’WPC[ xīxMmŅÜiõ)Vr; ±*Žø/ˆ\ÖXÉ>“ŸW)PÄŖtūq -"æ¢Xh³­®ĘĪN޼Gčę~ńų£sĻ6—ÕÅäO — $6” ķ“ā,€“gvĘ)(&Ÿ"“42©æō“ü5°ā‡Ü(ŠAīchœģbĮäŃŚä䀙j2~W]ćO£”bŅ«#õÆ›Ź˜ƒŸø¤ć[%¾‰žēNgk²Å¼žŁ^Å(ZO’Ń÷÷WČ Nz1ę«Ä:kĆģ‘ü°ž…éīrs‰É¬hæ•ļ²Ėƙ×+ą÷×ϾbMćaĒņī““r—'Rņ€C^é³÷„%õéÄÖlųššŒnƒ}łfMmŪ£åAĄe…|=~ą}ŽÜź„X»¼e°I#ŌŠ ° ŠĢĢÓ  Óņ ņCAT€€A/45/44€(1990)ó óŠ “ć ŠĢĢÓ  Ó150.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Argentina€(CAT/C/5/Add.12/Rev.1)€at€its€30ņņthóóŠ O Ÿ Šand€31ņņstóó€meetings,€held€on€16€November€1989€(CAT/C/SR.30„31).Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ151.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€introduced€the€report€and€stressed€the€determination€ofŠ  Z  Šthe€constitutional€Government€of€Argentina€faithfully€to€fulfil€its€undertakings€with€respect€to€humanŠ ó C  Šrights€at€both€the€domestic€and€the€international€levels.€In€connection€with€the€Convention,€sheŠ Ü,  Šinformed€the€Committee€about€the€Latin€American€course€on€the€implementation€of€human€rightsŠ Å  Šinstruments€and€the€administration€of€justice€which€had€been€held€at€Buenos€Aires€in€October€1989Š ®ž  Šwith€the€support€of€the€United€Nations.€She€also€referred€to€the€main€legislative€measures€taken€byŠ —ē  ŠArgentina€to€abolish€torture€and€to€make€it€a€criminal€offence,€and€pointed€out€that€Argentina€hadŠ €Š  Šacceded€to€the€Inter„American€Convention€to€Prevent€and€Punish€Torture,€which€had€entered€intoŠ i¹ Šforce€on€30€April€1989.€Furthermore,€her€Government€had€co„sponsored€the€resolutions€adopted€byŠ R¢ Šthe€Commission€on€Human€Rights€concerning€torture€and€had€supported€the€action€of€the€SpecialŠ ;‹ ŠRapporteur€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€on€questions€relating€to€torture.€Before€theŠ $t ŠConvention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment€hadŠ  ] Šentered€into€force€for€Argentina,€the€Supreme€Court€had€declared€that€it€had€full€force€in€creatingŠ öF Šinternational€responsibility€for€the€State.Š ß/ ŠĢ152.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€welcomed€the€report,€which€gave€evidence€of€a€return€to€aŠ ± Šlegal€system€respecting€human€rights€in€Argentina€after€a€distressing€period€of€dictatorship,€andŠ šź Šthanked€the€representative€for€her€introductory€statement.Š ƒÓ ŠĢ153.€€Questions€were€raised€by€members€of€the€Committee€with€regard€to€the€general€framework€inŠ U„ Šwhich€the€Convention€was€implemented€in€Argentina.€It€was€noted€that€articles€3,€8€and€9€of€theŠ >Ž ŠConvention€did€not€seem€to€have€any€equivalent€in€Argentine€legislation,€and€it€was€asked€whetherŠ ' w Šinternational€instruments€such€as€the€Convention€were€directly€applicable€under€the€domestic€law,Š !` Šwhether€the€current€national€Constitution€was€the€same€as€that€in€effect€under€the€military€regime,Š ł!I  Šwhat€was€the€relationship€between€the€Convention€and€the€Constitution€and€between€the€ConventionŠ ā"2! Šand€the€provincial€constitutions,€how€long€the€1949€Geneva€Conventions€and€their€1977€AdditionalŠ Ė#" ŠProtocols€relating€to€the€protection€of€victims€of€armed€conflicts€had€been€in€force€in€Argentina,€howŠ “$ # Šthey€were€implemented€and€whether€the€national€and€provincial€constitutions€were€in€conformityŠ %ķ $ Šwith€those€instruments.€It€was€recalled€that€States€parties€had€an€obligation€to€take€preventive,Š †&Ö!% Šenforcement€and€reparative€measures€under€the€Convention.€In€that€connection,€it€was€asked€whatŠ o'æ"& Šthe€position€of€the€Argentine€Government€was€with€regard€to€acts€perpetrated€before€the€entry€intoŠ X(Ø#' Šforce€of€the€Convention€on€26€June€1987,€whether€it€considered€that€the€Convention€did€not€applyŠ A)‘$( Što€prior€acts€of€torture€and€whether€Argentina€experienced€any€difficulties€in€carrying€out€itsŠ **z%) Šobligations€under€the€Convention.€It€was€also€asked€whether€the€provisions€of€the€Penal€CodeŠ +c&* Šmentioned€in€paragraph€15€of€the€report€were€not€incompatible€with€those€of€Act€No.€23,097€of€1984Š ü+L'+ Šamending€the€Penal€Code€.Š å,5(, ŠŠ Ī-)- ŠŌ_Ō154.€€With€respect€of€article€2€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€knowŠ ° Šwhether€the€prohibition€of€torture€in€Argentina€was€as€broad€as€envisaged€under€the€Convention,Š ™é Šespecially€in€relation€to€threats€to€third€parties,€whether€any€provision€had€been€made€for€directŠ ‚Ņ Šreference€to€the€Convention€in€the€courts,€and€what€new€laws,€guidelines€and€judicial€sanctions€hadŠ k» Šbeen€put€in€place€to€prevent€acts€of€torture.€They€also€asked€whether€the€Under„Secretariat€forŠ T¤ ŠHuman€Rights€established€by€the€Government€included€lawyers,€whether€it€was€competent€to€carryŠ =  Šout€investigations€concerning€violations€of€human€rights€and,€if€so,€whether€there€had€been€anyŠ & v Šconflict€with€other€State€bodies,€including€the€police,€with€similar€responsibilities.€In€connectionŠ  _ Šwith€paragraph€3€of€article€2€of€the€Convention,€reference€was€made€in€particular€to€Act€No.€23,521Š ų H Šof€4€June€1987,€and€it€was€asked€whether€the€so„called€š šdue€obedience€lawšš€was€in€conformity€withŠ į 1  Šthe€Argentine€Constitution€in€force€at€the€time€of€its€enactment€and€with€the€Geneva€ConventionsŠ Ź   Što€which€Argentina€was€a€party,€and€how€many€people€responsible€for€acts€of€torture€had€beenŠ ³  Šarrested,€detained€or€tried€before€and€since€the€promulgation€of€Act€No.€23,521.Š œģ  ŠĢ155.€€With€regard€of€article€3€of€the€Convention,€it€was€inquired€whether€Argentina€had€takenŠ n¾  Šspecific€measures€to€prevent€extradition€or€ņņŌ_ŌrefoulementŌ_Ōóó€of€persons€to€another€country€where€thereŠ W§  Šwas€danger€of€torture€being€inflicted.€In€that€connection,€the€attention€of€the€representative€ofŠ @ ŠArgentina€was€drawn€to€the€specific€case€of€five€persons€who€opposed€extradition€to€Chile€becauseŠ )y Šthey€alleged€that€they€risked€being€tortured€in€that€country.Š b ŠĢ156.€€With€reference€to€article€4€of€the€Convention,€it€was€asked€whether€there€were€any€statisticalŠ ä4 Šdata€concerning€the€number€of€government€officials€who€had€been€prosecuted€for€allowing€orŠ Ķ Šperpetrating€torture,€what€was€the€maximum€term€of€imprisonment€laid€down€in€the€Penal€Code€forŠ ¶ Šthe€offence€of€torture€and€whether€life€imprisonment€could€be€imposed.€It€was€noted€that€penaltiesŠ Ÿļ Šwere€provided€when€the€offence€was€constituted€by€failure€on€the€part€of€a€judge€to€prosecute€andŠ ˆŲ Špunish€the€crime€of€torture,€and€it€was€asked€who€initiated€proceedings€against€the€judge€in€such€aŠ qĮ Šcase€and€in€what€court,€and€whether€judges€had€any€kind€of€immunity.Š ZŖ ŠĢ157.€€In€connection€with€article€5€of€the€Convention,€more€information€was€requested€on€howŠ ,| ŠArgentina€assumed€a€genuine€universal€jurisdiction€over€acts€of€torture€and€on€the€necessary€judicialŠ e Šmeasures€to€be€taken€to€that€effect.€It€was€noted,€in€particular,€that€the€Penal€Code€also€applied€toŠ žN Šcrimes€committed€abroad€by€agents€or€employees€of€Argentina€authorities€in€the€discharge€of€theirŠ ē 7 Šduties,€and€it€was€asked€who€brought€cases€against€such€persons€before€the€Argentine€courts€andŠ Š!   Šwhether€such€a€case€had€yet€been€brought.Š ¹" ! ŠĢ158.€€In€connection€with€article€6€of€the€Convention,€it€was€asked€who€was€empowered€to€carry€outŠ ‹$Ū# Šdetentions€or€arrests€after€a€complaint€had€been€received€against€officials€having€that€authority,€andŠ t%Ä $ Šwhether€there€were€any€time„limits€for€pre„trial€detention€without€the€right€to€correspondence€andŠ ]&­!% Švisits.Š F'–"& ŠĢ159.€€With€regard€to€article€7€of€the€Convention,€it€was€asked€whether€Argentine€law€provided€thatŠ )h$( ŠArgentine€nationals€could€not€be€extradited€for€acts€of€torture€and,€if€such€a€provision€existed,€whatŠ *Q%) Šauthorities€in€Argentina€were€competent€to€judge€relevant€cases.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ160.€€Turning€to€article€11€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€receiveŠ ¼, (, Šinformation€about€the€treatment,€rights€and€privileges€accorded€to€persons€in€custody€and€the€numberŠ „-õ(- Šof€cases€of€torture€or€inhuman€or€degrading€treatment€which€had€been€brought€before€the€courts.Š ° ŠThey€also€wished€to€know€whether€systematic€inspections€were€carried€out€in€places€of€detentionŠ ™é Šin€Argentina€and€whether€the€civil€courts€exercised€effective€control€over€military€personnel,Š ‚Ņ Šparticularly€when€such€personnel€held€individuals€in€custody.Š k» ŠĢ161.€€With€regard€to€article€12€of€the€Convention,€reference€was€made€to€information€received€byŠ =  Šmembers€of€the€Committee€about€a€confrontation€between€civilians€and€members€of€the€armedŠ & v Šservices€that€had€been€taken€place€in€La€Ō_ŌTabladaŌ_Ō,€in€the€province€of€Buenos€Aires,€on€23€and€24Š  _ ŠJanuary€1989.€€According€to€that€information,€the€confrontation€had€resulted€in€deaths,€and€bodiesŠ ų H Šbearing€marks€of€torture€had€been€found.€It€was€asked€in€that€connection€whether€the€informationŠ į 1  Šwas€accurate€and€whether€the€offenders€had€been€brought€to€trial.Š Ź   ŠĢ162.€€With€reference€to€article€14€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€knowŠ œģ  Šwhat€action€Argentina€had€taken€in€the€area€of€the€psychiatric€rehabilitation€of€torture€victims€of€theŠ …Õ  Šearlier€period€of€dictatorship,€whether€there€was€at€present,€after€the€promulgation€of€the€š šdueŠ n¾  Šobedience€lawšš€andthe€š šfinality€actšš€of€24€December€1986,€any€way€for€those€who€had€been€victimsŠ W§  Šof€torture€during€the€prior€period€to€obtain€redress,€whether€amnesty€had€allowed€torture€victims€toŠ @ Šseek€civil€compensation€and,€if€so,€in€how€many€cases€civil€compensation€had€been€granted€for€actsŠ )y Šof€torture€committed€under€the€dictatorship.€It€was€also€asked€whether€there€was€a€possibility€ofŠ b Šasking€for€civil€compensation€before€a€criminal€court€as€well€as€civil€court,€whether€the€victims€wereŠ ūK Šrequired€to€institute€civil€proceedings€within€prescribed€time„limits€in€order€to€obtain€compensation,Š ä4 Šor€whether€the€Argentine€Government,€recognizing€that€it€had€a€civil€responsibility€towards€theŠ Ķ Švictims,€had€undertaken€to€compensate€them€all€in€one€form€or€another.€Furthermore,€members€ofŠ ¶ Šthe€Committee€wished€to€know€whether,€in€addition€to€the€financial€compensation€provided€for€inŠ Ÿļ Šarticle€29€of€the€Argentine€Penal€Code,€there€was€a€possibility€of€medical€rehabilitation€for€tortureŠ ˆŲ Švictims,€whether€positive€law€in€Argentina€provided€for€compensation€to€persons€who€had€been€inŠ qĮ Špre„trial€custody€or€had€benefitted€from€an€order€dismissing€the€proceedings€when€they€had€sufferedŠ ZŖ Šserious€prejudice,€whether€the€two€bills€proposing€a€reform€of€the€criminal€procedure€which€hadŠ C“ Šbeen€submitted€to€the€National€Congress€provided€for€compensation€for€victims€of€torture,€andŠ ,| Šwhether€systematic€efforts€were€being€made€by€the€Government€to€document€and€Ō_ŌanalyseŌ_Ō€what€hadŠ e Šhappened€to€victims€of€torture€.Š žN ŠĢ163.€€With€reference€to€article€15€of€the€Convention,€it€was€asked€whether€there€was€a€penalty€in€lawŠ Š!   Šfor€obtaining€confessions€by€force€or€by€torture.Š ¹" ! ŠĢ164.€€In€reply€to€the€questions€raised€by€the€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€ofŠ ‹$Ū# ŠArgentina€€stated€that,€under€Argentine€legislation,€any€individual€could€directly€invoke€theŠ t%Ä $ ŠConvention€before€the€courts€since,€under€article€31€of€the€Constitution,€it€formed€part€of€domesticŠ ]&­!% Šlegislation€on€the€same€footing€as€the€laws€of€the€nation.€The€representative€further€explained€thatŠ F'–"& Šarticle€5€of€the€Constitution€established€the€conditions€under€which€the€provincial€constitutions€wereŠ /(#' Šsafeguarded€in€so€far€as€they€conformed€to€the€national€Constitution.€The€Constitution€at€present€inŠ )h$( Šforce€was€the€same€as€during€the€military€dictatorship€from€1976€to€1983,€but€its€application€hadŠ *Q%) Šthen€been€modified€by€a€national€reorganization€law.€The€Geneva€Conventions€of€1949€had€beenŠ ź*:&* Šratified€by€Argentina€on€18€September€1956€and€the€Additional€Protocols€of€1977€on€26€NovemberŠ Ó+#'+ Š1986.€Since€there€was€at€present€no€international€or€national€armed€conflict€in€Argentina,€only€theŠ ¼, (, Šprovisions€of€those€Conventions€concerning€the€promotion€of€international€humanitarian€law€wereŠ „-õ(- Šin€effect.€With€regard€to€acts€perpetrated€before€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Convention€for€Argentina,Š ° Šthe€representative€stated€that,€under€article€18€of€the€Constitution,€international€instruments,Š ™é Šparticularly€those€containing€penal€provisions,€were€not€applied€retroactively,€and€that€Ō_ŌthatŌ_Ō€was€alsoŠ ‚Ņ Šin€conformity€with€article€28€of€the€Vienna€Convention€on€the€Law€of€Treaties.€With€regard€to€theŠ k» Šapparent€conflict€between€the€Penal€Code€and€Act€No.€23,097,€the€representative€explained€that,Š T¤ Šalthough€the€norms€of€both€were€applicable,€only€one€would€be€applied€in€practice.€In€reality,€theŠ =  Šprovisions€of€the€Act€were€more€specific€and€prevailed€over€the€general€provisions.Š & v ŠĢ165.€€Turning€to€article€2€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€stated€that€the€domestic€legislationŠ ų H Šof€Argentina€contained€provisions€of€much€wider€scope€than€those€of€the€Convention;€under€theŠ į 1  ŠPenal€Code,€€in€particular,€acts€of€torture€were€assimilated€to€acts€of€homicide.€She€then€explainedŠ Ź   Šthat€two€Under„Secretariats€for€Human€Rights€had€been€established€in€Argentina€primarily€to€ensureŠ ³  Šthat€the€investigations€into€cases€of€disappearance€and€abduction€of€Argentine€children€wereŠ œģ  Šcontinued€and€to€locate€and€identify€any€bodies€found.€They€had€also€been€set€up€as€a€preventiveŠ …Õ  Šmeasure€to€ensure€that€what€had€taken€place€in€the€country€in€the€past€never€occurred€again.€SheŠ n¾  Šprovided€detailed€information€on€the€activities€of€the€Under„Secretariats€and€pointed€out€that€theŠ W§  ŠUnder„Secretariat€for€Human€Rights€established€within€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior€was€responsibleŠ @ Šfor€receiving€and€Ō_ŌanalysingŌ_Ō€reports€of€violations€of€human€rights€on€the€same€footing€as€a€policeŠ )y Šofficer,€a€judge€or€a€prosecutor,€but€that€it€did€not€conflict€with€other€State€bodies.€It€was€one€moreŠ b Šlink€in€the€chain€for€receipt€of€complaints.€The€representative€further€stated€that€every€piece€ofŠ ūK ŠArgentine€legislation€was€in€conformity€with€the€national€Constitution€and€with€the€internationalŠ ä4 Šinstruments€ratified€by€Argentina.Š Ķ ŠĢ166.€€In€connection€with€article€3€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€provided€detailedŠ Ÿļ Šinformation€on€the€case€of€the€five€Chileans€detained€in€Argentina€who€had€been€in€danger€ofŠ ˆŲ Šextradition€to€Chile.€She€explained€the€nature€of€the€offences€they€had€committed€and€the€sentencesŠ qĮ Šimposed€on€them€by€Argentine€law,€and€stressed€that€the€Argentine€Government€had€granted€all€theŠ ZŖ Špersons€concerned€refugee€status€to€protect€them€from€extradition€to€Chile,€where€they€would€haveŠ C“ Šbeen€in€danger€of€torture.Š ,| ŠĢ167.€€With€regard€to€article€4€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€informed€the€Committee€that€theŠ žN Šoffence€of€torture€could€carry€a€sentence€of€life€imprisonment€if€the€act€had€been€particularly€cruelŠ ē 7 Šand€had€led€to€the€victimššs€death.€In€other€cases,€the€penalty€varied€between€a€minimum€of€8€yearsŠ Š!   Šand€a€maximum€of€25€years€of€imprisonment.€Two€new€articles,€144€ņņŌ_ŌquaterŌ_Ōóó€and€ņņŌ_ŌquinquiesŌ_Ōóó€had€beenŠ ¹" ! Šintroduced€in€the€Penal€Code€by€Act€No.€23,097,€dealing€with€various€derelictions€of€duty€byŠ ¢#ņ" Šofficials,€including€judges,€with€respect€to€torture.€However,€judges€could€be€prosecuted€only€if€theŠ ‹$Ū# Šimmunity€attached€to€their€function€was€lifted.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ168.€€Referring€to€article€5€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€stated€that€the€Argentine€SupremeŠ F'–"& ŠCourt€of€Justice€had€already€had€occasion€to€apply€the€principle€of€universality€in€the€case€of€anŠ /(#' Šoffence€covered€by€international€instruments,€but€that€it€had€not€so€far€had€to€take€a€decision€on€anyŠ )h$( Šcase€of€torture.Š *Q%) ŠĢ169.€€With€regard€to€article€6€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€stated€that€every€citizen€orŠ Ó+#'+ Šinhabitant€of€Argentina€who€considered€himself€or€a€person€he€knew€to€be€a€victim€of€an€offenceŠ ¼, (, Šcould€report€that€offence.€Under€article€257€of€the€Code€of€Penal€Procedure,€the€maximum€lengthŠ „-õ(- Šof€pre„trial€detention€without€the€right€to€correspondence€and€visits€was€three€days.Š ° ŠĢ170.€€With€reference€to€article€11€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€quoted€articles€677,€678€andŠ ‚Ņ Š679€of€the€Code€of€Penal€Procedure€regulating€the€treatment€of€detainees€in€prison.€She€added€that,Š k» Šupon€instruction€of€the€Federal€Court,€the€supreme€legal€authority€of€Argentina,€every€detainee€hadŠ T¤ Što€undergo€a€full€medical€examination€at€the€time€of€his€imprisonment€on€the€order€of€the€judge.Š =  ŠMilitary€courts€dealt€with€offences€of€an€exclusively€military€nature€that€were€not€covered€by€theŠ & v ŠPenal€Code.Š  _ ŠĢ171.€€In€connection€with€article€12€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€provided€detailedŠ į 1  Šinformation€on€the€confrontation€of€civilians€and€military€forces€in€La€Ō_ŌTabladaŌ_Ō.€She€stated€that€theŠ Ź   Šattack€had€been€carried€out€by€50€armed€civilians€against€military€installations€to€obstruct€theŠ ³  Šmaintenance€of€constitutional€order€and,€on€the€pretext€of€defending€it,€to€undermine€theŠ œģ  Šestablishment.€Upon€complaint€of€some€of€the€participants€in€the€attack,€and€investigation€had€beenŠ …Õ  Šordered€to€establish€whether€there€had€been€any€unlawful€violence€or€acts€of€torture€and€to€punishŠ n¾  Šany€persons€found€guilty.€The€Committee€would€be€provided€with€the€full€text€of€all€the€judgementsŠ W§  Šrendered€following€the€events€of€La€Ō_ŌTabladaŌ_Ō.Š @ ŠĢ172.€€With€regard€to€article€14€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€pointed€out€that€the€so„calledŠ b Šš šfinality€actšš€and€the€š šdue€obedience€lawšš€only€had€the€effect€of€limiting€penal€proceedings€againstŠ ūK Šindividuals€responsible€for€political€offences.€In€fact,€all€unlawful€acts€committed€on€the€order€ofŠ ä4 Ša€superior€remained€unlawful€and€the€victims€could€take€combined€civil€and€penal€action€to€obtainŠ Ķ Šcompensation€even€in€the€event€of€an€amnesty.€Under€the€Civil€Code,€the€time€limit€for€a€civil€actionŠ ¶ Šwas€two€years.€That€limitation€could€be€suspended€in€a€case€of€physical€incapacity€on€the€part€of€theŠ Ÿļ Šperson€concerned.€The€representative€further€explained€that,€except€in€one€case,€no€civil€proceedingsŠ ˆŲ Šhad€been€instituted€by€persons€who€had€been€victims€of€torture€under€the€military€dictatorship€inŠ qĮ Šorder€to€claim€compensation,€mainly€because€it€was€extremely€difficult€for€anyone€who€had€sufferedŠ ZŖ Štorture€to€claim€monetary€compensation€and€also€because€victims€did€not€wish€to€destroy€themselvesŠ C“ Šby€reviving€the€memory€of€their€suffering.€However,€some€persons€had€instituted€civil€proceedingsŠ ,| Što€claim€compensation€because€they€had€been€victims€of€unlawful€detention.€Furthermore,€withoutŠ e Šprejudice€to€civil€claims€for€compensation,€the€Argentine€Government€had€passed€an€Act€grantingŠ žN Špensions€to€members€of€the€families€of€disappeared€persons.€At€the€beginning€of€1989,€4,800Š ē 7 Šapplications€for€a€pension€had€been€submitted€and€granted.€In€general€terms,€compensation€underŠ Š!   Šthe€Penal€Code€and€the€Civil€Code€could€also€cover€the€cost€of€any€medical€treatment€for€the€victim,Š ¹" ! Šand€Argentine€law€also€provided€for€the€right€to€compensation€for€injury€suffered€by€anyone€becauseŠ ¢#ņ" Šof€his€detention€in€custody€if€the€charge€against€him€had€been€dismissed.€The€proposed€reform€ofŠ ‹$Ū# Šthe€criminal€procedure€did€not€affect€compensation€for€victims€of€torture.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ173.€€In€connection€with€article€15€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€referred€to€legal€provisions,Š F'–"& Šin€particular€article€316€of€the€Code€of€the€Penal€Procedure,€under€which€confessions€made€underŠ /(#' Štorture€or€any€type€of€physical€or€psychological€pressure€were€considered€null€and€void.Š )h$( ŠĢ174.€€In€concluding€the€consideration€of€the€report,€the€members€of€the€Committee€expressedŠ ź*:&* Šsatisfaction€at€the€measures€that€had€been€taken€by€Argentina€in€the€field€of€legislation€andŠ Ó+#'+ Šorganization€to€protect€human€rights€and€thanked€the€representative€of€the€Argentine€GovernmentŠ ¼, (, Šfor€the€information€provided.€The€members€also€noted€with€satisfaction€that€Argentina€wouldŠ „-õ(- Šprovide€the€Committee€in€writing€with€the€statistical€information€it€had€requested€and€with€the€textsŠ ° Šof€the€judgements€rendered€following€the€events€of€La€Ō_ŌTabladaŌ_Ō.Š  ™é Šņ ņCAT€€€A/48/44€(1993)Š ° ŠĢĢó ó88.€€The€second€periodic€report€of€Argentina€(CAT/C/17/Add.2)€was€considered€by€the€CommitteeŠ n¾ Šat€its€122ņņndóó€to€124ņņthóó€meetings,€on€11€and€12€November€1992€(see€CAT/C/SR.122,€123€andŠ W§ Š124/Add.1).Š @  ŠĢ89.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€reporting€State,€who€stated€that,€inŠ  b Šaccordance€with€article€27€of€the€Vienna€Convention€on€the€Law€of€Treaties,€Argentina€gaveŠ ū K Šprecedence€to€an€international€convention€to€which€it€was€a€party€when€it€was€in€conflict€withŠ ä 4  Šdomestic€law.€When€Argentina€ratified€an€international€instrument,€the€provisions€immediatelyŠ Ķ   Šbecame€applicable€by€domestic€administrative€and€judicial€bodies.Š ¶  ŠĢ90.€The€representative€also€provided€information€on€various€initiatives€taken€by€his€GovernmentŠ ˆŲ  Šwith€regard€to€the€training€of€prison€staff,€changes€within€the€legal€system,€new€administrativeŠ qĮ  Šmeasures€and€the€provision€of€compensation€to€victims€of€human€rights€violations.Š ZŖ  ŠĢ91.€€With€regard€to€the€training€of€prison€officials,€he€indicated€that€the€curriculum€designed€for€themŠ ,| Šincluded€courses€on€constitutional€law,€ethics€and€human€rights,€and€public€and€criminal€law,€andŠ e Šthat€their€educational€Ō_ŌprogrammesŌ_Ō€were€placing€increased€emphasis€on€teaching€tolerance€andŠ žN Šrespect€for€human€rights€and€dignity.Š ē7 ŠĢ92.€€Concerning€legislative€changes,€the€representative€stated€that€Act€No.€23,950/91€amending€ActŠ ¹  ŠNo.€14,467€on€the€treatment€of€prisoners€stipulated€that€no€individual€could€be€detained€without€aŠ ¢ņ Šcourt€order.€If€the€police€had€sufficient€reasons€to€detain€and€individual,€it€could€do€so€for€no€moreŠ ‹Ū Šthan€10€hours€to€check€his€record,€as€against€48€hours€previously.€The€Code€of€Penal€ProcedureŠ tÄ Šprovided,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€that€maximum€period€for€which€an€individual€could€be€held€incommunicado€hadŠ ]­ Šbeen€reduced€from€10€days€to€72€hours.€Detainees€had€the€right€to€communicate€with€their€Ō_ŌdefenceŌ_ŌŠ F– Šcounsel€before€being€detained€incommunicado.€A€medical€examination€was€compulsory€at€theŠ / Šbeginning€of€detention.€The€new€Code€of€Penal€Procedure€also€abolished€the€validity€ofŠ h Šš šspontaneous€statementsšš€at€police€stations.€The€accused€could€make€a€statement€only€before€aŠ  Q Šjudge.€The€system€for€prison€visits€had€been€amended€by€the€new€Code,€which€had€entered€into€forceŠ ź : Šon€5€September€1992.€The€post€of€judge€for€the€enforcement€of€sentences€had€been€created€to€dealŠ Ó!#  Šwith€problems€in€prisons,€with€the€assistance€of€medical,€psychological€and€social€welfare€expertsŠ ¼" ! Šwho€monitored€conditions€of€detention€in€prison.Š „#õ" ŠĢ93.€€With€regard€to€recent€administrative€measures,€the€representative€made€reference€to€decisionŠ w%Ē $ ŠNo.€36/91,€which€contains€a€general€instruction€to€the€members€of€the€Public€Prosecutorššs€OfficeŠ `&°!% Šrecalling€that€they€must€comply€faithfully€with€their€legal€obligations€with€respect€to€the€mattersŠ I'™"& Šdealt€with€in€the€Convention.€In€addition,€decision€No.€2/92€had€been€adopted,€under€which€aŠ 2(‚#' Šcomputerized€register€containing€allegations€of€unlawful€coercion€had€been€established.Š )k$( ŠĢ94.€€With€regard€to€compensation€for€victims€of€human€rights€violations,€the€representative€statedŠ ķ*=&* Šthat€under€Act€No.€24,043,€compensation€to€victims€of€detention€ordered€by€a€military€court€hadŠ Ö+&'+ Šbeen€granted€to€8,200€persons.€The€total€compensation€had€€amounted€to€$700€million.€€Morever,Š æ,(, Šunder€Decree€No.€70/91,€pertaining€to€the€provision€of€compensation€to€persons€detained€by€theŠ Ø-ų(- ŠŌ_Ōpolice,€a€total€of€$12€million€was€to€be€granted€in€470€cases€and€half€that€amount€had€already€beenŠ ° Špaid€out.Š ™é ŠĢ95.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€expressed€their€gratitude€to€the€Government€of€Argentina€forŠ k» Šits€timely€report€and€to€the€Governmentššs€representative€for€his€introductory€statement.€Nevertheless,Š T¤ Šthey€observed€that€more€information€was€necessary€on€the€implementation€of€the€Convention€at€theŠ =  Šprovincial€level€and,€in€this€connection,€they€requested€clarification€as€to€the€awareness€existingŠ & v Šthroughout€the€country€of€the€State€partyššs€obligations€under€the€Convention.€In€addition,€theyŠ  _ Šwished€to€know€of€any€specific€legislation€or€jurisprudence€which€had€established€the€precedenceŠ ų H Šof€provisions€of€international€instruments€over€those€of€domestic€law,€especially€in€view€ofŠ į 1  Šinformation€received€that€the€Supreme€Court€had€handed€down€certain€judgements€in€whichŠ Ź   Šinternational€conventions€had€not€been€given€such€precedence.€Members€of€the€Committee€alsoŠ ³  Šmade€reference€to€the€1853€National€Constitution€and€asked€whether€the€State€party€intended€toŠ œģ  Šreplace€or€amend€it.€In€addition,€they€requested€further€information€on€matters€relating€to€theŠ …Õ  Šindependence€of€the€judiciary,€particularly€with€regard€to€reported€shortcomings€in€the€selection€andŠ n¾  Špromotion€of€judges,€and€asked€whether€any€legislative€measures€were€anticipated€to€reform€suchŠ W§  Šprocedures.€They€also€wished€to€receive€further€information€on€the€effectiveness€of€the€methods€usedŠ @ Šby€the€office€of€the€Attorney€General€of€the€nation€to€monitor€the€Governmentššs€powers€in€mattersŠ )y Šrelating€to€the€lack€of€jurisdictional€response€to€complaints€about€torture„related€crimes.Š b ŠFurthermore,€member€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€whether€any€national€human€rightsŠ ūK Šinstitution€existed€in€Argentina€and€how€it€was€composed€and€what€the€content€was€of€recent€reportsŠ ä4 Šof€the€National€Department€of€Human€Rights€of€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior.Š Ķ ŠĢ96.€€Members€of€the€Committee€were€particularly€concerned€at€the€apparent€persistence€in€ArgentinaŠ Ÿļ Šof€ill„treatment€and€torture€practised€by€sections€of€the€police€and€armed€forces€and€the€apparentŠ ˆŲ Šleniency€shown€by€the€authorities€towards€officials€responsible€for€acts€of€torture.€Reference€wasŠ qĮ Šmade,€in€this€connection,€to€reports€received€from€Amnesty€International€and€Americas€Watch,Š ZŖ Šparticularly€with€regard€to€the€733€allegations€of€ill„treatment€and€torture€for€the€period€1989„1991Š C“ Šand€that€such€victims€appeared€to€be€young,€from€poor€districts€and€frequently€dark„skinned€orŠ ,| Šindigenous€people.€Other€reports€provided€information€about€confessions€obtained€under€tortureŠ e Šfrom€persons€who€had€attacked€La€Tablada€military€barracks€in€1989€and€allegations€of€ill„treatmentŠ žN Šof€detainees€by€the€police€in€the€capital€and€in€Chaco€and€Mendoza€provinces.€In€this€connection,Š ē 7 Šattention€was€drawn€to€mass€media€reports€of€the€death€of€a€17„year„old€person,€Sergio€GustavoŠ Š!   ŠDuran,€at€Police€Precinct€No.€1€in€Moron,€Buenos€Aires.€Members€of€the€Committee€observed€thatŠ ¹" ! Šintensified€measures€were€required€to€deal€with€those€situations€and€that€those€measures€shouldŠ ¢#ņ" Šfocus€on€compensation€of€the€tortured;€punishment€of€the€torturers;€and€education€of€the€public€inŠ ‹$Ū# Šgeneral€and€police€and€doctors€in€particular.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ97.€€Concerning€the€implementation€of€the€article€2€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€CommitteeŠ F'–"& Šrequested€further€information€on€the€new€Code€of€Penal€Procedure,€especially€with€regard€toŠ /(#' Šestablishment€of€mechanisms€for€its€application.€They€also€noted€that€under€that€Code€the€period€ofŠ )h$( Šincommunicado€detention€had€been€reduced€from€10€to€3€days€and€they€expressed€concern€both€atŠ *Q%) Šthe€continued€practice€of€incommunicado€detention€and€at€the€inadequacy€of€the€advance€access€toŠ ź*:&* Ša€lawyer€as€a€means€of€protecting€persons€in€such€circumstances.€€In€addition,€members€of€theŠ Ó+#'+ ŠCommittee€recalled€that€derogations€from€certain€provisions€of€the€Convention€were€not€allowed€inŠ ¼, (, Štimes€of€state€of€emergency€or€siege,€and€asked€for€more€information€on€the€actions€taken€Ō_ŌbyŠ „-õ(- ŠArgentina€to€ensure€conformity€with€its€obligations€in€this€regard.Š ° ŠĢ98.€€With€regard€to€article€4€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€requested€furtherŠ ‚Ņ Šinformation€on€the€punishment€of€tortures,€especially€as€information€contained€in€the€reportŠ k» Šindicated€hat€in€one€case€the€punishment€provided€for€in€article€144€(3)€of€the€Penal€Code€had€notŠ T¤ Šbeen€applied€to€the€person€found€guilty€of€the€crime€of€torture.€In€addition,€attention€was€drawn€toŠ =  Šinformation€about€the€participation€of€doctors€in€cases€of€torture€and€the€need€to€punish€suchŠ & v Špractitioners.€Moreover,€members€of€the€Committee€expressed€concern€as€to€whether€the€presidentialŠ  _ Špardon€of€October€1989,€as€applied€to€military€officers€who€had€committed€human€rights€violationsŠ ų H Šunder€the€previous€regime,€was€in€strict€compliance€with€the€Convention.€In€illustration€of€this€point,Š į 1  Šmention€was€made€of€two€cases€where€investigations€had€not€been€pursued€or€where€clemency€hadŠ Ź   Šbeen€granted€before€the€holding€of€a€trial.Š ³  ŠĢ99.€€Concerning€article€10€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€emphasized€the€importance€Š …Õ  Šof€introducing€a€medical€ethics€component€into€medical€curricula€as€a€means€of€preventing€theŠ n¾  Špractice€of€torture€by€doctors.Š W§  ŠĢ100.€€With€regard€to€article€11€of€the€Convention,€more€information€was€sought€as€to€theŠ )y Šarrangement€existing€in€Cordoba€city€by€which€lawyers€could€be€present€in€all€police€stations€andŠ b Šwhether€this€arrangement€was€to€be€extended€to€other€parts€of€the€country.Š ūK ŠĢ101.€€In€connection€with€article€12€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€drew€the€attentionŠ Ķ Šof€the€Government€of€Argentina€to€information€received€from€Amnesty€International€and€other€non„Š ¶ Šgovernmental€organizations€on€the€alleged€practice€of€torture€during€the€period€1989€to€1991€andŠ Ÿļ Što€their€concern€that€some€of€the€lower€levels€of€the€judiciary€were€failing€to€fulfil€their€obligationsŠ ˆŲ Šwith€regard€to€investigating€into€acts€of€torture.€In€this€light,€information€was€requested€on€theŠ qĮ Šprogress€being€made€in€police€and€judicial€investigations€into€all€those€allegations.Š ZŖ ŠĢ102.€€Concerning€article€13€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€sought€additionalŠ ,| Šinformation€as€to€its€implementation€in€practice,€particularly€with€regard€to€a€specific€case€broughtŠ e Šbefore€the€court€in€the€province€of€Mendoza.Š žN ŠĢ103.€€With€respect€to€article€14€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€requested€furtherŠ Š!   Šinformation€on€the€provision€of€compensation€to€victims€of€torture.€They€also€requested€clarificationŠ ¹" ! Šas€to€whether€legal€provisions€existed€for€paying€compensation€to€the€families€of€persons€who€hadŠ ¢#ņ" Šdisappeared€and€to€persons€who€had€been€detained€and€held€at€the€disposal€of€the€NationalŠ ‹$Ū# ŠExecutive.€Moreover,€they€asked€why€applications€for€compensation€had€to€be€submitted€to€theŠ t%Ä $ ŠMinistry€of€the€Interior€for€approval€and€whether€judicial€appeals€against€the€Ministryššs€decision€hadŠ ]&­!% Šbeen€provided€for.€It€was€also€stressed€that,€in€addition€to€financial€compensation,€it€was€importantŠ F'–"& Šfor€victims€of€torture€to€receive€moral€and€medical€compensation€and€treatment€for€the€injury€theyŠ /(#' Šhad€suffered.Š )h$( ŠĢ104.€Replying€to€the€questions€raised€with€regard€to€the€legal€framework€for€the€application€of€theŠ ź*:&* ŠConvention,€the€representative€of€the€reporting€State€explained€that€international€conventions€appliedŠ Ó+#'+ Šthroughout€the€federal€territory€of€Argentina€and€provincial€jurisdiction€was€transferred€to€theŠ ¼, (, Šfederal€level.€International€instruments€ratified€by€Argentina€were€directly€applicable€in€the€courtsŠ „-õ(- Šin€the€same€way€as€domestic€legislation€and€took€precedence€over€it.€In€addition,€he€explained€that,Š ° Šunder€new€legislation,€the€system€in€force€in€the€city€of€Cordoba,€whereby€lawyers€could€be€presentŠ ™é Šin€police€stations,€would€be€extended€to€all€parts€of€the€country.€He€also€indicated€that€the€1853Š ‚Ņ ŠConstitution€of€Argentina€fully€guaranteed€the€rights€of€individuals€and€the€freedom€of€citizens.€ItsŠ k» Šarticle€18€prohibited€the€use€of€ill„treatment€and€torture€and€plans€to€amend€that€text€were€in€theŠ T¤ Šearly€stages.€Concerning€the€procedure€for€the€appointment€of€judges,€the€representative€informedŠ =  Šthe€Committee€that€judges€were€nominated€by€the€executive€through€the€Ministry€of€Justice€andŠ & v Šappointed€by€agreement€of€the€Senate.€To€strengthen€that€procedure,€a€Council€for€the€Judiciary€hadŠ  _ Šbeen€set€up,€composed€of€officials€who€took€part€in€the€appointment€and€dismissal€of€judges.Š ų H ŠRegarding€the€matter€of€national€institutions€established€for€the€protection€of€human€rights,€theŠ į 1  Šrepresentative€informed€the€Committee€that€two€governmental€bodies€existed€to€which€non„Š Ź   Šgovernmental€organizations€and€citizens€could€make€appeals€€in€the€event€of€alleged€violations€ofŠ ³  Šhuman€rights.€One€was€the€General€Department€of€Human€Rights€and€the€Status€of€Women€of€theŠ œģ  ŠMinistry€of€Foreign€Affairs€and€Worship€and€the€other€was€the€National€Department€of€HumanŠ …Õ  ŠRights€of€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior.€€Those€two€bodies€could€refer€complaints€to€the€courts.€TheŠ n¾  ŠReport€of€the€National€Department€of€Human€Rights€of€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior€indicated€thatŠ W§  Šhis€Government€was€eager€to€conduct€more€efficient€investigations€of€cases€of€unlawful€coercion.Š @ ŠĢ105.€€With€reference€to€allegations€of€ill„treatment€and€torture€reported€by€non„governmentalŠ b Šorganizations,€the€representative€stated€that€he€did€not€have€the€information€necessary€to€provide€aŠ ūK Šdetailed€reply.€However,€if€Amnesty€International€had€specific€offences€to€denounce,€it€should€applyŠ ä4 Što€the€appropriate€authorities€so€that,€if€enough€evidence€could€be€collected€to€warrant€a€seriousŠ Ķ Šinvestigation,€the€cases€would€be€followed€up€in€the€normal€way€and€brought€before€the€courts.€HeŠ ¶ Šalso€indicated€that€his€Government€would€reply€in€writing€to€the€request€for€clarifications€about€theŠ Ÿļ Šdeath€of€Sergio€Ō_ŌGustavoŌ_Ō€Duran.€In€addition,€he€stated€that€the€military€personnel€and€police€officersŠ ˆŲ Šguilty€of€acts€of€torture€at€La€Ō_ŌTabladaŌ_Ō€in€1989€had€been€tried€under€ordinary€law€because€theŠ qĮ ŠŌ_ŌDefenceŌ_Ō€of€Democracy€Act€did€not€provide€for€penalties€for€such€acts.€As€yet,€not€all€sentences€hadŠ ZŖ Šbeen€handed€down€and€the€Government€of€Argentina€would€communicate€all€relevant€informationŠ C“ Što€the€Committee€as€soon€as€possible.Š ,| ŠĢ106.€€Concerning€article€2€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€referred€to€the€new€Code€of€PenalŠ žN ŠProcedure€and€explained€that€the€Argentinian€legal€system€had€recently€been€thoroughly€reorganizedŠ ē 7 Šand€that€the€relevant€organization€act€had€established€a€number€of€new€courts.€He€also€indicated€thatŠ Š!   Šit€had€been€necessary€to€proclaim€a€state€of€siege€in€the€country€on€two€occasions€as€a€result€of€socialŠ ¹" ! Štensions€during€the€establishment€of€a€fully€democratic€regime.€The€state€of€siege€had€not€lastedŠ ¢#ņ" Šmore€than€30€days€and€only€freedoms€of€assembly€and€movement€had€been€restricted.€The€state€ofŠ ‹$Ū# Šsiege€had€been€declared€only€in€certain€regions€of€the€country€and€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€theŠ t%Ä $ ŠInternational€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€prohibiting€derogation€from€certainŠ ]&­!% Šfundamental€rights,€had€been€fully€respected.Š F'–"& ŠĢ107.€€With€regard€to€article€4€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€indicated€that€he€would€refer€toŠ )h$( Šthe€competent€authorities€the€question€raised€on€the€application€of€article€144€(3)€of€the€Penal€CodeŠ *Q%) Šin€the€case€mentioned€in€the€report.€He€also€agreed€that€doctors€involved€in€cases€of€torture€shouldŠ ź*:&* Šnot€be€allowed€to€go€unpunished.€With€regard€to€the€questions€raised€about€the€compliance€of€theŠ Ó+#'+ Špresidential€pardon€of€October€1989€with€the€provisions€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€statedŠ ¼, (, Šthat€pardon€removed€the€penal€consequences€without€wiping€out€an€offence€or€the€infamy€attachedŠ „-õ(- Što€it.Š ° ŠĢ108.€€In€connection€with€article€10€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€informed€the€CommitteeŠ ‚Ņ Šof€the€ethical€training€provided€to€doctors€in€Argentina.€He€also€indicated€that€the€University€ofŠ k» ŠBuenos€Aires€had€created€a€chair€of€human€rights€in€the€School€of€Medicine€and€other€faculties€andŠ T¤ Šthat€Argentina€was€one€of€the€most€advanced€countries€in€that€regard.Š =  ŠĢ109.€€Regarding€article€11€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€explained€that€prohibition€of€accessŠ  _ Što€persons€being€held€in€detention€applied€to€members€of€the€family€and€other€persons,€not€toŠ ų H ŠŌ_ŌdefenceŌ_Ō€counsel.€The€new€Code€of€Penal€Procedure,€which€had€reduced€the€period€during€which€asŠ į 1  Šperson€could€be€held€incommunicado,€provided€that€the€first€right€of€a€detained€person€was€toŠ Ź   Šcommunicate€with€a€lawyer,€within€10€hours€of€his€arrest.Š ³  ŠĢ110.€€In€connection€with€articles€12€and€13€of€the€Convention€and€the€concerns€raised€as€to€the€non„Š …Õ  Šfulfilment€of€the€judiciaryššs€obligations€in€investigating€into€acts€of€torture,€the€representative€statedŠ n¾  Šthat€judges€had€to€enforce€the€laws€as€from€the€day€following€their€publication;€a€judge€who€failedŠ W§  Što€do€so€was€dismissed.€With€regard€to€the€case€brought€to€court€in€Mendoza,€the€representativeŠ @ Šinformed€that€Committee€that€all€the€senior€police€officers€of€that€Province€had€been€dismissed.Š )y ŠĢ111.€With€regard€to€article€14€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€stated€that€the€families€andŠ ūK Šrelatives€of€persons€who€had€disappeared€before€10€€December€1983€received€tax„exempt€pensionsŠ ä4 Šonce€their€claims€had€been€made€to,€and€approved€by,€a€competent€court.€To€date,€5,000€persons€hadŠ Ķ Šreceived€such€pensions.€In€addition,€under€Decree€No.€70/91,€a€compensation€scheme€had€been€setŠ ¶ Šup€for€persons€who€had€been€detained€and€held€at€the€disposal€of€the€National€Executive€and€forŠ Ÿļ Šcivilians€who€had€been€detained€on€the€orders€of€the€military€courts€before€10€December€1983.€SuchŠ ˆŲ Špersons€could€claim€for€the€benefits€of€the€Decree€provided€that€they€had€not€received€anyŠ qĮ Šcompensation€as€a€result€of€a€court€judgement.€If€a€claimantššs€case€did€not€correspond€to€theŠ ZŖ Šconditions€of€compensation€laid€down€by€the€law,€the€claimant€could€appeal€to€the€ordinary€courts,Š C“ Šwhich€were€not€bound€by€pre„established€time€limits€for€the€amount€of€compensation€to€be€awarded.Š ,| ŠAdditionally,€victims€who€considered€the€compensation€to€be€inadequate€could€appeal€directly€toŠ e Šthe€State€of€court.€Under€article€3€of€Act€No.€24,043,€a€claimant€for€compensation€benefit€couldŠ žN Šappeal€against€the€partial€or€total€rejection€by€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior€of€his€application€withinŠ ē 7 Š10€days€to€the€Federal€Administrative€Court,€which€must€then€rule€on€the€matter€within€20€days.Š Š!   ŠĢņņConclusions€and€recommendationsóóŠ ¢#ņ" ŠĢ112.€The€Committee€expressed€its€thanks€to€the€Government€of€Argentina€for€having€submitted€itsŠ t%Ä $ Šsecond€periodic€report€within€the€time€period€stipulated€in€article€19€of€the€Convention€and€for€theŠ ]&­!% Šinformation€and€clarifications€provided€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party.€The€Committee€alsoŠ F'–"& Šexpressed€its€appreciation€for€the€efforts€made€by€Argentina€to€improve€the€human€rights€situationŠ /(#' Šin€the€country,€in€particular,€in€the€area€of€laws€which€relate€to€the€purposes€of€the€Convention.Š )h$( ŠĢ113.€€The€aforementioned€efforts€notwithstanding,€the€Committee€expressed€its€deep€concern€at€theŠ ź*:&* Šcontinuing€vestiges€of€the€former€regime,€at€the€disturbing€use€of€violent€methods€and€torture€inŠ Ó+#'+ Šmany€cases,€and€at€the€clemency€and€impunity€enjoyed€by€the€perpetrators€of€such€acts€contrary€toŠ ¼, (, Šthe€requirements€of€the€Convention.Š „-õ(- Ї114.€€The€committee€expressed€the€hope€that€the€Government€of€Argentina€would€redouble€its€effortsŠ ° Što€take€all€legislative,€judicial,€administrative€and€other€measures€which€would€be€sufficientlyŠ ™é Šeffective€to€halt€and€prevent€the€practice€of€torture€and€of€all€cruel,€inhuman€or€degrading€treatmentŠ ‚Ņ Šor€punishment€and,€where€necessary,€to€punish€the€perpetrators€of€such€acts.Š k» ŠĢ115.€€The€committee€further€expressed€the€hope€that€the€Government€would€submit€to€it€as€soon€asŠ =  Špossible€the€additional€information€requested€by€its€members.Š  & v Šņ ņCAT€€A/53/44€Ō_Ō(1998)ó óŌ_ŌŠ ° ŠĢĢ52.€€The€Committee€considered€the€third€periodic€report€of€Argentina€(CAT/C/34/Add.5)€at€its€303ņņrdóó,Š l¼ Š304ņņthóó€and€306ņņthóó€meetings,€on€12€and€13€November€1997€(CAT/C/SR.303,€304€and€306),€and€adoptedŠ U„ Šthe€following€conclusions€and€recommendations.Š > Ž ŠĢ1.€€ņņIntroductionóóŠ  ` ŠĢ53.€€Argentina€ratified€the€Convention€without€reservation€on€24€September€1986€and,€on€the€sameŠ ā 2  Šdate,€made€the€declarations€provided€for€in€articles€21€and€22.Š Ė   ŠĢ54.€€Like€its€two€predecessors,€the€third€report€was€submitted€within€the€time€limits€provided€for€inŠ ķ  Šarticle€19€of€the€Convention€and€was€drafted€in€accordance€with€the€Committeeššs€general€guidelinesŠ †Ö  Šregarding€the€form€and€content€of€periodic€reports.€The€information€it€contains€was€supplementedŠ oæ  Šand€updated€orally€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party€at€the€beginning€of€the€CommitteeššsŠ XØ  Šconsideration€of€the€report.Š A‘ ŠĢ2.€€ņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ c ŠĢ55.€€The€text€of€article€75,€paragraph€22,€of€the€Constitution€of€Argentina,€added€as€part€of€the€1994Š å5 Šconstitutional€reform,€bestows€constitutional€rank€on€the€various€international€human€rights€treatiesŠ Ī Šand€conventions,€including€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€DegradingŠ · ŠTreatment€or€Punishment,€and€also€provides€that€they€should€be€interpreted€as€complimentary€to€theŠ  š Šrights€and€guarantees€recognized€in€the€first€part€of€the€Constitution.Š ‰Ł ŠĢ56.€€Another€welcome€development€is€Argentinaššs€ratification€of€the€Inter„American€Convention€ofŠ [« Šthe€Forced€Disappearance€of€Persons€and€the€Inter„American€Convention€on€the€Prevention,Š D” ŠPunishment€and€Eradication€of€Violence€against€Women.€Those€two€international€instrumentsŠ -} Šcontain€provisions€and€lay€down€obligations€whose€observance€will€contribute€to€the€prevention€andŠ f Špunishment€of€torture€and€the€compensation€of€victims.Š ’O ŠĢ57.€€The€bilateral€treaties€on€extradition€and€judicial€assistance€recently€concluded€by€the€State€partyŠ Ń!!  Šcontain€provisions€consistent€with€article€8€of€the€Convention.Š ŗ" ! ŠĢ58.€€The€new€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure,€which€entered€into€force€during€the€period€covered€byŠ Œ$Ü# Šthe€report,€contains€provisions€whose€implementation€should€help€to€prevent€the€practice€of€torture.Š u%Å $ ŠEspecially€important€for€the€achievement€of€that€goal€are€the€provisions€prohibiting€the€police€fromŠ ^&®!% Štaking€a€statement€from€a€person€who€has€been€charged;€strictly€limiting€cases€in€which€the€policeŠ G'—"& Šmay€detain€persons€without€a€court€order€and€obliging€them€to€bring€the€detainee€before€theŠ 0(€#' Šcompetent€judicial€authority€immediately€or€within€six€hours;€limiting€the€length€of€incommunicadoŠ )i$( Šdetention;€and€stipulating€that€the€fact€that€an€individual€€is€being€held€incommunicado€may€underŠ *R%) Šno€circumstances€prevent€him€from€communicating€with€his€Ō_ŌdefenceŌ_Ō€counsel€before€making€anyŠ ė*;&* Šstatement€or€before€any€proceeding€requiring€his€personal€participation.Š Ō+$'+ ŠĢ59.€The€creation€of€the€Office€of€Government€Procurator€for€the€Prison€System€as€a€mechanism€toŠ ¦-ö(- ŠŌ_Ōmonitor€respect€for€the€human€rights€of€persons€being€held€in€prisons€administered€by€the€federalŠ ° Šprison€service,€with€the€power€to€receive€and€investigate€complaints€and€claims,€to€makeŠ ™é Šrecommendations€to€the€competent€authorities€and€to€initiate€criminal€complaints,€introduces€anŠ ‚Ņ Šexternal€supervisory€procedure€into€an€environment€which,€as€the€facts€have€shown,€lends€itselfŠ k» Šparticularly€to€abuse,€victimization€and€torture€of€persons€in€a€vulnerable€and€unprotected€situation.Š T¤ ŠĢ3.€€ņņFactors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€application€of€the€provisions€of€the€ConventionóóŠ & v ŠĢ60.€€The€severe€penalties€laid€down€in€article€144€ņņteróó€of€the€Penal€Code€for€acts€of€torture,Š ų H Šparticularly€torture€resulting€in€the€death€of€the€victim,€although€formally€satisfying€the€requirementsŠ į 1  Šof€article€4€of€the€Convention,€are€weakened€in€their€practical€application€by€the€courts,€which,€asŠ Ź   Šthe€Committee€has€noted€in€its€consideration€of€a€large€number€of€cases,€often€prefer€to€try€theŠ ³  Šoffenders€on€less€serious€charges€attracting€lighter€penalties,€thus€reducing€the€deterrent€effect.€TheŠ œģ  ŠCommittee€notes€that,€while€there€have€been€many€cases€of€death€resulting€from€torture€since€theŠ …Õ  Šentry€into€force€of€the€reform€of€the€Penal€Code,€€which€introduced€this€penal€provision,€in€only€sixŠ n¾  Šcases€have€the€culprits€been€sentenced€to€life€imprisonment,€which€the€law€prescribes€as€the€onlyŠ W§  Špenalty.Š @ ŠĢ61.€€The€protracted€nature€of€judicial€inquiries€into€complaints€of€torture€nullifies€the€exemplary€andŠ b Šdeterrent€effect€which€the€prosecution€of€the€perpetrators€of€such€crimes€should€have.€The€reportŠ ūK Šrefers€to€cases€of€torture€resulting€in€death,€or€of€torture€aggravated€by€the€clandestine€disposal€ofŠ ä4 Šthe€victimššs€remains,€where€investigations€have€still€not€been€completed,€six€or€seven€years€after€theŠ Ķ Ševents.€Such€slow€procedures€intensify€the€suffering€of€relatives,€inducing€them€to€give€up€theirŠ ¶ Šlegitimate€demands€for€the€punishment€of€the€guilty€parties€and€delaying€the€moral€and€materialŠ Ÿļ Šredress€to€which€they€are€entitled.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ4.€€ņņSubjects€of€concernóóŠ ZŖ ŠĢ62.€€The€Committee€notes€a€discrepancy€between€the€body€of€legislation€adopted€by€the€State€for€theŠ ,| Šprevention€and€punishment€of€the€practice€of€torture,€which€contains€provisions€that€qualitativelyŠ e Šand€quantitatively€meet€the€requirements€of€the€Convention,€and€the€actual€situation€as€revealed€byŠ žN Šthe€information€which€continues€to€be€received€on€instances€of€torture€and€ill„treatment€by€policeŠ ē 7 Šand€prison€staff€both€in€the€provinces€and€in€the€federal€capital;€this€seems€to€indicate€a€failure€toŠ Š!   Štake€effective€action€to€eliminate€these€reprehensible€practices.Š ¹" ! ŠĢ63.€€The€information€received€by€the€Committee€on€a€number€of€cases€of€torture€is€indicative€notŠ ‹$Ū# Šonly€of€a€lack€of€effective€and€prompt€police€co„operation€in€judicial€inquiries€into€complaints€ofŠ t%Ä $ Štorture€and€ill„treatment,€but€also€of€impediments€to€those€inquiries€denoting€a€relatively€systematicŠ ]&­!% Šmodus€operandi,€rather€than€occasional€failure€to€cooperate€faithfully€with€the€inquiries.Š F'–"& ŠĢ64.€€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€about€information€brought€to€its€attention€showing€an€increaseŠ )h$( Šin€the€number€and€gravity€of€instances€of€police€brutality,€many€of€which€result€in€the€death€of€orŠ *Q%) Šserious€injury€to€the€victim€and€which,€while€not€constituting€torture€as€defined€in€article€1€of€theŠ ź*:&* ŠConvention,€represent€cruel,€inhuman€and€degrading€treatment€which€the€State€party€is€obligated€toŠ Ó+#'+ Špunish,€under€article€16€of€the€Convention.Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- Š65.€€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€about€the€fact€that,€despite€the€mandatory€limitations€on€theŠ ° Šsituations€in€which€the€police€can€make€arrests€without€a€court€order,€the€provisions€for€theŠ ™é Šprotection€of€the€safety€of€citizens€€are€infringed€by€the€application€of€lesser€rules€or€provisions€suchŠ ‚Ņ Šas€police€regulations€concerning€misdemeanours€and€arrests€for€identity€checks.€According€to€theŠ k» Šinformation€provided€to€the€Committee,€the€arrests€made€under€such€provisions€represent€a€largeŠ T¤ Šproportion€of€the€cases€of€police€detention€and€only€a€minimal€proportion€of€the€arrests€wereŠ =  Šauthorized€by€court€order.Š & v ŠĢ5.€€ņņRecommendationsóóŠ ų H ŠĢ66.€€The€Committee€recalls€that,€during€its€consideration€of€the€preceding€report,€it€had€informed€theŠ Ź   Šrepresentatives€of€the€State€party€that€it€would€like€future€information€on€compliance€with€theŠ ³  Šobligations€arising€from€the€Convention€to€be€representative€of€the€situation€throughout€the€country.Š œģ  ŠAt€that€time,€the€State€party€pointed€out€that€a€register€of€cases€of€illegal€detention€and€ill„treatmentŠ …Õ  Šhad€been€established€in€the€Office€of€the€Attorney„General€to€be€used,€according€to€the€delegation,Š n¾  Što€record€information€from€all€courts€throughout€the€country€and€provide€data€enabling€action€forŠ W§  Šthe€prevention€and€punishment€of€such€illegal€acts€to€be€made€more€effective,€thus€bringing€theŠ @ Šgeneral€situation€under€tighter€control.€The€Committee€has€recently€learned€that€the€register€has€beenŠ )y Šdone€away€with€and€notes€that€the€report€suffers€from€the€shortcoming€already€observed,€namely,Š b Šthat€it€does€not€adequately€reflect€the€situation€throughout€the€country.€The€Committee€calls€uponŠ ūK Šthe€authorities€of€the€State€party€to€take€all€necessary€measures€to€remedy€that€deficiency.Š ä4 ŠĢ67.€€Also€during€its€consideration€of€the€previous€report,€the€Committee€was€informed€of€a€decisionŠ ¶ Šby€the€Attorney€General€in€October€1991€instructing€prosecutors€in€appeal€courts€to€urge€prosecutorsŠ Ÿļ Šin€criminal€courts€of€first€instance€to€comply€faithfully€with€their€obligations,€with€particularŠ ˆŲ Šemphasis€on€the€exercise€of€their€functions€in€order€to€exhaust€all€avenues€of€inquiry€and€all€meansŠ qĮ Šof€obtaining€evidence€during€the€investigation€of€the€unlawful€acts€characterized€in€articles€144,€144Š ZŖ Šņņbisóó€and€144€ņņter€óóof€the€Penal€Code.€The€Committee€notes€that,€seven€years€after€that€decision€wasŠ C“ Štaken,€investigations€into€illegal€acts€proceed€at€the€same€slow€pace€and€with€the€same€inefficiencyŠ ,| Šthat€prompted€the€decision€in€the€first€place.€It€calls€upon€the€competent€authorities€of€the€State€partyŠ e Što€monitor€closely€the€way€in€which€State€law€enforcement€bodies€and€officials€comply€with€theirŠ žN Šobligations,€particularly€regarding€the€offences€characterized€in€the€above„mentioned€provisions€ofŠ ē 7 Šthe€Penal€Code.Š Š!   ŠĢ68.€€The€Committee€calls€upon€the€competent€authorities€of€the€State€party€to€revise€criminalŠ ¢#ņ" Šprocedure€legislation€by€seeing€a€reasonable€time€limit€for€preliminary€investigations€since,€althoughŠ ‹$Ū# Šarticle€207€of€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure€sets€a€time€limit€of€four€months,€the€unlimitedŠ t%Ä $ Šextension€provided€for€in€the€last€paragraph€of€that€article€as€a€special€measure€appears€to€be€theŠ ]&­!% Šgeneral€rule.€In€the€view€of€the€Committee,€the€undue€prolongation€of€this€pre„trial€stage€representsŠ F'–"& Ša€form€of€cruel€treatment€of€the€individual€concerned,€even€if€he€is€not€deprived€of€his€freedom.€TheŠ /(#' Šlaw€should€also€specify€a€reasonable€time€limit€for€pre„trial€detention€and€for€the€completion€ofŠ )h$( Šcriminal€proceedings.Š *Q%) ŠĢ69.€€The€Committee€requests€the€State€party€to€provide€it€with€early€replies€to€those€questions€raisedŠ Ó+#'+ Šduring€the€consideration€of€the€report€to€which€no€answers€or€only€partial€or€inadequate€answersŠ ¼, (, Šwere€given.€It€also€calls€upon€the€State€party€to€provide€it€with€information€on€the€performance€ofŠ „-õ(- Šthe€obligations€arising€from€the€Convention€which€are€representative€of€the€situation€throughout€theŠ ° Šcountry,€as€soon€as€that€information€becomes€available€and€without€waiting€for€the€submission€ofŠ ™é Šthe€next€periodic€report.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢĢ€€