ -n(- Što€the€premises€of€the€Press€Gallery,€that€is€to€the€"publicly€subsidized€facilities€and€servicesŠ ° Šprovided€by€the€Government€of€Canada€for€the€media".€Š –ę ŠĢ6.5€The€author€also€states€that€"the€Canadian€Parliamentary€Press€Gallery,€while€maintainingŠ b² Šthat€it€is€bending€over€backwards€to€allow€access€to€the€facilities€and€services€provided€forŠ H˜ Šthe€media€by€the€Government€of€Canada€continues€to€enforce€the€Court„ordered€injunctionŠ . ~ Šprohibiting€access€for€the€Publisher€of€the€National€Capital€News€to€any€of€these€publicŠ  d Šfacilities€and€services€„€now€in€addition€to€being€denied€access€to€information€the€author€isŠ ś J Šalso€under€the€threat€of€contempt€of€Court€should€he€attempt€to€even€seek€equal€access€as€hisŠ ą 0 Šcompetitors€enjoy€to€information€specifically€and€purposely€provided€for€the€media,Š Ę   Šdomestic€and€foreign,€by€the€Government€and€Parliament€of€Canada."€Š ¬ ü  ŠĢ6.6€The€author€complains€about€the€ridicule€and€trivializing€to€which€he€has€been€subjected.Š xČ  ŠHe€refers€to€a€Federal€Court€Justice€who€compared€the€author€with€"Don€Quixote,€tilting€atŠ ^®  Šwindmills",€a€Provincial€Court€Justice€who€commented€to€him:€"You€seem€to€take€offenceŠ D”  Šat€every€slight",€as€well€as€the€State€party's€reply€to€the€Human€Rights€Committee,€whichŠ *z  Šaccording€to€him€trivializes€the€matter€brought€before€the€Committee.€In€his€opinion,€thisŠ ` Šshows€that€he€will€never€be€able€to€obtain€an€effective€remedy€in€Canada.€Š öF ŠĢ6.7€The€author€contests€the€State€party's€statement€that€live€television€coverage€of€all€theŠ Ā Šactivities€in€the€House€of€Commons€is€available.€Š Øų ŠĢ6.8€The€author€takes€issue€with€the€State€party's€suggestion€that€his€conflict€is€with€a€privateŠ tÄ Šorganization.€He€states€that€his€complaint€is€that€he€has€been€denied€access€to€the€facilitiesŠ ZŖ Šand€services€provided€for€the€media€by€the€Parliament€and€Government€of€Canada,€byŠ @ ŠCanadian€officials€and€Courts.€He€adds€that€"the€pretext€that€such€access€requiresŠ &v Šmembership€in€conjunction€with€a€group€of€self„anointed€journalists€calling€themselves€theŠ  \ ŠCanadian€Parliamentary€Press€Gallery€is€not€material€to€this€issue€for€the€purposes€of€articleŠ ņB Š19(2)€of€the€Covenant".€He€points€out€that€the€Press€Gallery€has€been€incorporated€in€1987Š Ų( Šin€order€to€limit€the€personal€liability€of€its€members,€and€that€in€practice€it€controls€accessŠ ¾ Što€the€media€facilities€provided€by€Canada.€However,€in€the€author's€opinion€he€is€under€noŠ ¤ō Šobligation€to€meet€prior€conditions€established€by€the€Press€Gallery€that€limit€his€freedomŠ Š Ś Šof€expression.€The€author€also€submits€that€the€media€facilities€in€Parliament€are€staffed€byŠ p!Ą  Šgovernment€employees€and€that€the€office€equipment€is€owned€by€the€government.€Š V"¦! ŠĢ6.9€The€author€states€that€he€publishes€The€National€Capital€News€"with€a€regularity€moreŠ "$r# Šthan€appropriate€to€satisfy€the€definition€of€what€constitutes€newspapers"ņņ€1óó.€He€claims€thatŠ %X $ Šno€proper€application€procedure€for€membership€of€the€Gallery€exists€and€that€access€isŠ ī%>!% Šgranted€or€withheld€at€whim.€According€to€the€author,€the€Press€Gallery€at€no€time€seriouslyŠ Ō&$"& Šconsidered€his€application€and€did€not€review€the€information€he€provided.€In€this€context,Š ŗ' #' Šhe€claims€that€a€list€of€the€dates€of€publication€of€his€newspapers€was€withheld€from€theŠ  (š#( Šmembers€of€the€Press€Gallery.€He€contests€the€State€party's€assertion€that€he€failed€toŠ †)Ö$) Šcooperate€with€the€Press€Gallery.€He€further€claims€that€the€Speaker€of€the€House€ofŠ l*¼%* ŠCommons€can€intervene€in€situations€involving€journalists€and€has€done€so€in€the€past.€Š R+¢&+ ŠĢ6.10€Further,€the€author€states€that€he€was€given€daily€passes€in€1982„83,€which€were€laterŠ -n(- Šconverted€to€weekly€and€then€monthly€passes.€Only€in€1990€was€he€granted€a€six€monthŠ ° Štemporary€membership.€He€states€that€he€returned€the€temporary€membership€since€it€did€notŠ –ę Šgrant€him€equal€access.€The€author€states€that€temporary€membership€denied€him€the€rightŠ |Ģ Što€vote,€to€ask€questions€at€press€conferences,€to€have€a€mail€slot€for€receiving€all€theŠ b² Šinformation€available€to€active€members€and€a€listing€on€the€membership€list.€According€toŠ H˜ Šthe€author,€as€a€result€"there€was€no€assurance€that€all€the€information€would€be€provided€toŠ . ~ Šthe€author€and€any€information€that€was€sent€individually€by€people€to€whom€theŠ  d Šmembership€list€was€circulated€would€not€include€the€author".€Š ś J ŠĢ6.11€The€author€states€that€on€4€January€1996,€the€Ontario€Court€dismissed€his€action€againstŠ Ę   Šthe€Press€Gallery.€The€author€states€that€he€will€be€appealing€the€judgment,€but€that€theŠ ¬ ü  Šproceedings€are€unreasonably€prolonged€and€thus€no€obstacle€to€the€admissibility€of€hisŠ ’ā  Šcommunication.€Moreover,€he€states€that€his€communication€is€directed€against€the€StateŠ xČ  Šparty,€and€that€his€action€against€the€Press€Gallery€can€thus€not€be€a€remedy€to€be€exhaustedŠ ^®  Šfor€purposes€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€The€author€adds€that€he€has€discontinued€his€appealŠ D”  Šagainst€the€30€November€1994€judgment€of€the€Ontario€Court€concerning€his€claim€againstŠ *z  Šthe€Speaker€of€the€House€of€Commons,€since€it€is€accurate€that€the€Courts€have€noŠ ` Šjurisdiction€over€Parliament.€Š öF ŠĢ6.12€As€regards€the€State€party's€assertion€that€he€has€not€made€a€ņņprima€facieóó€case,€the€authorŠ Ā Šstates€that€the€State€party€has€prohibited€him€access€to€the€premises€of€the€Press€Gallery€inŠ Øų Šthe€Parliament€Buildings,€and€that€it€has€not€intervened€to€allow€access€for€the€author€to€theŠ ŽŽ ŠPress€Gallery€premises€outside€the€precincts€of€Parliament.€According€to€the€author€it€isŠ tÄ Ševident€that€the€State€party€"has€no€desire€or€intention€to€respect€its€responsibilities€andŠ ZŖ Šobligations€to€abide€by€article€19(2)".€Š @ ŠĢŌ_ŌņņFurtherŌ_Ō€State€party's€submissionóó€Š  \ ŠĢ7.1€By€submission€of€25€October€1996,€the€State€party€provides€some€clarifications€andŠ Ų( Šacknowledges€that€the€author€was€denied€access€to€the€Parliamentary€precincts€from€25€JulyŠ ¾ Š1995€until€4€August€1995,€following€an€incident€on€25€July€after€which€he€was€charged€withŠ ¤ō Štrespass€for€attempting€to€enter€the€Press€Gallery€in€Parliament.€He€was€convicted€forŠ Š Ś Štrespassing€on€26€April€1996€and€on€9€July€1996€his€appeal€was€dismissed.€Š p!Ą  ŠĢ7.2€The€State€party€explains€that€although€the€author€has€access€to€the€ParliamentaryŠ <#Œ" Šbuildings,€he€does€not€have€access€to€the€premises€of€the€Press€Gallery€located€in€theŠ "$r# Šbuildings€of€Parliament.€However,€there€is€no€Court€order€prohibiting€him€this€access;€theŠ %X $ ŠCourt€order€only€relates€to€the€premises€of€the€Press€Gallery€located€off€Parliament€Hill.€Š ī%>!% ŠĢ7.3€The€State€party€provides€a€copy€of€the€judgment€by€the€Ontario€Court€(General€Division)Š ŗ' #' Šof€4€January€1996,€in€which€it€was€decided€that€there€was€no€genuine€issue€for€trial€in€theŠ  (š#( Šauthor's€action€against€the€Press€Gallery.€The€judge€found,€on€the€basis€of€uncontradictedŠ †)Ö$) Šaffidavit€evidence,€that€the€privileges€(access€to€the€media€facilities€in€Parliament)€the€authorŠ l*¼%* Šwas€seeking€were€administered€by€the€Speaker€of€the€House€of€Commons,€not€by€the€PressŠ R+¢&+ ŠGallery.€As€regards€the€issue€of€denial€of€membership,€the€Judge€found€that€the€Press€GalleryŠ 8,ˆ', Šhad€not€failed€to€accord€the€author€natural€justice.€The€Judge€noted€that€the€author€had€beenŠ -n(- Šgiven€temporary€membership€on€a€number€of€occasions€and€that€his€failure€to€obtain€activeŠ ° Šmembership€was€attributable€to€his€refusal€to€answer€questions€posed€to€him€by€the€BoardŠ –ę Šof€Directors€of€the€Press€Gallery€for€the€purposes€of€determining€whether€or€not€he€fulfilledŠ |Ģ Šthe€requirements€for€active€membership.€Š b² ŠĢ7.4€The€State€party€reiterates€that€the€author's€failure€to€gain€access€to€the€ParliamentaryŠ . ~ ŠPress€Gallery€is€directly€attributable€to€his€failure€to€cooperate€with€the€Press€Gallery€in€theŠ  d Špursuit€of€his€application€for€active€membership.€According€to€the€State€party,€he€has€thusŠ ś J Šfailed€to€exhaust€the€simplest€and€most€direct€domestic€remedy€available€to€him.€The€StateŠ ą 0 Šparty€adds€that€the€Speaker€of€the€House€of€Commons€has€"good€reason€to€expect€individualsŠ Ę   Što€follow€the€normal€channels€for€obtaining€access€to€the€Parliamentary€Press€GalleryŠ ¬ ü  Špremises€located€on€the€Parliamentary€precincts.€In€order€to€make€access€to€ParliamentaryŠ ’ā  Šprecincts€meaningful,€the€Speaker€needs€to€ensure€that€access€to€any€location€on€theŠ xČ  Šprecincts€is€controlled.€For€this€purpose,€in€the€particular€case€of€the€Parliamentary€PressŠ ^®  ŠGallery€premises€located€in€the€Parliamentary€precincts,€the€Speaker€has€chosen,€as€a€matterŠ D”  Šof€practice,€to€condition€such€access€on€membership€of€the€Canadian€Press€Gallery."€TheŠ *z  ŠState€party€submits€that€the€Speaker's€practice€is€reasonable€and€appropriate€and€consistentŠ ` Šwith€the€freedom€of€expression€and€of€the€press.€Š öF ŠĢņņAuthor's€further€commentsóó€Š Ā ŠĢ8.1€In€his€comments€on€the€State€party's€further€submission,€the€author€complains€about€theŠ ŽŽ Šdelays€the€State€party€is€causing€and€submits€that€his€complaint€is€well„founded€and€hasŠ tÄ Šmerit,€particularly€in€the€light€of€the€State€party's€demonstrated€practice€and€intention€toŠ ZŖ Šprolong€a€domestic€resolution.€Š @ ŠĢ8.2€The€author€reiterates€that€the€Government€of€Canada€prevents€him€to€seek€and€receiveŠ  \ Šinformation€and€observe€proceedings€on€behalf€of€his€readers,€and€prohibits€his€access€toŠ ņB Šfacilities€and€services€provided€for€the€media.€He€emphasizes€that€Ō_ŌfavouredŌ_Ō€journalistsŠ Ų( Šbenefit€from€special€privileges,€among€others€free€phones,€services€of€a€Government€staffŠ ¾ Šof€nine,€access€to€Press€Conferences,€office€space,€access€to€press€releases€and€to€informationŠ ¤ō Šabout€the€itineraries€of€public€officials,€parking,€access€to€the€Library€of€Parliament.€Š Š Ś ŠĢ8.3€The€author€submits€that€the€Court€has€ruled€that€he€cannot€obtain€the€privileges€he€wantsŠ V"¦! Šfrom€the€Press€Gallery,€since€they€fall€under€the€control€of€the€Speaker€of€the€House€ofŠ <#Œ" ŠCommons.€At€the€same€time,€the€Speaker€refuses€to€intervene€in€what€he€sees€as€internalŠ "$r# Šmatters€of€the€Press€Gallery.€The€author€states€that€he€tried€to€comply€with€the€PressŠ %X $ ŠGallery's€requirements.€He€states€that€in€one€year€he€published€an€average€of€three€issues€aŠ ī%>!% Šmonth.,€but€that€there€is€no€appeal€available€against€their€decisions.€He€contests€that€theŠ Ō&$"& Štemporary€pass€does€not€restrict€the€freedom€of€expression,€as€it€denied€full€access€to€allŠ ŗ' #' Šfacilities€and€services€provided€for€the€press.€Š  (š#( ŠĢ8.4€The€author€acknowledges€that€the€Press€Gallery€may€have€some€merit€in€screeningŠ l*¼%* Šapplicants€who€request€access€to€the€facilities€and€services€provided€for€the€media,€butŠ R+¢&+ Šargues€that€there€should€be€a€recourse€available€of€any€decision€that€is€unfair€or€in€violationŠ 8,ˆ', Šof€fundamental€human€rights.€He€states€that€Canada€clearly€is€unwilling€to€provide€such€aŠ -n(- Šrecourse,€as€shown€by€the€refusals€of€the€Speaker€of€the€House€to€address€the€matter€as€wellŠ ° Šas€by€its€reply€to€the€Committee,€and€argues€that€all€available€and€effective€domesticŠ –ę Šremedies€have€thus€been€exhausted.€Š |Ģ ŠĢņņThe€Committee's€decision€on€admissibilityóó€Š H˜ ŠĢ9.1€At€its€60th€session,€the€Committee€considered€the€admissibility€of€the€communication.€Š  d ŠĢ9.2€The€Committee€noted€that€the€State€party€had€argued€that€the€communication€wasŠ ą 0 Šinadmissible€for€failure€to€exhaust€domestic€remedies.€The€Committee€carefully€examinedŠ Ę   Šthe€remedies€listed€by€the€State€party€and€came€to€the€conclusion€that€no€effective€remediesŠ ¬ ü  Šwere€available€to€the€author.€In€this€context,€the€Committee€noted€that€it€appeared€from€theŠ ’ā  ŠCourt€decisions€in€the€case€that€the€access€the€author€was€seeking,€fell€within€the€competenceŠ xČ  Šof€the€Speaker€of€the€House€of€Commons,€and€that€decisions€of€the€Speaker€in€this€matterŠ ^®  Šwere€not€Ō_ŌreviewableŌ_Ō€by€the€Courts.€The€State€party's€argument€that€the€author€could€find€aŠ D”  Šsolution€by€cooperating€in€the€determination€of€his€qualifications€for€membership€in€theŠ *z  ŠCanadian€Parliamentary€Press€Gallery€did€not€address€the€issue€raised€by€the€author'sŠ ` Šcommunication,€whether€or€not€the€limitation€of€access€to€the€press€facilities€in€ParliamentŠ öF Što€members€of€the€Press€Gallery€violated€his€right€under€article€19€of€the€Covenant.€Š Ü, ŠĢ9.3€The€State€party€had€further€argued€that€the€author€had€failed€to€present€a€ņņprima€facieóó€caseŠ Øų Šand€that€the€communication€was€thus€inadmissible€for€non„substantiation€of€a€violation.€TheŠ ŽŽ ŠCommittee€noted€that€it€appeared€from€the€information€before€it€that€the€author€had€beenŠ tÄ Šdenied€access€to€the€press€facilities€of€Parliament,€because€he€was€not€a€member€of€theŠ ZŖ ŠCanadian€Parliamentary€Press€Gallery.€The€Committee€further€noted€that€without€suchŠ @ Šaccess,€the€author€was€not€allowed€to€take€notes€during€debates€in€Parliament.€TheŠ &v ŠCommittee€found€that€this€might€raise€an€issue€under€article€19,€paragraph€2,€of€theŠ  \ ŠCovenant,€which€should€be€considered€on€its€merits.€Š ņB ŠĢ9.4€The€Committee€further€considered€that€the€question€whether€the€State€party€can€requireŠ ¾ Šmembership€in€a€private€organization€as€a€condition€for€the€enjoyment€of€the€freedom€to€seekŠ ¤ō Šand€receive€information,€should€be€examined€on€its€merits,€as€it€might€raise€issues€not€onlyŠ Š Ś Šunder€article€19,€but€also€under€articles€22€and€26€of€the€Covenant.€Š p!Ą  ŠĢ10.€Accordingly,€on€10€July€1997,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€decided€that€theŠ <#Œ" Šcommunication€was€admissible.€Š "$r# ŠĢņņState€party's€submission€on€the€meritsóó€Š ī%>!% ŠĢ11.1€By€submission€of€14€July€1998,€the€State€party€provides€a€response€on€the€merits€of€theŠ ŗ' #' Šcommunication.€It€reiterates€its€earlier€observations€and€explains€that€the€Speaker€of€theŠ  (š#( ŠHouse€of€Commons,€by€virtue€of€Parliamentary€privilege,€has€control€of€the€accommodationŠ †)Ö$) Šand€services€in€those€parts€of€the€Parliamentary€precincts€that€are€occupied€by€or€on€behalfŠ l*¼%* Šof€the€House€of€Commons.€One€of€the€Speaker's€duties€in€this€regard€is€controlling€accessŠ R+¢&+ Što€these€areas.€The€State€party€emphasizes€that€the€absolute€authority€of€Parliament€over€itsŠ 8,ˆ', Šown€proceedings€is€a€crucial€and€fundamental€principle€of€Canada's€general€constitutionalŠ -n(- Šframework.€Š ° ŠĢ11.2€With€regard€to€the€relationship€between€the€Speaker€and€the€Press€Gallery,€the€StateŠ |Ģ Šparty€explains€that€this€relationship€is€not€formal,€official€or€legal.€While€the€Speaker€hasŠ b² Šultimate€authority€over€the€physical€access€to€the€media€facilities€in€Parliament,€he€is€notŠ H˜ Šinvolved€in€the€general€operations€of€these€facilities€which€are€administered€and€run€entirelyŠ . ~ Šby€the€Press€Gallery.€Š  d ŠĢ11.3€Press€passes€granting€access€to€the€media€facilities€of€Parliament€are€issued€to€GalleryŠ ą 0 Šmembers€only.€The€State€party€reiterates€that€the€determination€of€membership€in€the€PressŠ Ę   ŠGallery€is€an€internal€matter€and€that€the€Speaker€has€always€taken€a€position€of€strict€non„Š ¬ ü  Šinterference.€It€submits€that€as€a€member€of€the€public,€the€author€has€access€to€theŠ ’ā  ŠParliament€buildings€open€to€the€public€and€that€he€can€attend€the€public€hearings€of€theŠ xČ  ŠHouse€of€Commons.€Š ^®  ŠĢ11.4€In€this€connection,€the€State€party€reiterates€that€the€proceedings€of€the€House€ofŠ *z  ŠCommons€are€broadcasted€on€television€and€that€any€journalist€can€report€effectively€on€theŠ ` Šproceedings€in€the€House€of€Commons€without€using€the€media€facilities€of€Parliament.€TheŠ öF ŠState€party€adds€that€the€transcripts€of€the€House€debates€can€be€found€on€Internet€theŠ Ü, Šfollowing€day.€Speeches€and€press€releases€of€the€Prime€Minister€are€deposited€in€a€lobbyŠ Ā Šopen€to€the€public,€and€are€also€posted€on€Internet.€Government€reports€and€press€releasesŠ Øų Šare€likewise€posted€on€Internet.€Š ŽŽ ŠĢ11.5€The€State€party€argues€that€the€author€has€not€been€deprived€of€his€freedom€to€receiveŠ ZŖ Šand€impart€information.€Although€as€a€member€of€the€public,€he€may€not€take€notes€whileŠ @ Šsitting€in€the€Public€Gallery€of€the€House€of€Commons,€he€may€observe€the€proceedings€inŠ &v Šthe€House€and€report€on€them.€The€State€party€explains€that€"Note„taking€has€traditionallyŠ  \ Šbeen€prohibited€in€the€public€galleries€of€the€House€of€Commons€as€a€matter€of€order€andŠ ņB Šdecorum€and€for€security€reasons€(e.g.€the€throwing€of€objects€at€the€members€of€ParliamentŠ Ų( Šfrom€the€gallery€above)".€Moreover,€the€information€he€seeks€is€available€through€liveŠ ¾ Šbroadcasting€and€Internet.€Š ¤ō ŠĢ11.6€Alternatively,€the€State€party€argues€that€any€restriction€on€the€author's€ability€to€receiveŠ p!Ą  Šand€impart€information€that€may€result€from€the€prohibition€on€note„taking€in€the€publicŠ V"¦! Šgallery€in€the€House€of€Commons€is€minimal€and€is€justified€to€achieve€a€balance€betweenŠ <#Œ" Šthe€right€to€freedom€of€expression€and€the€need€to€ensure€both€the€effective€and€dignifiedŠ "$r# Šoperation€of€Parliament€and€the€safety€and€security€of€its€members.€According€to€the€StateŠ %X $ Šparty,€states€should€be€accorded€a€broad€flexibility€in€determining€issues€of€effectiveŠ ī%>!% Šgovernance€and€security€since€they€are€in€the€best€position€to€assess€the€risks€and€needs.€Š Ō&$"& ŠĢ11.7€The€State€party€also€denies€that€a€violation€of€article€26€has€occurred€in€the€author'sŠ  (š#( Šcase.€The€State€party€acknowledges€that€a€difference€in€treatment€exists€between€journalistsŠ †)Ö$) Šwho€are€members€of€the€Press€Gallery€and€those€who€do€not€satisfy€the€criteria€forŠ l*¼%* Šmembership,€but€submits€that€this€has€not€lead€to€any€significant€disadvantage€for€the€author.Š R+¢&+ ŠThe€State€party€also€refers€to€the€Committee's€jurisprudence€that€not€every€differentiationŠ 8,ˆ', Šcan€be€deemed€to€be€discriminatory€and€submits€that€the€distinction€made€is€compatible€withŠ -n(- Šthe€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and€based€on€objective€criteria.€In€this€context,€the€State€partyŠ ° Šemphasizes€that€access€to€press€facilities€in€Parliament€must€necessarily€be€limited€since€theŠ –ę Šfacilities€can€only€accommodate€a€limited€number€of€people.€It€is€reasonable€to€limit€suchŠ |Ģ Šaccess€to€journalists€who€report€regularly€on€the€proceedings€in€Parliament.€The€Speaker€isŠ b² Šaware€of€the€criteria€for€membership€in€the€Press€Gallery€and€relies€on€these€criteria€as€anŠ H˜ Šappropriate€standard€for€determining€who€should€or€should€not€have€access€to€the€mediaŠ . ~ Šfacilities€of€Parliament.€It€is€submitted€that€these€criteria,€which€the€Speaker€has€byŠ  d Šimplication€adopted€and€endorsed,€are€specific,€fair€and€reasonable,€and€cannot€be€deemedŠ ś J Šarbitrary€or€unreasonable.€Š ą 0 ŠĢ11.8€With€regard€to€article€22€of€the€Covenant,€the€State€party€observes€that€the€author€is€notŠ ¬ ü  Šbeing€forced€by€the€Government€to€join€any€association.€He€is€free€not€to€associate€with€theŠ ’ā  ŠPress€Gallery,€nor€is€his€ability€to€practice€the€profession€of€journalism€conditioned€in€anyŠ xČ  Šway€upon€his€membership€of€the€Press€Gallery.€Š ^®  ŠĢŌ_ŌņņTheŌ_Ō€author's€comments€on€the€State€party's€submissionóó€Š *z  ŠĢ12.1€In€his€comments,€dated€25€September€1998,€the€author€refers€to€his€earlier€submissions.Š öF ŠHe€emphasizes€that€he€is€without€remedy€because€of€the€refusal€of€the€Speaker€to€interveneŠ Ü, Šon€his€behalf€and€to€grant€him€access€to€the€press€facilities€or€even€hear€him.€The€authorŠ Ā Šemphasizes€that€no€powers€have€been€transferred€from€the€Speaker€to€the€Press€Gallery,€norŠ Øų Šhas€the€Speaker€the€authority€to€delegate€his€responsibilities€to€an€individual€group€withoutŠ ŽŽ Šaccountability€to€the€Members€of€Parliament.€According€to€the€author,€the€ParliamentaryŠ tÄ Šprivileges€are€of€no€force€or€effect€when€they€infringe€fundamental€rights€such€as€thoseŠ ZŖ Šcontained€in€the€Covenant.€The€author€argues€that€the€State€party€is€allowing€a€privateŠ @ Šorganization€to€restrict€access€to€news€and€information.€Š &v ŠĢ12.2€The€author€also€gives€examples€of€how€Speakers€have€intervened€in€the€past€and€givenŠ ņB Šaccess€to€the€media€facilities€in€Parliament€to€individual€journalists€who€had€been€deniedŠ Ų( Šmembership€by€the€Press€Gallery.€He€rejects€the€State€party's€argument€that€the€SpeakerŠ ¾ Šwould€be€interfering€with€the€freedom€of€the€press€if€he€were€to€intervene,€on€the€contrary,Š ¤ō Šhe€argues€that€the€Speaker€has€a€duty€to€intervene€in€order€to€protect€the€freedom€ofŠ Š Ś Šexpression.€Š p!Ą  ŠĢ12.3€The€author€reiterates€that€as€a€journalist€he€requires€equal€access€to€the€media€facilitiesŠ <#Œ" Šof€Parliament.€The€author€refers€to€the€1992€Annual€Meeting€of€the€Press€Gallery,€duringŠ "$r# Šwhich€members€stated€that€they€had€a€fundamental€right€to€be€at€the€Parliament€facilities€inŠ %X $ Šorder€to€have€access€to€information..€He€states€that,€although€it€can€be€seen€as€reasonable€forŠ ī%>!% Šthe€Speaker€to€have€the€accreditation€of€journalists€handled€by€the€staff€assigned€to€the€PressŠ Ō&$"& ŠGallery,€things€got€out€of€control€and€the€Press€Gallery€began€using€Ō_ŌfavouritismŌ_Ō€on€the€oneŠ ŗ' #' Šhand€and€coercion€and€blackmail€on€the€other,€and€as€a€result€the€author€was€denied€accessŠ  (š#( Šand€has€no€recourse.€He€emphasizes€that€he€meets€all€the€requirements€for€accreditation.€InŠ †)Ö$) Šany€event,€he€argues€that€the€Gallery's€by„laws€can€never€affect€his€fundamental€rights€underŠ l*¼%* Šarticle€19,€paragraph€2,€to€have€access€to€information.€He€adds€that€the€Gallery's€by„laws€areŠ R+¢&+ Šarbitrary,€inconsistent,€tyrannical€and€in€violation€not€only€of€the€Covenant€but€also€of€theŠ 8,ˆ', ŠState€party's€own€constitution.€The€author€submits€that€if€a€group€of€journalists€wishes€toŠ -n(- Šform€their€own€association,€they€should€feel€free€to€do€so.€This€private,€voluntaryŠ ° Šorganization€should€in€no€way€be€given€authority€or€supervision€over€any€publicly„financedŠ –ę Šactivities€and€services€as€it€has€today,€especially€since€no€possibility€of€appeal€from€itsŠ |Ģ Šdecisions€is€provided.€He€rejects€membership€in€this€association€as€a€prerequisite€to€enjoyingŠ b² Šhis€fundamental€right€to€freedom€of€expression€and€submits€that€he€should€not€be€forced€toŠ H˜ Šbelong€to€the€Press€Gallery€in€order€to€receive€information€that€is€made€available€by€theŠ . ~ ŠHouse€of€Commons.€Š  d ŠĢ12.4€With€regard€to€the€State€party's€argument€that€live€coverage€of€all€proceedings€in€theŠ ą 0 ŠHouse€of€Commons€is€available,€the€author€submits€that€the€Cable€Public€Affairs€ChannelŠ Ę   Šwhich€broadcasts€the€House€of€Commons€proceedings,€is€a€news€service€in€competition€withŠ ¬ ü  Šthe€author.€He€states€that€it€is€of€very€little€use€as€a€journalist,€since€one€has€to€watchŠ ’ā  Šwhatever€they€decide€to€broadcast.€The€author€moreover€contests€that€live€coverage€of€allŠ xČ  Šproceedings€in€the€House€of€Commons€is€available,€since€very€often€debates€are€broadcastedŠ ^®  Šas€replays,€and€most€Committee€meetings€are€not€Ō_ŌtelevizedŌ_Ō.€The€author€also€argues€that€thereŠ D”  Šis€much€more€to€reporting€on€the€activities€of€Parliament€than€observe€the€sessions€that€takeŠ *z  Šplace€in€the€House€of€Commons.€In€addition,€being€recognized€in€the€eyes€of€theŠ ` ŠGovernment€community€as€part€of€the€accepted€media€is€essential€to€the€process€ofŠ öF Šnetworking€within€that€community.€The€author€therefore€maintains€that€the€restrictions€byŠ Ü, Šnot€having€access€to€the€media€facilities€in€Parliament€seriously€impede€if€not€renderŠ Ā Šimpossible€his€ability€to€seek€and€obtain€information€about€the€activities€of€the€ParliamentŠ Øų Šand€Government€of€Canada.€Š ŽŽ ŠĢ12.5€The€author€rejects€the€State€party's€argument€that€his€being€allowed€to€do€his€workŠ ZŖ Šalong€with€the€other€300€accredited€journalists€would€encroach€on€the€effective€and€dignifiedŠ @ Šoperation€of€Parliament€and€the€safety€and€security€of€its€members.€With€regard€to€article€26Š &v Šof€the€Covenant,€the€author€denies€that€the€difference€in€treatment€between€him€andŠ  \ Šjournalists€members€of€the€Press€Gallery€is€reasonable€and€reiterates€that€he€has€beenŠ ņB Šarbitrarily€denied€equal€access€to€media€facilities.€Although€he€accepts€that€the€State€partyŠ Ų( Šmay€limit€access€to€press€facilities€in€Parliament,€he€submits€that€such€limits€must€not€beŠ ¾ Šunduly€restraining,€must€be€administered€fairly,€must€not€infringe€on€any€person's€right€toŠ ¤ō Šfreedom€of€expression€and€the€right€to€seek€and€receive€information,€and€must€be€subject€toŠ Š Ś Šreview.€According€to€the€author,€the€absence€of€an€avenue€of€appeal€of€a€decision€by€theŠ p!Ą  ŠPress€Gallery€constitutes€a€violation€of€equal€protection€of€the€law.€The€author€does€notŠ V"¦! Šaccept€that€limited€space€means€that€he€cannot€be€allowed€to€use€the€press€facilities,€sinceŠ <#Œ" Šother€new€journalists€have€been€admitted€and€since€there€would€be€other€possibilities€ofŠ "$r# Šsolving€this,€such€as€limiting€the€number€of€accredited€journalists€who€work€for€the€sameŠ %X $ Šnews€organizationņņ€2óó.€Š ī%>!% ŠĢ12.6€Finally,€the€author€submits€that€the€exclusion€from€access€to€essential€services€andŠ ŗ' #' Šfacilities€provided€by€the€House€of€Commons€for€the€press€of€those€journalists€who€are€notŠ  (š#( Ša€member€of€the€Canadian€Press€Gallery€constitutes€a€violation€of€the€right€to€freedom€ofŠ †)Ö$) Šassociation,€since€no€one€should€be€forced€to€join€an€association€in€order€to€enjoy€aŠ l*¼%* Šfundamental€right€such€as€freedom€to€obtain€information.€Š R+¢&+ ŠĢņņCommittee's€examination€of€the€meritsóó€Š -n(- Š‡13.1€The€Human€Rights€Committee€has€considered€the€present€communication€in€the€lightŠ ° Šof€all€the€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€parties,€as€provided€in€article€5,€paragraphŠ –ę Š1,€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€Š |Ģ ŠĢ13.2€With€regard€to€the€author's€claims€under€articles€22€and€26€of€the€Covenant,€theŠ H˜ ŠCommittee€has€reviewed,€under€article€93€(4)€of€its€Rules€of€Procedure,€its€decision€ofŠ . ~ Šadmissibility€taken€at€its€60th€session€and€considers€that€the€author€had€not€substantiated,€forŠ  d Špurposes€of€Ō_ŌadmissilityŌ_Ō,€his€claim€under€the€said€articles.€Nor€has€he€further€substantiatedŠ ś J Šit,€for€the€same€purposes,€with€his€further€submissions.€In€these€circumstances,€theŠ ą 0 ŠCommittee€concludes€that€the€author's€communication€is€inadmissible€under€article€2€of€theŠ Ę   ŠOptional€Protocol,€as€far€as€it€relates€to€articles€22€and€26€of€the€Covenant.€In€this€regard,€theŠ ¬ ü  Šadmissibility€decision€is€therefore€repealed.€Š ’ā  ŠĢ13.3€The€issue€before€the€Committee€is€thus€whether€the€restriction€of€the€author's€access€toŠ ^®  Šthe€press€facilities€in€Parliament€amounts€to€a€violation€of€his€right€under€article€19€of€theŠ D”  ŠCovenant,€to€seek,€receive€and€impart€information.€Š *z  ŠĢ13.4€In€this€connection,€the€Committee€also€refers€to€the€right€to€take€part€in€the€conduct€ofŠ öF Špublic€affairs,€as€laid€down€in€article€25€of€the€Covenant,€and€in€particular€to€GeneralŠ Ü, ŠComment€No.€25€(57)€which€reads€in€part:€"In€order€to€ensure€the€full€enjoyment€of€rightsŠ Ā Šprotected€by€article€25,€the€free€communication€of€information€and€ideas€about€public€andŠ Øų Špolitical€issues€between€citizens,€candidates€and€elected€representatives€is€essential.€ThisŠ ŽŽ Šimplies€a€free€press€and€other€media€able€to€comment€on€public€issues€without€censorshipŠ tÄ Šor€restraint€and€to€inform€public€opinion."ņņ€3óó€Read€together€with€article€19,€this€implies€thatŠ ZŖ Šcitizens,€in€particular€through€the€media,€should€have€wide€access€to€information€and€theŠ @ Šopportunity€to€disseminate€information€and€opinions€about€the€activities€of€elected€bodiesŠ &v Šand€their€members.€The€Committee€recognizes,€however,€that€such€access€should€notŠ  \ Šinterfere€with€or€obstruct€the€carrying€out€of€the€functions€of€elected€bodies,€and€that€a€StateŠ ņB Šparty€is€thus€entitled€to€limit€access.€However,€any€restrictions€imposed€by€the€State€partyŠ Ų( Šmust€be€compatible€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€Š ¾ ŠĢ13.5€In€the€present€case,€the€State€party€has€restricted€the€right€to€enjoy€the€publicly€fundedŠ Š Ś Šmedia€facilities€of€Parliament,€including€the€right€to€take€notes€when€observing€meetings€ofŠ p!Ą  ŠParliament,€to€those€media€representatives€who€are€members€of€a€private€Ō_ŌorganisationŌ_Ō,€theŠ V"¦! ŠCanadian€Press€Gallery.€The€author€has€been€denied€active€(i.e.€full)€membership€of€theŠ <#Œ" ŠPress€Gallery.€On€occasion€he€has€held€temporary€membership€which€has€given€him€accessŠ "$r# Što€some€but€not€all€facilities€of€the€Ō_ŌorganisationŌ_Ō.€When€he€does€not€hold€at€least€temporaryŠ %X $ Šmembership€he€does€not€have€access€to€the€media€facilities€nor€can€he€take€notes€ofŠ ī%>!% ŠParliamentary€proceedings.€The€Committee€notes€that€the€State€party€has€claimed€that€theŠ Ō&$"& Šauthor€does€not€suffer€any€significant€disadvantage€because€of€technological€advances€whichŠ ŗ' #' Šmake€information€about€Parliamentary€proceedings€readily€available€to€the€public.€The€StateŠ  (š#( Šparty€argues€that€he€can€report€on€proceedings€by€relying€on€broadcasting€services,€or€byŠ †)Ö$) Šobserving€the€proceedings.€In€view€of€the€importance€of€access€to€information€about€theŠ l*¼%* Šdemocratic€process,€however,€the€Committee€does€not€accept€the€State€party's€argument€andŠ R+¢&+ Šis€of€the€opinion€that€the€author's€exclusion€constitutes€a€restriction€of€his€right€guaranteedŠ 8,ˆ', Šunder€paragraph€2€of€article€19€to€have€access€to€information.€The€question€is€whether€or€notŠ -n(- Šthis€restriction€is€justified€under€paragraph€3€of€article€19.€The€Ō_ŌrestricionŌ_Ō€is,€arguably,Š ° Šimposed€by€law,€in€that€the€exclusion€of€persons€from€the€precinct€of€Parliament€or€any€partŠ –ę Šthereof,€under€the€authority€of€the€Speaker,€follows€from€the€law€of€parliamentary€privilege.€Š |Ģ ŠĢ13.6€The€State€party€argues€that€the€restrictions€are€justified€to€achieve€a€balance€betweenŠ H˜ Šthe€right€to€freedom€of€Ō_ŌexpresssionŌ_Ō€and€the€need€to€ensure€both€the€effective€and€dignifiedŠ . ~ Šoperation€of€Parliament€and€the€safety€and€security€of€its€members,€and€that€the€State€partyŠ  d Šis€in€the€best€position€to€assess€the€risks€and€needs€involved.€As€indicated€above,€theŠ ś J ŠCommittee€agrees€that€the€protection€of€Parliamentary€procedure€can€be€seen€as€a€legitimateŠ ą 0 Šgoal€of€public€order€and€an€accreditation€system€can€thus€be€a€justified€means€of€achievingŠ Ę   Šthis€goal.€However,€since€the€accreditation€system€operates€as€a€restriction€of€article€19Š ¬ ü  Šrights,€its€operation€and€application€must€be€shown€as€necessary€and€proportionate€to€theŠ ’ā  Šgoal€in€question€and€not€arbitrary.€The€Committee€does€not€accept€that€this€is€a€matterŠ xČ  Šexclusively€for€the€State€to€determine.€The€relevant€criteria€for€the€accreditation€schemeŠ ^®  Šshould€be€specific,€fair€and€reasonable,€and€their€application€should€be€transparent.€In€theŠ D”  Šinstant€case,€the€State€party€has€allowed€a€private€organization€to€control€access€to€theŠ *z  ŠParliamentary€press€facilities,€without€intervention.€The€scheme€does€not€ensure€that€thereŠ ` Šwill€be€no€arbitrary€exclusion€from€access€to€the€Parliamentary€media€facilities.€In€theŠ öF Šcircumstances,€the€Committee€is€of€the€opinion€that€the€accreditation€system€has€not€beenŠ Ü, Šshown€to€be€a€necessary€and€proportionate€restriction€of€rights€within€the€meaning€of€articleŠ Ā Š19,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Covenant,€in€order€to€ensure€the€effective€operation€of€Parliament€andŠ Øų Šthe€safety€of€its€members.€The€denial€of€access€to€the€author€to€the€press€facilities€ofŠ ŽŽ ŠParliament€for€not€being€a€member€of€the€Canadian€Press€Gallery€Association€constitutesŠ tÄ Štherefore€a€violation€of€article€19€(2)€of€the€Covenant.€Š ZŖ ŠĢ13.7€In€this€connection,€the€Committee€notes€that€there€is€no€possibility€of€recourse,€eitherŠ &v Što€the€Courts€or€to€Parliament,€to€determine€the€legality€of€the€exclusion€or€its€necessity€forŠ  \ Šthe€purposes€spelled€out€in€article€19€of€the€Covenant.€The€Committee€recalls€that€underŠ ņB Šarticle€2,€paragraph€3€of€the€Covenant,€States€parties€have€undertaken€to€ensure€that€anyŠ Ų( Šperson€whose€rights€are€violated€shall€have€an€effective€remedy,€and€that€any€personŠ ¾ Šclaiming€such€a€remedy€shall€have€his€right€thereto€determined€by€competent€authorities.Š ¤ō ŠAccordingly,€whenever€a€right€recognized€by€the€Covenant€is€affected€by€the€action€of€aŠ Š Ś ŠState€agent€there€must€be€a€procedure€established€by€the€State€allowing€the€person€whoseŠ p!Ą  Šright€has€been€affected€to€claim€before€a€competent€body€that€there€has€been€a€violation€ofŠ V"¦! Šhis€rights.€Š <#Œ" ŠĢ14.€The€Human€Rights€Committee,€acting€under€article€5,€paragraph€4,€of€the€OptionalŠ %X $ ŠProtocol€to€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€rights,€is€of€the€view€that€theŠ ī%>!% Šfacts€before€it€disclose€a€violation€of€article€19,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant.€Š Ō&$"& ŠĢ15.€Under€article€2,€paragraph€3(a),€of€the€Covenant,€the€State€party€is€under€the€obligationŠ  (š#( Što€provide€Mr.€Ō_ŌGauthierŌ_Ō€with€an€effective€remedy€including€an€independent€review€of€hisŠ †)Ö$) Šapplication€to€have€access€to€the€press€facilities€in€Parliament.€The€State€party€is€under€anŠ l*¼%* Šobligation€to€take€measures€to€prevent€similar€violations€in€the€future.€Š R+¢&+ ŠĢ16.€Bearing€in€mind€that,€by€becoming€a€State€party€to€the€Optional€Protocol,€the€State€partyŠ -n(- Šhas€recognized€the€competence€of€the€Committee€to€determine€whether€there€has€been€aŠ ° Šviolation€of€the€Covenant€or€not€and€that,€pursuant€to€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€the€StateŠ –ę Šparty€has€undertaken€to€ensure€to€all€individuals€within€its€territory€and€subject€to€itsŠ |Ģ Šjurisdiction€the€rights€recognized€in€the€Covenant€and€to€provide€an€effective€andŠ b² Šenforceable€remedy€in€case€a€violation€has€been€established,€the€Committee€wishes€toŠ H˜ Šreceive€from€the€State€party,€within€ninety€days,€information€about€the€measures€taken€toŠ . ~ Šgive€effect€to€the€Committee's€Views.€The€State€party€is€also€requested€to€publish€theŠ  d ŠCommittee's€Views.€Š ś J ŠĢĢ__________Š ¬ ü  Š*€The€following€members€of€the€Committee€participated€in€the€examination€of€the€presentŠ ’ā  Šcommunication:€Mr.€Ō_ŌAbdelfattahŌ_Ō€Amor,€Mr.€Ō_ŌNisukeŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌAndoŌ_Ō,€Mr.€Ō_ŌPrafullachandraŌ_Ō€N.Š xČ  ŠŌ_ŌBhagwatiŌ_Ō,€Ms.€Christine€Ō_ŌChanetŌ_Ō,€Lord€Ō_ŌColvilleŌ_Ō,€Ms.€Elizabeth€Ō_ŌEvattŌ_Ō,€Ms.€Pilar€Ō_ŌGaitnŌ_Ō€deŠ ^®  ŠŌ_ŌPomboŌ_Ō,€Mr.€Ō_ŌEckartŌ_Ō€Klein,€Mr.€David€Ō_ŌKretzmerŌ_Ō,€Mr.€Ō_ŌRajsoomerŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌLallahŌ_Ō,€Ms.€Cecilia€MedinaŠ D”  ŠŌ_ŌQuirogaŌ_Ō,€Mr.€Fausto€Ō_ŌPocarŌ_Ō,€Mr.€Martin€Ō_ŌScheininŌ_Ō,€Mr.€Ō_ŌHipš;šlitoŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌSolariŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌYrigoyenŌ_Ō,€Mr.€RomanŠ *z  ŠŌ_ŌWieruszewskiŌ_Ō,€and€Mr.€Ō_ŌAbdallahŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌZakhiaŌ_Ō.€Š ` ŠĢ**€Pursuant€to€rule€85€of€the€Committee's€rules€of€procedure,€Mr.€Maxwell€Ō_ŌYaldenŌ_Ō€did€notŠ Ü, Šparticipate€in€the€examination€of€the€case.€Š Ā ŠĢ***€The€text€of€four€Ō_ŌindidivualŌ_Ō€opinions€signed€by€seven€Committee€members€is€appendedŠ ŽŽ Što€the€present€document.€Š tÄ ŠĢ1/€€From€the€26€October€1992€issue€of€the€National€Capital€News,€provided€by€the€author,Š @ Šit€appears€that€the€newspaper€was€"founded€in€1982€to€become€a€daily€newspaper".Š &v ŠĢ2/€€The€author€refers€to€the€State„owned€CBC,€which€according€to€him€has€105€members€inŠ ņB Šthe€Press€Gallery.Š Ų( ŠĢ3/€€General€comment€No.€25,€paragraph€25,€adopted€by€the€Committee€on€12€July€1996.€Š ¤ō ŠĢ[Adopted€in€English,€French€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.Š p!Ą  ŠSubsequently€to€be€issued€also€in€Arabic,€Chinese€and€Russian€as€part€of€the€Committee'sŠ V"¦! Šannual€report€to€the€General€Assembly.]€Š <#Œ" ŠĢĢÓQÓÓ  Óņ ņņņAppendixóóó óŠ ī%>!% ŠÓŒėÓĢĢņņIndividual€opinion€by€members€Lord€Colville,Elizabeth€Evattóó,€Š  (š#( ŠņņMs.€Cecilia€Medina€Ō_ŌQuirogaŌ_Ō€and€Mr.€Ō_ŌHipš;šlitoŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌSolariŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌYrigoyenŌ_Ōóó€Š †)Ö$) Š(ņņpartly€dissentingóó)Š l*¼%* ŠÓ ÓĢIn€regard€to€paragraph€13.2€of€the€Committee's€Views,€our€opinion€is€that€the€claims€of€theŠ 8,ˆ', Šauthor€under€articles€22€and€26€of€the€Covenant€have€been€sufficiently€substantiated€and€thatŠ -n(- Šthere€is€no€basis€to€revise€the€decision€on€admissibility.€Š ° ŠĢArticle€26€of€the€Covenant€stipulates€that€all€persons€are€equal€before€the€law.€EqualityŠ |Ģ Šimplies€that€the€application€of€laws€and€regulations€as€well€as€administrative€decisions€byŠ b² ŠGovernment€officials€should€not€be€arbitrary€but€should€be€based€on€clear€coherent€grounds,Š H˜ Šensuring€equality€of€treatment.€To€deny€the€author,€who€is€a€journalist€and€seeks€to€reportŠ . ~ Šon€parliamentary€proceedings,€access€to€the€Parliamentary€press€facilities€withoutŠ  d Šspecifically€identifying€the€reasons,€was€arbitrary.€Furthermore,€there€was€no€procedure€forŠ ś J Šreview.€In€the€circumstances,€we€are€of€the€opinion€that€the€principle€of€equality€before€theŠ ą 0 Šlaw€protected€by€article€26€of€the€Covenant€was€violated€in€the€author's€case.€Š Ę   ŠĢIn€regard€to€article€22,€the€author's€claim€is€that€requiring€membership€in€the€Press€GalleryŠ ’ā  ŠAssociation€as€a€condition€of€access€to€the€Parliamentary€press€facilities€violated€his€rightsŠ xČ  Šunder€article€22.€The€right€to€freedom€of€association€implies€that€in€general€no€one€may€beŠ ^®  Šforced€by€the€State€to€join€an€association.€When€membership€of€an€association€is€aŠ D”  Šrequirement€to€engage€in€a€particular€profession€or€calling,€or€when€sanctions€exist€on€theŠ *z  Šfailure€to€be€a€member€of€an€association,€the€State€party€should€be€called€on€to€show€thatŠ ` Šcompulsory€membership€is€necessary€in€a€democratic€society€in€pursuit€of€an€interestŠ öF Šauthorised€by€the€Covenant.€In€this€matter,€the€Committee's€deliberations€in€paragraph€13.6Š Ü, Šof€the€Views€make€it€clear€that€the€State€party€has€failed€to€show€that€the€requirement€to€beŠ Ā Ša€member€of€a€particular€organisation€is€a€necessary€restriction€under€paragraph€2€of€articleŠ Øų Š22€in€order€to€limit€access€to€the€press€gallery€in€Parliament€for€the€purposes€mentioned.€TheŠ ŽŽ Šrestrictions€imposed€on€the€author€are€therefore€in€violation€of€article€22€of€the€Covenant.€Š tÄ ŠŠ ŠLord€Ō_ŌColvilleŌ_Ō€[signed]€Š @ ŠĢMs.€Elizabeth€Ō_ŌEvattŌ_Ō€[signed]€Š  \ ŠĢMs.€Cecilia€Medina€Ō_ŌQuirogaŌ_Ō€[signed]€Š Ų( ŠĢMr.€Ō_ŌHipš;šlitoŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌSolariŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌYrigoyenŌ_Ō€[signed]€Š ¤ō ŠŠ Š[Done€in€English,€French€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.Š p!Ą  ŠSubsequently€to€be€translated€also€in€Arabic,€Chinese€and€Russian€as€part€of€the€Committee'sŠ V"¦! Šannual€report€to€the€General€Assembly.]€Š <#Œ" ŠĢĢÓ3ķÓņņIndividual€opinion€by€Committee€member€Prafullachandra€N.€Bhagwatióó€Š ī%>!% Šņņ(partly€dissentingóó)Š Ō&$"& ŠÓŹÓĢIn€regard€to€paragraph€13.2€of€the€Committee's€Views,€my€opinion€isthat€the€claims€of€theŠ  (š#( Šauthor€under€articles€22€and€26€of€the€Covenant€have€been€sufficiently€substantiated€and€thatŠ †)Ö$) Šthere€is€no€basis€to€revise€the€decision€on€admissibility.€Š l*¼%* ŠĢArticle€26€of€the€Covenant€stipulates€that€all€persons€are€equal€before€the€law.€EqualityŠ 8,ˆ', Šimplies€that€the€application€of€laws€and€regulations€as€well€as€administrative€decisions€byŠ -n(- ŠGovernment€officials€should€not€be€arbitrary€but€should€be€based€on€clear€coherent€grounds,Š ° Šensuring€equality€of€treatment.€To€deny€the€author,€who€is€a€journalist€and€seeks€to€reportŠ –ę Šon€parliamentary€proceedings,€access€to€the€Parliamentary€press€facilities€was€arbitrary.€TheŠ |Ģ Šonly€reason€why€the€author€was€denied€access€was€that€was€not€a€member€of€the€PressŠ b² ŠGallery€Association.€What€article€26€strikes€at€is€arbitrariness€in€treatment.€Here€the€basisŠ H˜ Šof€differentiation€between€a€journalist€like€the€author€who€was€denied€access,€and€theŠ . ~ Šjournalists€who€were€given€access€was€membership€of€a€private€organization,€viz€the€PressŠ  d ŠGallery€Association€which€basis€did€not€bear€any€rational€relation€or€relevance€to€the€objectŠ ś J Šof€acreditation.€The€requirement€of€membership€of€the€Press€Gallery€Association€wasŠ ą 0 Štherefore€clearly€arbitrary.€Furthermore,€there€was€no€procedure€for€review.€In€theŠ Ę   Šcircumstances,€I€am€of€the€opinion€that€the€principle€of€equality€before€the€law€protected€byŠ ¬ ü  Šarticle€26€of€the€Covenant€was€violated€in€the€author's€case.€Š ’ā  ŠĢIn€regard€to€article€22,€the€author's€claim€is€that€requiring€membership€in€the€Press€GalleryŠ ^®  ŠAssociation€as€a€condition€of€access€to€the€Parliamentary€press€facilities€violated€his€rightsŠ D”  Šunder€article€22€read€with€article€19.€The€right€to€freedom€of€association€implies€that€inŠ *z  Šgeneral€no€one€may€be€forced€by€the€State€to€join€an€association.€When€membership€of€anŠ ` Šassociation€is€a€requirement€to€engage€in€a€particular€profession€or€calling,€or€when€sanctionsŠ öF Šexist€on€the€failure€to€be€a€member€of€an€association,€the€State€party€should€be€called€on€toŠ Ü, Šshow€that€compulsory€membership€is€necessary€in€a€democratic€society€in€pursuit€of€anŠ Ā Šinterest€authorised€by€the€Covenant.€In€this€matter,€the€Committee's€deliberations€inŠ Øų Šparagraph€13.6€of€the€Views€make€it€clear€that€the€State€party€has€failed€to€show€that€theŠ ŽŽ Šrequirement€to€be€a€member€of€a€particular€organization€was€a€necessary€restriction€underŠ tÄ Šparagraph€2€of€article€22€in€order€to€limit€access€to€the€press€gallery€in€Parliament€for€theŠ ZŖ Špurposes€mentioned.€The€restrictions€imposed€on€the€author€are€therefore€in€violation€ofŠ @ Šarticle€22€of€the€Covenant.€Š &v ŠŠ ŠPrafullachandra€N.€Bhagwati€[signed]Š ņB ŠĢĢ[Done€in€English,€French€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.Š ¤ō ŠSubsequently€to€be€translated€also€in€Arabic,€Chinese€and€Russian€as€part€of€the€Committee'sŠ Š Ś Šannual€report€to€the€General€Assembly.]€Š p!Ą  ŠĢĢÓˆśÓņņIndividual€opinion€by€Committee€member€David€Kretzmer€(partly€dissenting)óóŠ "$r# ŠÓÖÓĢI€join€the€opinion€of€my€colleagues€Mr.€Solari€Yrigoyen€and€Ms.€Elizabeth€Evatt,€in€the€viewŠ ī%>!% Šthat€there€was€a€violation€of€article€22€in€the€present€case.€However,€I€do€not€share€their€viewŠ Ō&$"& Šthat€a€violation€of€article€26€has€also€been€substantiated.€In€my€mind,€it€is€not€sufficient,€inŠ ŗ' #' Šorder€to€substantiate€a€violation€of€article€26,€merely€to€state€that€no€reasons€were€given€forŠ  (š#( Ša€decision.€Furthermore,€it€seems€to€me€that€the€author's€claim€under€article€26€is€in€essenceŠ †)Ö$) Ša€restatement€of€his€claim€under€article€19.€It€amounts€to€the€argument€that€while€others€wereŠ l*¼%* Šallowed€access€to€the€Press€Gallery,€the€author€was€denied€access.€Accepting€that€thisŠ R+¢&+ Šconstitutes€a€violation€of€article€26€would€seem€to€imply€that€in€almost€every€case€in€whichŠ 8,ˆ', Šone€individual's€rights€under€other€articles€of€the€Covenant€are€violated,€there€will€also€beŠ -n(- Ša€violation€of€article€26.€I€therefore€join€the€Committee€in€the€view€that€the€author's€claimŠ ° Šof€a€violation€of€article€26€has€not€been€substantiated.€The€Committee's€decision€onŠ –ę Šadmissibility€should€be€revised€and€the€claim€under€article€26€be€held€inadmissible.€Š |Ģ ŠŠ ŠDavid€Kretzmer€[signed]Š H˜ ŠĢĢ[Done€in€English,€French€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.Š ś J ŠSubsequently€to€be€translated€also€in€Arabic,€Chinese€and€Russian€as€part€of€the€Committee'sŠ ą 0 Šannual€report€to€the€General€Assembly.]€Š Ę   ŠĢĢÓšÓņņIndividual€opinion€by€Committee€member€Rajsoomer€Lallah€óó(ņņpartly€dissentingóó)ņ ņ€ó óŠ xČ  ŠÓāÓĢThe€Committee€is€of€the€view€that€the€claims€of€the€author€in€relation€to€articles€22€and€26Š D”  Šof€the€Covenant€have€not€been€sufficiently€substantiated€for€purposes€of€admissibility€andŠ *z  Šhas€revised€its€previous€favourable€decision€on€admissibility.€Š ` ŠĢIt€seems€to€me€that€articles€22€and€26€are,€in€the€particular€circumstances€of€thisŠ Ü, Šcommunication,€particularly€relevant€in€deciding€whether€there€has€been€a€violation€of€theŠ Ā Šauthor's€right€under€article€19€(2)€of€the€Covenant€to€seek,€receive€and€impart€information,Š Øų Šin€relation€to€Parliamentary€proceedings€which€are€matters€of€interest€to€the€general€public.Š ŽŽ ŠIt€is€to€be€noted€that€access€to€parliamentary€press€facilities€in€this€regard€is€givenŠ tÄ Šexclusively€to€members€of€an€association€which€has€so€to€say€a€monopoly€over€access€toŠ ZŖ Šthose€facilities.€Š @ ŠĢFreedom€of€association€under€article€22€inherently€includes€freedom€not€to€associate.€ToŠ  \ Šimpose€membership€of€an€association€on€the€author€as€a€condition€precedent€to€access€toŠ ņB ŠParliamentary€press€facilities€in€effect€means€that€the€author€is€compelled€to€seekŠ Ų( Šmembership€of€the€association,€which€may€or€may€not€accept€the€author€as€a€member,€unlessŠ ¾ Šhe€decides€to€forego€the€full€enjoyment€of€his€rights€under€article€19€(2)€of€the€Covenant.€Š ¤ō ŠĢThe€rights€of€the€author,€in€respect€of€equality€of€treatment€guaranteed€under€article€26,€haveŠ p!Ą  Šbeen€violated€in€the€sense€that€the€State€party€has,€in€effect,€delegated€its€control€over€theŠ V"¦! Šprovision€of€equal€press€facilities€within€public€premises€to€a€private€association€which€may,Š <#Œ" Šfor€reasons€of€its€own€and€not€open€to€judicial€control,€admit€or€not€admit€a€journalist€likeŠ "$r# Šthe€author€as€a€member.€The€delegation€of€this€control€by€the€State€party€exclusively€to€aŠ %X $ Šprivate€association€generates€inequality€of€treatment€as€between€members€of€the€associationŠ ī%>!% Šand€other€journalists€who€are€not€members.€Š Ō&$"& ŠĢI€conclude,€therefore,€that€the€author€has€been€a€victim€of€a€violation€of€his€rights€underŠ  (š#( Šarticle€19€(2)€by€the€State€party's€recourse€to€measures,€designed€to€provide€access€toŠ †)Ö$) Šjournalists€reporting€on€Parliamentary€proceedings,€which€are€themselves€violative€ofŠ l*¼%* Šarticles€22€and€26€of€the€Covenant€and€which€cannot€be€justified€by€the€restrictionsŠ R+¢&+ Špermissible€under€article€19€(3)€of€the€Covenant.€Š 8,ˆ', ŠŠ -n(- ŠRajsoomer€Lallah€[signed]Š ° ŠĢĢ[Done€in€English,€French€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.Š b² ŠSubsequently€to€be€translated€also€in€Arabic,€Chinese€and€Russian€as€part€of€the€Committee'sŠ H˜ Šannual€report€to€the€General€Assembly.]€Š . ~ ŠÓÓ