’WPCm Ģ_Ę.ŸœźŖ+¤ օ¾ŲĀG ŁÓZ0¬Ū~÷é’zaq `AĘ1ē#wżńķ<ū‡¹Š™Üdž`ŠVaŲ°PG¬£ŲJH %-w*õ>˜dRŃĶŠĪAČü”ęį®až•ĖcĀ<ŚÖüd63kHš»AžŒFöķą“Żć ŽHūfŸß«Z)Ī!³ Ā‘š1ˆŁ'‘-x’ŠP[xQs Ó÷[pS%7`–J_Ø č`sš² ®?HžyīÄĀҚ…ĪO'‚¹·µrĄ+߉e¾FwP”(p3o€Ūō H¾”M͵ķøŌ%/8M’“*öŠÕÆ®©ķµōbG©ÄXOkČ^Ø©euŸ>ADtøe¶ēFy„łPŖŅˆ$Ażų±©‘õM{GŪ]“a$'$TĶgIdšK?įžmž`s·v F|:Ž%$£"+’"ūQŠę˜…5€; {~ ø«Ķµ•"DyšŻŽ®ŲUQ(Ńńs’ ėm5„¦Ņļmr¹ņ=dTà Ѳ@Ć®x1¶› #Į¶UNw %Å 0:Ė^ w4)8 m:QNk˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSČŁŲŁŁŲČŁ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,Ō ƒa, ½ha+ ŠµŸ3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ r)gimeŻ ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņÓ  ÓÓ  ÓŌ‡¼|€»XXŌAUSTRIAó óŌ#†X5žX»¼|€X#ŌŠ ° ŠÓLÓĢĢņ ņŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō€€A/38/40€(1983)ó óŠ “ć ŠĢĢ178.€€The€committee€considered€the€initial€report€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/6/Add.7)€submitted€by€the€GovernmentŠ O Ÿ Šof€Austria€at€its€412ņņthóó,€413ņņthóó,€416ņņthóó€and€417ņņthóó€meetings€held€on€22€and€24€March€1983Š 8 ˆ Š(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.412,€413,€416€and€417).Š ! q ŠĢ179.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party€who€indicated€that€hisŠ ó C  ŠGovernmentššs€intention€had€been€to€give€an€overall€view€of€the€legal€position€of€the€Covenant€in€theŠ Ü,  Šcontext€of€the€Austrian€legal€system€and€that€many€specific€questions€which€had€not€been€dealt€withŠ Å  Šin€the€report€would€be€considered€in€future€reports.Š ®ž  ŠĢ180.€€Members€of€the€Committee€praised€the€high€quality€of€the€report€which€they€thought€was€wellŠ €Š  Šorganized€and€comprehensive€and€which€had€clearly€stated€the€legal€position€of€Austria€with€regardŠ i¹ Što€the€implementation€of€civil€and€political€rights.€€Nevertheless,€it€was€felt€that€the€frequentŠ R¢ Šquotations€and€provisions€of€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights€in€a€way€forced€someŠ ;‹ Šmembers€to€consider€a€report€based€on€a€different€legal€instrument€and€lacking€in€sufficient€andŠ $t Šfactual€information€on€the€factors€and€difficulties€affecting€the€implementation€of€the€Covenant,€orŠ  ] Šthe€relevant€provisions€of€the€Constitution,€and€other€legal€instruments.€€It€was€asked€whether€theŠ öF Štext€of€the€Covenant€had€been€disseminated€in€Austria€and€whether€the€report€had€been€publishedŠ ß/ Šand€the€public€made€aware€of€the€fact€that€it€was€submitted€for€consideration€by€the€Committee.Š Č ŠĢ181.€€Commenting€on€article€1€of€the€Covenant,€members€requested€further€clarification€of€AustriaššsŠ šź Šposition€on€this€article€as€well€as€details€on€the€action€taken€to€promote€the€realization€of€the€rightŠ ƒÓ Šof€self„determination€of€the€Palestinian€and€South€African€people€and€to€ensure€that€AustrianŠ l¼ Šindustry€and€banking€were€not€collaborating€with€the€ņņapartheidóó€€rgime€of€South€Africa.€€OneŠ U„ Šmember€wished€to€have€more€information€on€Austriaššs€unique€post„war€experience€in€protecting€andŠ >Ž Šexercising€its€right€to€self„determination€in€the€light€of€the€Declaration€of€Independence€of€Austria,Š ' w Šthe€State€Treaty€and€the€Declaration€of€Neutrality.Š !` ŠĢ182.€€As€regards€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€whether€the€legislative€and€executiveŠ ā"2! Šauthorities€were€required€to€refrain€from€any€discrimination€based€on€religion€or€political€or€otherŠ Ė#" Šopinion€as€stated€in€this€article.€€Some€members€expressed€surprise€at€the€fact€that,€whereas€theŠ “$ # ŠEuropean€Convention€on€Human€Rights,€a€regional€instrument,€had€been€integrated€into€AustrianŠ %ķ $ Šconstitutional€law,€the€Covenant,€a€universal€instrument,€was€not.€€One€member,€while€admitting€thisŠ †&Ö!% Šweakness€in€Austrian€law,€thought€that€the€proliferation€of€similar€but€not€identical€texts€in€the€sameŠ o'æ"& Šlegal€system€was€not€always€desirable€and€could€give€rise€to€confusion.€€Noting€that€one€reason€whyŠ X(Ø#' Šthe€Covenant€had€not€been€incorporated€into€Austrian€legislation€was€that,€upon€approving€theŠ A)‘$( ŠCovenant,€the€Austrian€Parliament€had€decided€not€to€add€another€source€of€special€law€to€the€manyŠ **z%) Šexisting€sources€of€Austrian€law,€in€order€to€avoid€š šimpairment€of€clarity€and€legal€security€andŠ +c&* Šprevent€any€possible€conflictsšš,€members€asked€what€those€conflicts€might€be;€what€positive€effectsŠ ü+L'+ Šthe€Covenant€had€on€domestic€law€and€whether€an€attempt€had€been€made€to€determine€in€whatŠ å,5(, Šrespect€the€Covenant€went€further€than€the€provisions€of€Austrian€domestic€laws€including€theŠ Ī-)- ŠŌ_ŌEuropean€Convention€on€Human€Rights;€what€measures€had€been€taken€to€adapt€the€Austrian€legalŠ ° Šorder€to€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant,€as€suggested€in€1978€by€the€Foreign€and€political€rights,Š ™é Šreferred€to€in€the€report,€would€be€completed€in€the€near€future€and€whether€the€rights€embodied€inŠ ‚Ņ Šthe€Covenant€would€be€incorporated€and€not€simply€š šduly€taken€into€considerationšš€in€this€work,Š k» Šas€mentioned€in€the€report;€whether€the€Austrian€Government€felt€that€the€Covenant€was€beingŠ T¤ Šimplemented€in€substance€or€whether€full€implementation€of€its€provisions€was€possible€and,€if€so,Š =  Šwhat€methods€had€been€used€to€make€sure€that€Austrian€law€and€practice€truly€conformed€to€theŠ & v Šprovisions€of€the€Covenant.Š  _ ŠĢ183.€€Members€asked€whether€the€remedies€provided€for€under€article€2,€paragraph€3,€of€theŠ į 1  ŠCovenant€would€be€available€to€anyone€as€soon€as€he€merely€claimed€his€rights€had€been€violated.€Š Ź   ŠAdditional€information€was€requested€on€the€way€in€which€Administrative€Court€fitted€into€theŠ ³  ŠAustrian€legal€system€and€on€its€functions€and€relations€with€the€Constitutional€Court.€€Noting€theŠ œģ  Šexistence€of€a€distinction€between€appeals€to€the€Constitutional€Court€and€appeals€to€theŠ …Õ  ŠAdministrative€Court,€members€asked€whether,€if€a€case€was€brought€before€a€court€which€was€notŠ n¾  Šcompetent€to€deal€with€the€matter,€it€could€be€referred€to€the€court€which€was€competent€withoutŠ W§  Šcausing€any€disadvantage€to€the€plaintiff;€whether€it€was€possible€to€appeal€a€judgement€made€byŠ @ Šthe€Administrative€Court€to€the€Constitutional€Court,€and€whether€it€was€true€that€the€possibility€ofŠ )y Šlodging€an€appeal€depended€on€the€form€of€the€act€contested€by€the€injured€party€and€that€the€latterŠ b Šcould€appeal€only€against€acts€which€were€formally€qualified€as€decisions.€€Referring€to€theŠ ūK Šestablishment€in€Austria€in€1977€of€the€institution€of€ņņŌ_ŌVolksanwaltschaftŌ_Ōóó€(mediator),€some€membersŠ ä4 Šwondered€why€it€had€been€considered€necessary€to€establish€this€institution€since€there€appeared€toŠ Ķ Šbe€a€variety€of€judicial€and€administrative€remedies€against€infringements€of€fundamental€rights.€Š ¶ ŠOther€members€asked€whether€that€institution€offered€additional€remedies,€what€the€advantage€wasŠ Ÿļ Šof€applying€to€it€rather€than€to€the€courts,€what€the€composition€of€that€institution€was€and€how€itsŠ ˆŲ Šindependence€was€assured,€what€procedures€the€š šmediatorsšš€used€and€to€whom€they€wereŠ qĮ Šresponsible,€whether€any€report€they€might€produce€was€duly€publicized,€whether€their€decisionsŠ ZŖ Šwere€implemented€automatically,€whether€that€institution€had€any€functions€in€respect€of€humanŠ C“ Šrights€in€addition€to€receiving€complaints€from€individuals€and€whether€there€was€any€analogyŠ ,| Šbetween€that€institution€and€the€role€of€Ombudsmen€or€special€national€institutions€to€protect€andŠ e Špromote€human€rights.Š žN ŠĢ184.€€In€connection€with€article€3€of€the€Covenant,€members€requested€further€information€on€howŠ Š!   Šmen€and€women€were€guaranteed€equal€rights€in€Austria,€particularly€on€whether€there€had€everŠ ¹" ! Šbeen€a€woman€candidate€for€a€judgeship€of€the€State€Supreme€Court;€on€the€number€of€womenŠ ¢#ņ" Šserving€as€ministers,€judges€and€ambassadors€and€on€the€relative€proportions€of€males€and€femalesŠ ‹$Ū# Šin€the€civil€service€as€well€as€at€all€levels€of€education.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ185.€€As€regards€article€6€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€whether€there€were€specific€provisions€inŠ F'–"& ŠAustrian€€legislation€protecting€the€rights€of€fetuses€and€what€provisions€were€applicable€in€relationŠ /(#' Što€voluntary€abortion.Š )h$( ŠĢ186.€€Commenting€on€articles€7€and€10€of€the€Covenant,€members€asked€what€remedies€wereŠ ź*:&* Šavailable€to€an€individual€deprived€of€his€liberty€who€complained€about€treatment€contrary€to€theŠ Ó+#'+ Šprovisions€of€those€articles;€whether€places€of€imprisonment€were€inspected€regularly€by€bodiesŠ ¼, (, Šcomposed€of€independent€persons€responsible€for€examining€the€conditions€of€imprisonment€andŠ „-õ(- Šreceiving€and€rectifying€the€complaints€of€prisoners;€whether€there€had€been€complaints€among€theŠ ° Špublic€or€in€the€press€concerning€the€situation€in€prisons;€whether€Parliament€had€taken€an€interestŠ ™é Šin€the€treatment€of€detained€persons€whether€there€was€a€difference€in€status€and€treatment€betweenŠ ‚Ņ Špersons€who€had€been€deprived€of€their€liberty€because€they€were€suspected€of€having€committedŠ k» Šan€offence€and€those€who€had€already€been€convicted;€whether€judges€were€authorized€to€take€intoŠ T¤ Šaccount€testimony€obtained€illegally€by€the€use€of€methods€of€interrogation€forbidden€by€law€andŠ =  Šwhether€there€could€be€exceptions€to€that€rule.€€Information€was€requested€on€who€determined€theŠ & v Šcases€in€which€there€was€no€fear€of€a€š šharmful€influencešš€on€minor€prisoners€and,€accordingly,€noŠ  _ Šseparation€between€minors€and€adults€was€warranted;€and€on€whether€educational€courses€offeredŠ ų H Što€prisoners€were€aimed€specifically€at€the€rehabilitation€of€prisoners€and€crime€prevention.Š į 1  ŠĢ187.€€With€reference€to€article€9€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€noted€from€the€report€that€the€ConstitutionalŠ ³  ŠCourt€€had€deliberately€given€a€sufficiently€broad€interpretation€to€the€legal€term€š šarrestšš€for€it€toŠ œģ  Šcover€other€forms€of€direct€restraint€of€liberty€and€it€was€asked€what€those€other€forms€were€thatŠ …Õ  Šwere€not€formal€arrests.€€Noting€that,€according€to€the€report,€an€individual€could€be€arrested€if€thereŠ n¾  Šwas€a€danger€that€he€might€repeat€the€offence,€members€pointed€out€that€Ō_ŌthatŌ_Ō€rule€might€run€counterŠ W§  Što€the€rule€of€š špresumed€innocencešš€established€in€the€Covenant€and€asked€how€it€could€beŠ @ Šdetermined€with€any€degree€of€certainty€that€such€a€risk€existed,€who€was€empowered€to€decide€inŠ )y Šthis€respect,€what€the€maximum€period€was€for€such€an€arrest€and€what€means€of€appeal€wereŠ b Šavailable€to€a€person€deprived€of€his€liberty€through€a€decision€taken€by€an€administrative€authority.€Š ūK ŠIn€this€connection,€it€was€also€asked€whether,€in€determining€compensation€for€the€victim€ofŠ ä4 Šunlawful€arrest€or€detention,€Austrian€case€law€generally€took€account€of€the€reasons€which€led€theŠ Ķ Šauthorities€to€make€such€an€arrest€or,€conversely,€the€fact€that€the€accused€person€had€been€innocentŠ ¶ Šand€whether€the€amount€of€compensation€depended€on€the€degree€of€suffering€of€the€victim€or€onŠ Ÿļ Šother€criteria.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ188.€€In€relation€to€article€12€of€the€Covenant,€information€was€requested€on€the€Austrian€legislationŠ ZŖ Šwhich€provided€for€the€possibility€of€withdrawing€the€nationality€of€certain€Austrian€nationals€andŠ C“ Šon€the€available€means€of€protection€against€what€was€described€as€a€very€serious€penalty€and€onŠ ,| Šthe€effects€of€such€withdrawal€of€nationality€on€the€legal€status€and€residence€of€the€personsŠ e Šconcerned.Š žN ŠĢ189.€€Commenting€on€article€13€of€the€Covenant,€some€members€pointed€out€that€the€provision€thatŠ Š!   Šthe€Austrian€authorities€could€override€the€suspensive€effect€of€an€appeal€in€cases€where€the€publicŠ ¹" ! Šinterest€made€early€expulsion€of€aliens€urgently€necessary,€was€not€in€keeping€with€the€safeguardsŠ ¢#ņ" Šstipulated€in€the€Covenant.€€It€was€asked€whether€there€were€any€safeguards€under€Austrian€law€toŠ ‹$Ū# Šensure€that€expulsion€€was€only€the€denial€of€residence€and€that€it€could€not€be€used€as€a€pretext€toŠ t%Ä $ Šextradite€persons€to€other€countries€or€to€expose€them€to€persecution.Š ]&­!% ŠĢ190.€€As€regards€article€14€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€whether€criminal€proceedings€could€takeŠ /(#' Šplace€ņņin€absentiaóó,€particularly€if€the€accused€person€has€fled€to€another€country;€whether€there€wasŠ )h$( Šany€possibility€of€appeal€in€cases€where€the€court€ruled€that€the€defendant€was€not€entitled€to€freeŠ *Q%) Šlegal€assistance€and€what€would€happen€if€the€accused€did€not€specifically€request€legal€counsel€andŠ ź*:&* Šwhether€there€were€statistics€indicating€the€normal€duration€of€a€criminal€case.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ191.€€Referring€to€an€Austrian€reservation€upon€ratification€of€the€Covenant€concerning€articles€9Š „-õ(- Šand€14€of€the€Covenant€and€whether€it€signified€that€the€entire€body€of€administrative€penalŠ ° Šsanctions€was€outside€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€€Another€member€suggested€that€reservationsŠ ™é Šmade€concerning€article€14,€paragraphs€5€and€7,€should€be€reconsidered€because€they€underminedŠ ‚Ņ Švery€important€principles€of€criminal€law,€namely€the€right€of€the€convicted€person€to€have€hisŠ k» Šconviction€and€sentence€reviewed€by€a€higher€tribunal€and€the€principle€of€ņņnon€Ō_ŌbisŌ_Ō€in€idemóó,Š T¤ Šrespectively.Š =  ŠĢ192.€€In€relation€to€article€15€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€whether,€subsequent€to€the€enactmentŠ  _ Šof€a€law€providing€for€the€imposition€of€the€lighter€penalty,€courts€were€required€to€apply€the€lighterŠ ų H Špenalty€in€all€cases€or€only€those€in€which€a€decision€has€not€yet€been€taken.Š į 1  ŠĢ193.€€In€connection€with€article€17€of€the€Covenant,€more€information€was€requested€on€the€rulesŠ ³  Šrelating€to€the€seizure€and€opening€of€letters€and€other€correspondence,€whether€there€wereŠ œģ  Šprovisions€prohibiting€searches€at€night€and€on€whether€forms€of€surveillance€of€citizens€wereŠ …Õ  Šsubject€to€any€restrictions.Š n¾  ŠĢ194.€€With€reference€to€article€18€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€whether,€in€Austrian€public€schools,Š @ Šcompulsory€religious€instruction€in€their€faith€for€all€pupils€who€were€members€of€a€church€orŠ )y Šreligious€community€recognized€by€the€law€was€compatible€with€freedom€of€religion;€what€formsŠ b Šof€religious€practice€might€be€contrary€to€public€order€or€morality€and€what€body€was€responsibleŠ ūK Šfor€establishment€that€they€were€and€what€forms€of€recourse€were€available€to€individuals€andŠ ä4 Šreligious€institutions€in€that€respect.Š Ķ ŠĢ195.€€In€respect€of€article€19€of€the€Covenant,€fuller€information€was€requested€on€the€way€in€whichŠ Ÿļ Šthe€right€of€reply€was€ensured€in€the€Austrian€media,€the€conditions€under€which€financial€assistanceŠ ˆŲ Šwas€granted€to€daily€and€weekly€news€publications,€the€provisions€relating€to€censorship,€referredŠ qĮ Što€in€the€report,€and€on€whether€the€penal€provisions€relating€to€the€seizure€of€publications€and€theŠ ZŖ Šprosecution€of€the€author€applied€only€to€safeguarding€of€public€morals€or€the€interests€of€youngŠ C“ Špeople,€as€implied€in€the€report.€€With€reference€to€the€penal€provisions€applicable€to€the€offence€ofŠ ,| Špublically€insulting€the€Federal€Army,€or€an€authority,€or€the€vilification€of€the€State€or€its€symbols,Š e Šit€was€pointed€out€that€those€provisions€could€be€interpreted€and€applied€in€a€repressive€manner€andŠ žN Šit€was€asked€to€what€extent€they€could€be€applied€to€prohibit€any€criticism€of€public€authorities,€howŠ ē 7 Šthe€scope€of€the€provisions€in€question€could€be€delimited€in€order€to€prevent€arbitrary€action€andŠ Š!   Što€protect€the€right€of€dissent€and€what€the€case€law€on€the€subject€was.€€Referring€to€the€relevantŠ ¹" ! Šprovisions€of€the€1955€State€Treaty€for€the€Re„Establishment€of€an€Independent€and€DemocraticŠ ¢#ņ" ŠAustria,€in€particular€articles€4,€9€and€10,€one€member€asked€if€any€court€decisions€had€specificallyŠ ‹$Ū# Šprohibited€Fascist€and€neo„Fascist€propaganda€and€newspapers.€€Another€member€wondered€howŠ t%Ä $ Šthe€š šnational€socialistšš€ideas€could€be€combated,€since€they€would€not€disappear€as€the€result€ofŠ ]&­!% Šcensorship.Š F'–"& ŠĢ196.€€As€regards€article€20€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€pointed€out€that€the€relevant€Austrian€legislationŠ )h$( Šdid€not€really€correspond€to€this€article€especially€with€regard€to€war€propaganda€or€incitement€toŠ *Q%) Šcommit€hostile€acts.€€It€was€asked€whether€action€had€been€taken€to€prevent€activities€or€tendenciesŠ ź*:&* Šwhich€were€in€violation€of€articles€5€and€20€of€the€Covenant,€with€regard€to€both€Austrian€citizensŠ Ó+#'+ Šand€foreigners€and€how€many€persons€had€been€punished€under€the€Prohibition€Act,€mentioned€inŠ ¼, (, Šthe€report,€in€the€past€three€years€and€to€what€extent€it€was€applied.Š „-õ(- ŠŌ_Ō‡197.€€With€reference€to€article€22€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€in€what€circumstances€an€associationŠ ° Šwas€considered€dangerous,€how€many€associations€or€organizations€had€been€prohibited€inŠ ™é Šaccordance€with€the€relevant€legislation,€particularly€under€the€provisions€of€the€1955€State€TreatyŠ ‚Ņ Šand€whether€there€had€been€any€problem€with€the€Committee€on€Freedom€of€Association€of€theŠ k» ŠInternational€Labour€Organization.Š T¤ ŠĢ198.€€Commenting€on€article€24€of€the€Covenant,€members€asked€what€measures€were€taken€inŠ & v ŠAustria€to€enable€working€mothers€to€protect€the€interests€of€their€young€children€without€makingŠ  _ Šundue€economic€sacrifices;€whether€it€was€correct€to€conclude€from€the€report€that€legalŠ ų H Šguardianship€was€given€precedence€over€the€parental€relationship€in€connection€with€children€bornŠ į 1  Šout€of€wedlock€and,€if€so,€whether€that€was€compatible€with€the€Covenant€and€what€inheritanceŠ Ź   Šrights€natural€and€adulturine€children€enjoyed€under€Austrian€law.Š ³  ŠĢ199.€€In€connection€with€article€25€of€the€Covenant,€information€was€sought€on€the€law€concerningŠ …Õ  Špolitical€parties€and€whether€funds€received€by€them€from€the€State€in€order€to€carry€out€theirŠ n¾  Šconstitutional€mandates€were€distributed€automatically€or€whether€they€were€subject€to€certainŠ W§  Šconditions;€whether€Fascist€and€neo„Fascist€candidates€were€prevented€from€standing€for€election,Š @ Šand€whether€a€person€who€professed,€without€putting€it€into€action,€an€ideology€banned€in€Austria,Š )y Šsuch€as€national€socialism,€had€equal€access€to€posts€in€the€civil€service.Š b ŠĢ200.€€In€relation€to€article€27€of€the€Covenant,€members€asked€whether€there€were€any€other€ethnicŠ ä4 Šminorities€in€Austria€in€addition€to€those€mentioned€in€the€report€and,€if€there€were,€what€their€legalŠ Ķ Šstatus€was,€whether€minorities€had€access€to€the€conduct€of€public€affairs€and€enjoyed€the€right€toŠ ¶ Šbe€represented€in€Parliament€by€their€own€candidates€and€whether€they€could€use€their€nationalŠ Ÿļ Štongue.€€More€information€was€requested€on€the€situation€of€the€Slovene€and€Croat€minorities€andŠ ˆŲ Šon€their€position€with€regard€to€the€Ethnic€Minorities€Act.€€A€question€was€raised€as€to€why€theŠ qĮ Šreport€referred€only€to€paragraphs€3€and€4€of€article€7€of€the€State€Treaty,€but€avoided€mentioningŠ ZŖ Šparagraphs€1,€2,€and€5€of€that€article€all€of€them€relevant€to€the€protection€of€minorities.€€ReferringŠ C“ Što€the€aforementioned€paragraph€5,€it€was€asked€whether€the€new€street€signs€which€were€posted€toŠ ,| Šreplace€those€in€Slovene€that€had€been€destroyed,€were€written€in€Slovene€or€in€German.€€NotingŠ e Šthat,€without€the€basic€right€to€use€and€teach€their€languages,€ethnic€groups€as€such€were€doomedŠ žN Što€extinction,€members€emphasized€the€need€for€more€information€on€the€positive€action€taken€inŠ ē 7 Šaccordance€with€his€article€to€safeguard€and€ensure€the€rights€of€minorities,€on€the€actual€humanŠ Š!   Šrights€situation€of€ethnic€groups,€on€the€relevant€case€law€and€on€administrative€memoranda€orŠ ¹" ! Šinstructions€on€the€subject€as€addressed€to€law€enforcement€officials.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ201.€€Responding€to€comments€made€by€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€the€StateŠ t%Ä $ Šparty€informed€the€Committee€that€the€Covenant€had€been€published€in€the€Federal€Gazette€and€inŠ ]&­!% Šprivate€publications€of€the€Constitution€and€that€it€had€been€discussed€at€a€seminar€on€human€rightsŠ F'–"& Šheld€in€1981,€but€he€thought€that€dissemination€and€distribution€of€international€instruments€onŠ /(#' Šhuman€rights€were€matters€for€the€non„governmental€organizations€rather€than€for€the€StatesŠ )h$( Šthemselves.Š *Q%) ŠĢ202.€€Commenting€on€the€questions€raised€by€members€concerning€the€measures€adopted€by€AustriaŠ Ó+#'+ Što€give€effect€to€the€rights€recognized€in€the€Covenant,€the€representative€stated€that€constitutionalŠ ¼, (, Šlaws,€ordinary€laws€and€statutes€were€methods€that€had€been€used€to€meet€Austriaššs€Ō_ŌobligationsŠ „-õ(- Šunder€the€Covenant;€that€the€few€legislative€gaps€referred€to€in€Parliament€during€the€ratification€ofŠ ° Šthe€Covenant€would€be€dealt€with€in€detail€in€Austriaššs€following€report;€that€some€laws€had€beenŠ ™é Šenacted€in€order€to€implement€the€Covenant;€and€that€the€work€carried€out€in€the€area€ofŠ ‚Ņ ŠŌ_ŌrecodificationŌ_Ō€of€legislation€dealing€with€fundamental€rights€would€hopefully€yield€results€in€theŠ k» Šlong„term,€despite€the€problems€emanating€from€new€developments€since€1964,€including€theŠ T¤ Šratification€of€the€Covenant.Š =  ŠĢ203.€€The€representative€also€stated€that€in€criminal,€civil€and€administrative€law,€civil€and€politicalŠ  _ Šrights€were€protected€by€effective€remedies;€that€any€alleged€violation€of€those€rights€could€be€theŠ ų H Šsubject€of€an€appeal,€that€any€court€decision€of€a€final€nature€could,€in€principle,€be€appealed;€that,Š į 1  Šin€criminal€law,€all€decisions€and€measures€taken€at€the€pre„trial€stage€could€be€in€the€subject€ofŠ Ź   Šappeal€to€the€higher€instance;€that€extraordinary€appeals€at€the€pre„trial€stage€could€be€taken€to€theŠ ³  ŠAdministrative€Court€and€the€Constitutional€Court;€and€that€ņņex€officioóó€reviews€of€cases€were€alsoŠ œģ  Šmade€on€a€periodic€basis.€€Replying€to€other€questions,€he€indicated€that€cases€relating€to€the€dutiesŠ …Õ  Šand€obligations€between€individuals€fell€within€the€sphere€of€judicial€procedure;€that€there€is€a€fieldŠ n¾  Šof€administrative€law€including€the€prohibition€of€offences€with€a€view€to€maintaining€public€orderŠ W§  Šwhich€fell€within€the€competence€of€the€administrative€authorities;€that€the€Constitutional€CourtŠ @ Šcould€hear€appeals€against€decisions€of€the€administrative€authorities€which€allegedly€violated€anyŠ )y Šright€guaranteed€by€Constitutional€law€and€that€if€the€Constitutional€Court€found€that€noŠ b Šconstitutional€rights€had€been€violated€in€a€case,€that€case€could€be€referred€to€the€AdministrativeŠ ūK ŠCourt€if€it€was€alleged€that€other€rights€had€been€violated.€€As€to€the€ņņŌ_ŌVolksanwaltschaftŌ_Ōóó€(mediator),Š ä4 Šhe€stated€that€Ō_ŌthatŌ_Ō€institution€had€been€ste€up€as€a€last€resort€to€be€used€after€all€other€remedies€hadŠ Ķ Šbeen€exhausted;€that€mediators€had€nearly€unlimited€powers€to€deal€with€alleged€cases€ofŠ ¶ Šmismanagement€or€Ō_ŌmisbehaviourŌ_Ō€in,€and€to€investigate€complaints€against,€both€national€and€localŠ Ÿļ Šadministrative€authorities;€to€recommend€solutions€to€those€authorities€which€were€then€obliged€toŠ ˆŲ Šcomply€with€such€recommendations€or€state€in€writing€why€they€could€not;€and€that€they€could€lodgeŠ qĮ Šappeals€before€the€Constitutional€Court€against€administrative€decrees€which€they€consideredŠ ZŖ Šunlawfulšš€that€mediators€were€elected€by€Parliament€for€a€four„year€term;€that€there€were€currentlyŠ C“ Šthree€mediators€in€office€and€they€were€obliged€to€report€their€findings€to€Parliament€annually.Š ,| ŠĢ204.€€With€regard€to€article€3€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€informed€the€Committee€that€theŠ žN Šrole€of€women€in€public€life€had€undergone€significant€changes€in€recent€years,€when€a€number€ofŠ ē 7 Šthem€occupied€ministerial€posts;€that€women€had€been€active€in€provincial€governments€for€severalŠ Š!   Šyears;€that€the€number€of€women€in€public€life€was€still€lower€than€that€of€men;€that€as€a€1€JanuaryŠ ¹" ! Š1983,€15€per€cent€of€the€total€number€of€judges€and€prosecutors€in€Austria€were€women€and€that€50Š ¢#ņ" Šper€cent€of€new€appointments€were€women,€which€meant€that€the€situation€would€change€stillŠ ‹$Ū# Šfurther.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ205.€€In€response€to€questions€raised€under€article€6€of€the€Covenant,€he€stated€that€the€ConstitutionalŠ F'–"& ŠCourt€had€decided€that,€in€principle,€fetuses€were€not€protected€under€that€article,€that€the€emphasisŠ /(#' Šin€Austria€had€recently€shifted€from€a€criminal€to€a€non„criminal€approach€to€the€reduction€ofŠ )h$( Šabortion€and€infant€mortality€and€that€although€the€Criminal€Code€had€in€1975€decriminalizedŠ *Q%) Šabortion€in€specific€cases,€abortion€had€not€increased€and€that€it€was€generally€considered€to€be€anŠ ź*:&* Šundesirable€means€of€birth€control€in€Austria.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ206.€€Replying€to€questions€raised€under€articles€7€and€10€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative,€whoŠ „-õ(- Šstated€that€the€Standard€Minimum€Rules€of€the€Treatment€of€Prisoners€were€fully€applied€in€Austria,Š ° Šexplained€the€complaint€procedures€under€the€Prison€System€Act€whereby€complaints€could€beŠ ™é Šchanneled,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€through€the€presiding€judge€of€the€relevant€court€or€through€the€š šmediatorsšš,Š ‚Ņ Šdepending€on€the€type€of€prison.€€He€also€explained€the€prison€inspection€system€whereby,€ņņinter€aliaóó,Š k» Šindependent€prison€commissions,€set€up€on€a€regional€basis,€visited€all€prisons€at€least€once€a€yearŠ T¤ Šwithout€notice€and€had€direct€access€to€the€detainees€and€the€prison€files€and€reported€each€year€toŠ =  Šthe€Ministry€of€Justice.€€He€explained€the€difference€in€treatment€between€accused€persons€andŠ & v Šconvicted€offenders,€the€restrictions€imposed€on€the€former€being€generally€limited€to€the€measuresŠ  _ Šnecessary€for€their€detention.€€He€pointed€out€that€juvenile€prisoners€could€be€detained€with€adultsŠ ų H Šunder€25€years€of€age,€subject€to€the€decision€of€either€the€Court,€and€Ministry€of€Justice€or€theŠ į 1  Šprison€director;€that€in€some€cases,€other€juvenile€offenders€could€have€a€more€detrimental€influenceŠ Ź   Šon€a€young€person€than€some€adult€detainees€and€that,€considering€that€there€were€only€80€convictedŠ ³  Šjuveniles€in€all€Austrian€prisons,€segregation€could,€in€respect€of€many€of€them,€be€tantamount€toŠ œģ  Šplacement€in€solitary€confinement.€€Concerning€rehabilitation€policy,€he€stated€that€it€was€the€viewŠ …Õ  Šin€Austria€that€convicted€offenders€could€best€be€rehabilitated€without€serving€prison€terms;€that,€asŠ n¾  Ša€result,€prison€sentences€had€been€considerably€reduced€since€the€early€Ō_Ō1970sŌ_Ō€and€only€40€per€centŠ W§  Šof€convicted€offenders€were€given€unconditional€prison€sentences,€as€compared€to€1970;€thatŠ @ Šemphasis€had€also€been€placed€on€release€and€post„release€measures€and€that€a€successful€networkŠ )y Šof€release€assistance€Ō_ŌcentresŌ_Ō€had€been€set€up.Š b ŠĢ207.€€As€regards€article€9€of€the€Covenant,€he€stated€that€mental€health€and€juvenile€delinquencyŠ ä4 Šwere€non„criminal€grounds€for€the€deprivation€of€liberty€and€that€there€were€also€cases€whereŠ Ķ Špersons€were€deprived€of€liberty€on€grounds€of€health€or€violation€of€civil€law,€but€that€those€wereŠ ¶ Šnot€significant.€€He€also€pointed€out€that€detention€pending€trial€was,€in€principle,€never€mandatory,Š Ÿļ Šbut€that€for€the€most€serious€crimes,€the€court€was€obliged€to€order€detention€unless€the€Ō_ŌdefenceŌ_Ō€wasŠ ˆŲ Šable€to€meet€certain€conditions€and€that€the€period€of€pre„trial€detention€was€generally€limited€to€sixŠ qĮ Šmonths€but€ranged€from€two€months,€in€cases€of€collusion,€to€up€to€two€years€in€very€seriousŠ ZŖ Šcriminal€cases.€€He€indicated€that€it€was€the€Court€which€handed€down€ņņex€officioóó€decisions€onŠ C“ Šcompensation€for€unlawful€arrest;€that€if€the€detention€was€considered€unlawful,€compensation€wasŠ ,| Šalways€given,€but€if€it€was€considered€lawful€but€not€justified€in€cases€where€there€was€noŠ e Šconviction,€compensation€was€given€when€cause€for€suspicion€could€not€be€substantiated;€and€thatŠ žN Šcompensation€was€ņņinter€aliaóó,€based€on€suffering€caused€to€individuals.Š ē 7 ŠĢ208.€€In€response€to€questions€raised€under€article€12€of€the€Covenant,€he€stated€that€under€theŠ ¹" ! ŠNationality€Act,€nationality€could€be€revoked€if€a€citizen€entered€into€the€service€of€a€foreign€StateŠ ¢#ņ" Šand,€in€that€capacity,€carried€out€acts€detrimental€to€the€interests€and€good€name€of€the€Republic,€butŠ ‹$Ū# Šthat€a€naturalized€citizen€could€be€deprived€of€Austrian€nationality€if€he€had€not€renounced€hisŠ t%Ä $ Šformer€nationality,€had€not€been€granted€dual€nationality€and€was€not€a€refugee.€€The€citizen€inŠ ]&­!% Šquestion€had€to€be€informed€of€the€decision€to€revoke€his€nationality€at€least€six€months€before€theŠ F'–"& Šexpiration€of€the€period€of€two€years€after€the€initiation€of€legal€proceedings.Š /(#' ŠĢ209.€€In€respect€of€article€13€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€pointed€out€that€the€suspensiveŠ *Q%) Šeffect€of€the€appeal€against€the€expulsion€order€could€be€annulled€only€for€reasons€of€nationalŠ ź*:&* Šsecurity;€that€an€alien€could€lodge€an€appeal€even€against€an€expulsion€order€handed€down€forŠ Ó+#'+ Šreasons€of€national€security€and€that€the€authorities€were€obliged€to€respect€the€will€of€the€personŠ ¼, (, Šconcerned€and€not€transfer€him€to€the€border€of€a€State€in€which€he€could€be€legally€prosecuted.Š „-õ(- Ї210.€€Replying€to€questions€raised€under€article€14€of€the€Covenant,€he€stated€that€according€toŠ ° ŠAustrian€law,€an€accused€person€could€be€tried€ņņin€absentiaóó€provided€that€the€offence€was€notŠ ™é Šregarded€as€a€serious€one,€that€the€accused€had€been€heard€by€the€Court€before€the€trial,€that€theŠ ‚Ņ Šwarrant€of€arrest€had€been€delivered€to€the€accused€in€person€and€that€the€court€believed€that€it€wouldŠ k» Šbe€possible€to€shed€full€light€on€the€case€despite€the€absence€of€the€accused,€but€that€it€was€very€rareŠ T¤ Šfor€all€four€conditions€to€be€met.€€He€also€informed€the€Committee€that€legal€aid€was€available€in€allŠ =  Šcivil€and€criminal€cases€for€persons€with€inadequate€means€to€provide€for€their€own€Ō_ŌdefenceŌ_Ō;€thatŠ & v Šit€was€provided€when€Ō_ŌdefenceŌ_Ō€was€mandatory,€namely,€in€all€major€criminal€cases,€with€possibleŠ  _ Šsanctions€of€more€than€three€years,€and€when€the€court€decided€that€it€was€needed€to€serve€theŠ ų H Šinterests€of€justice€and€to€assist€persons€who€required€professional€assistance.Š į 1  ŠĢ211.€€Responding€to€comments€made€by€members€in€respect€of€Austriaššs€reservations€on€article€14,Š ³  Šthe€representative€explained€those€reservations€in€terms€of€the€existing€legal€system€and€indicatedŠ œģ  Šthat€convenience€and€other€good€reasons€convinced€his€Government€to€retain€the€relevant€existingŠ …Õ  Šprovisions.Š n¾  ŠĢ212.€€With€reference€to€article€15€of€the€Covenant,€he€stated€that€if€the€law€providing€for€the€lighterŠ @ Špenalty€came€into€force€between€the€time€when€an€offence€was€committed€and€the€time€when€theŠ )y Šcase€came€to€trial,€the€lighter€penalty€would€apply;€that€if€the€law€was€changed€when€the€case€hadŠ b Šalready€been€tried,€commutation€of€the€sentence€ought€to€be€possible,€but€not€automatic€and€that€Ō_ŌthatŌ_ŌŠ ūK Šshould€not€become€a€general€rule€since€there€could€be€good€reasons€for€upholding€the€originalŠ ä4 Šsentence.Š Ķ ŠĢ213.€€As€regards€article€17€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€stressed€that€telephone€tapping€andŠ Ÿļ Šseizure€of€private€correspondence€were€legal€only€if€ordered€by€the€judiciary€and€that€a€private€homeŠ ˆŲ Šcould€be€searched€only€when€absolutely€necessary€and€when€all€necessary€precautions€were€takenŠ qĮ Što€protect€the€legitimate€interests€of€the€individual€concerned.Š ZŖ ŠĢ214.€€In€connection€with€article€18€of€the€Covenant,€he€stressed€that€the€Basic€Law,€which€grantedŠ ,| Šthe€State€€the€leading€role€in€the€field€of€education,€was€in€no€way€designed€to€regulate€religiousŠ e Šinstruction€and€that€the€State€was€empowered€only€to€protect€that€freedom€as€outlined€in€theŠ žN ŠConstitution€in€the€interests€of€public€policy€and€morals.Š ē 7 ŠĢ215.€€Replying€to€questions€raised€under€article€19€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€pointed€outŠ ¹" ! Šthat€the€right€of€reply€was€ensured€when€incorrect€information€had€been€published€in€the€press€orŠ ¢#ņ" Šbroadcast€on€the€radio€or€television€and€that€broadcasting€companies€could€be€required€through€aŠ ‹$Ū# Šcourt€decision€to€correct€false€information;€that€the€Press€Promotion€Act€provided€for€the€grantingŠ t%Ä $ Šof€State€subsidies€to€newspaper€companies€in€order€to€ensure€a€wide€spectrum€of€opinions€and€toŠ ]&­!% Šfacilitate€the€publication€of€newspapers€for€minority€groups;€that€no€publication,€theatrical€play,€filmŠ F'–"& Šetc.,€could€be€subject€to€prior€censorship,€but€that€the€law€provided€for€certain€measures€in€order€toŠ /(#' Šprotect€minors,€safeguard€public€morality€and€prevent€racist€or€war€propaganda;€that€a€citizen€couldŠ )h$( Šdemand€seizure€of€a€publication,€for€libel€for€example,€but€that€in€that€event,€the€court,€in€reachingŠ *Q%) Šits€decision,€had€to€balance€the€interests€of€the€appellant€and€those€of€the€public,€with€the€latterŠ ź*:&* Štaking€precedence;€and€that€the€inclusion€of€a€notice€of€proceedings€in€the€defendantššs€publication,Š Ó+#'+ Ša€widely€used€practice,€had€rendered€recourse€to€seizure€virtually€pointless.€€He€also€pointed€out€thatŠ ¼, (, Ša€statement€directed€against€the€State,€in€order€to€be€considered€defamatory,€and€thus€give€rise€toŠ „-õ(- Šlegal€proceedings,€must€among€other€conditions€have€been€made€in€public€with€malicious€intent€andŠ ° Šmust€have€been€widely€circulated;€that€those€with€the€best€legal€protection€with€regard€to€defamationŠ ™é Šwere€individuals,€followed€by€civil€servants,€legal€entities€and€the€State.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ216.€€As€regards€article€20€of€the€Covenant,€he€submitted€that€this€article€referred€to€a€purelyŠ T¤ Štheoretical€€obligation€and€that€propaganda€for€war€in€itself€did€not€constitute€a€threat€of€war.€He€alsoŠ =  Špointed€out€that€the€Penal€Code€provided€for€guarantees€concerning€not€only€acts€proscribed€underŠ & v Šthe€Covenant,€such€as€hostile€acts€against€ethnic€groups,€but€also€incitement€to€hostile€acts.Š  _ ŠĢ217.€€Replying€to€questions€relating€to€article€24€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€stated€that€asŠ į 1  Šillegitimate€children€needed€more€protection,€being€deprived€of€the€initial€advantages€of€legitimateŠ Ź   Šchildren,€legal€guardianship€by€means€of€social€assistance€had€been€retained€in€principle,€but€thatŠ ³  Šmothers€were€entitled€to€apply€for€exclusive€legal€custody€of€their€children.€€Those€provisions€couldŠ œģ  Špossibly€be€revised€if€social€conditions€changed,€as€currently€seemed€to€be€the€case,€since€there€wasŠ …Õ  Šan€increase€in€the€number€of€children€being€born€out€of€wedlock.Š n¾  ŠĢ218.€€In€response€to€questions€raised€under€article€27€of€the€Covenant,€he€informed€the€CommitteeŠ @ Šthat,€in€Austria,€there€were€four€ethnic€and€linguistic€minority€groups,€namely,€the€Ō_ŌSloveneŌ_Ō,€Croat,Š )y ŠHungarian€and€Czechoslovak€minorities,€each€living€in€different€parts€of€the€country€and€that€theŠ b Špercentage€of€the€general€population€they€represented€was€not€very€high.€€There€was€no€specificŠ ūK Šprovision€regarding€the€representation€of€minorities€in€Parliament,€but€the€fact€that€two€major€partiesŠ ä4 Šdominate€political€life€in€the€country€did€not€make€it€easy€for€other€parties€to€obtain€sufficient€votesŠ Ķ Što€be€represented€in€Parliament,€hence€the€failure€of€the€candidates€of€the€Ō_ŌSloveneŌ_Ō€minority€inŠ ¶ Šelections€in€Ō_ŌCarinthiaŌ_Ō€to€obtain€a€sufficient€number€of€votes€to€be€elected.€€As€regards€to€right€ofŠ Ÿļ Šminorities€to€use€their€own€languages,€the€representative€stated€that€there€were€norms€for€each€of€theŠ ˆŲ Šminorities,€whereby€the€Ō_ŌSloveneŌ_Ō€minority€could€be€provided€with€bilingual€teaching€in€the€primaryŠ qĮ Šschools€at€the€parentsšš€request.€€Moreover,€there€was€a€secondary€school€which€used€Ō_ŌSloveneŌ_Ō€as€theŠ ZŖ Šlanguage€of€instruction.€€Efforts€were€being€made€to€set€up€courses€in€Hungarian€but€there€wereŠ C“ Šsome€problems,€since€few€persons€were€concerned.€€The€Czechoslovakian€minority€of€Vienna€hadŠ ,| Šits€own€school€where€Czechoslovak€was€taught€and€used,€whereas€the€teaching€Croat€depended€onŠ e Šthe€percentage€of€Croats€in€the€schools.Š žN ŠĢ219.€€Recognizing€that€it€had€not€been€possible€to€answer€all€the€questions€asked,€the€representativeŠ Š!   Šof€Austria€promised€to€supplement€the€initial€report€with€answers€to€the€remaining€questions€withinŠ ¹" ! Šone€year.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢŠ  t%Ä $ Šņ ņŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō€€A/47/40€Ō_Ō(1992)ó óŌ_ŌŠ ° ŠĢĢ80.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€periodic€report€of€Austria€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/51/Add.2)€at€itsŠ l¼ Š1098ņņthóó,€1099ņņthóó€and€1100ņņthóó€meetings,€held€on€24€and€25€October€1991€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.1098€andŠ U„ ŠSR.1100).€€(For€the€composition€of€the€delegation,€see€annex€VIII.)Š > Ž ŠĢ81.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party,€who€drew€membersššŠ  ` Šattention,€in€particular,€to€the€fact€that€the€Second€Optional€Protocol€aiming€at€the€abolition€of€theŠ ł I Šdeath€penalty€was€currently€before€the€Austrian€Parliament,€with€ratification€expected€in€early€1992.Š ā 2  ŠĢņņConstitutional€and€legal€framework€within€which€the€Covenant€was€implementedóóŠ “  ŠĢ82.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€asked€what€measures€Austria€had€taken€to€give€effect€toŠ †Ö  Šthe€rights€recognized€in€the€Covenant€and€whether€there€were€any€difficulties€in€that€regard.€Š oæ  ŠMembers€also€inquired€abut€the€remedies€available€to€individuals€whose€rights€under€the€CovenantŠ XØ  Šhad€been€violated.€€Concerning€the€promotion€of€human€rights,€they€wished€to€know,€in€particular,Š A‘ Šas€well€as€about€measures€taken€to€increase€public€awareness€of€the€Covenant€and€the€OptionalŠ *z ŠProtocol.Š c ŠĢ83.€€Members€were€concerned€about€the€status€of€the€Covenant,€given€that€Austria€had€incorporatedŠ å5 Šinto€its€domestic€law€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights,€but€not€the€Covenant.€€TheyŠ Ī Šwondered€whether€those€parts€of€the€Covenant€that€were€not€reflected€in€the€European€Convention,Š · Šif€not€the€Covenant€in€its€entirety,€could€be€incorporated€into€Austriaššs€domestic€law.€€In€addition,Š  š Šmembers€wished€to€know€whether€there€was€any€governmental€machinery€for€monitoring€legislationŠ ‰Ł Što€ensure€its€compatibility€with€Austriaššs€international€obligations€under€the€Covenant;€howŠ rĀ Šcomplaints€would€be€handled€in€the€light€of€the€provisions€of€the€Optional€Protocol;€and€whetherŠ [« Šthere€was€any€legal€procedure€under€which€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€could€be€abrogated.€Š D” ŠMembers€were€also€concerned€abut€the€reservations€to€the€Covenant€and€the€Optional€ProtocolŠ -} Šentered€by€Austria€and€wondered€whether€the€withdrawal€of€some€of€them€was€being€considered.Š f ŠĢ84.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€the€Covenant,€though€not€an€integralŠ č 8 Špart€of€the€domestic€law,€was€recognized€as€an€instrument€prescribing€obligations€under€internationalŠ Ń!!  Špublic€law.€€Fundamental€human€rights€in€Austria€had€been€guaranteed€since€the€enactment€of€theŠ ŗ" ! ŠBasic€Law€in€1867€and€the€ratification€of€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights,€which€in€1964Š £#ó" Šwas€made€part€of€domestic€constitutional€law.€€Notwithstanding€the€fact€that€neither€a€judge€nor€anŠ Œ$Ü# Šadministrative€authority€was€required€to€apply€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€directly,€there€wereŠ u%Å $ Šno€difficulties€in€giving€effect€to€the€rights€recognized€in€it.€€Since€the€Covenant€was€an€internationalŠ ^&®!% Šobligation€for€Austria€any€abrogation€would€be€a€violation€international€law.€€Nevertheless,€underŠ G'—"& Šthe€existing€constitutional€framework€it€would€not€be€possible€to€consider€its€partial€incorporationŠ 0(€#' Šinto€domestic€law.Š )i$( ŠĢ85.€€Regarding€the€question€of€remedies,€the€representative€explained€that€remedies€could€be€soughtŠ ė*;&* Šfrom€a€hierarchy€of€courts€and€that€appeals€could€be€lodged€at€one€or€more€levels.€€CompensationŠ Ō+$'+ Šof€victims€was€also€available€at€various€levels€of€the€administration.€€After€the€exhaustion€of€allŠ ½, (, Šlevels€of€appeal€in€the€administrative€branch€the€appeal€could€be€further€carried€to€the€ConstitutionalŠ ¦-ö(- ŠŌ_ŌCourt€should€the€administrative€decision€be€alleged€to€have€violated€human€rights.€€TheŠ ° ŠConstitutional€Court€could€repeal€the€offending€provision€or€rescind€the€administrative€decisionŠ ™é Šagainst€which€the€appeal€was€lodged.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ86.€€The€Government€had€no€intention€to€set€up€a€commission€on€human€rights€or€a€special€agencyŠ T¤ Što€promote€human€rights.€€However,€the€Office€of€the€Ombudsman€had€been€in€existence€since€1976Š =  Šand€all€government€institutions€were€ready€to€provide€information€on€human€rights€upon€request.€Š & v ŠWhile€the€public€was€less€aware€of€the€Covenant€than€of€the€European€Convention€on€HumanŠ  _ ŠRights,€it€was€generally€aware€of€its€provisions€and€of€those€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€€The€AustrianŠ ų H ŠGovernment€believed€that€the€provisions€of€the€Basic€Law€and€of€the€European€Convention€onŠ į 1  ŠHuman€Rights,€as€amended€by€subsequent€protocols,€would€ensure€compliance€with€the€provisionsŠ Ź   Šof€the€Covenant.€€Furthermore,€the€text€of€every€statute€or€decree€was€scrutinized€in€the€light€of€theŠ ³  Šfundamental€rights€and€freedoms€provided€for€in€the€Covenant,€the€European€Convention€andŠ œģ  Šdomestic€law.€€To€ensure€that€any€person€whose€rights€or€freedoms€were€violated€would€haveŠ …Õ  Šeffective€remedies,€Austria€was€prepared€to€change€its€domestic€legislation€to€provide€for€newŠ n¾  Šremedies€or€to€allow€the€use€of€existing€remedies,€if€regarded€by€the€Human€Rights€Committee€asŠ W§  Šsuitable,€in€the€same€manner€as€it€had€done€in€respect€of€the€decision€of€the€European€Court€onŠ @ Šearlier€occasions.Š )y ŠĢ87.€€The€problems€that€had€led€Austria€to€make€a€number€of€reservations€at€the€time€of€ratificationŠ ūK Šof€the€Covenant€were€largely€attributable€to€differences€relating€to€existing€practice€in€Austria€andŠ ä4 Što€the€provisions€of€the€European€Convention€and€its€interpretation.€€However,€it€would€always€beŠ Ķ Špossible€to€consider€whether€or€not€any€of€those€reservations€should€be€withdrawn.Š ¶ ŠĢņņNon„discrimination€and€equality€of€the€sexesóóŠ ˆŲ ŠĢ88.€€In€connection€with€that€issue,€members€wished€to€know€how€the€Austrian€ConstitutionŠ ZŖ Šguaranteed€the€rights€provided€for€in€article€2,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Covenant;€whether€womenŠ C“ Šreceived€equal€pay€and€what€measures€had€been€taken€to€promote€womenššs€participation€in€theŠ ,| Švarious€sectors€of€society;€what€was€the€proportion€between€the€sexes€in€educational€institutions;Š e Šhow€the€special€Federal€Constitutional€Act€against€racial€discrimination€had€been€applied€in€practice;Š žN Šhow€the€rights€of€aliens€were€restricted€as€compared€with€those€of€citizens;€whether€all€types€ofŠ ē 7 Šdiscrimination€identified€in€the€Covenant€were€prohibited;€whether€the€Constitution€still€excludedŠ Š!   Šmembers€of€the€ruling€and€former€ruling€families€from€being€elected€as€President:€and€why€articleŠ ¹" ! Š26€and€27€of€the€Covenant€could€not€be€brought€into€direct€application€in€Austria€whereas€theŠ ¢#ņ" ŠInternational€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination€had€been€madeŠ ‹$Ū# Šoperational€in€Austria€by€means€of€a€Constitutional€Act.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ89.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€said€that€discrimination€was€prohibited€by€the€Constitution.€Š F'–"& ŠSince€virtually€all€the€rights€contained€in€Covenant€were€also€embodied€in€the€European€Convention,Š /(#' Šwhich€had€become€a€part€of€constitutional€law,€Austrian€law€necessarily€contained€provisions€similarŠ )h$( Što€those€of€the€Covenant.€€However,€owing€to€historical€reasons,€article€7€of€the€Constitution€(whichŠ *Q%) Šreferred€to€the€rights€of€citizens€only)€was€not€identical€to€article€2€of€the€Covenant€(which€referredŠ ź*:&* Što€the€rights€of€all€individuals).€€On€the€question€of€the€treatment€of€the€former€imperial€family,€theŠ Ó+#'+ Šrepresentative€said€he€would€convey€the€views€of€the€members€of€the€Committee€to€the€AustrianŠ ¼, (, ŠGovernment.Š „-õ(- Ї90.€€On€the€treatment€of€aliens€and€citizens€generally,€the€representative€stressed€that€the€principleŠ ° Šof€equality€applied€to€all€aliens€in€Austria€under€the€terms€of€the€Constitutional€Acts€in€relation€toŠ ™é Šthe€International€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination€and€theŠ ‚Ņ ŠEuropean€Convention,€although€some€differences€in€respect€of€employment€in€certain€professions,Š k» Šsuch€as€the€civil€service€for€which€only€citizens€were€eligible,€were€allowed€for.€€No€information€wasŠ T¤ Šavailable€concerning€the€application€of€the€special€constitutional€law€prohibiting€racialŠ =  Šdiscrimination€as€no€court€had€ever€had€to€deal€with€a€complaint€thereunder.Š & v ŠĢ91.€€The€figures€for€1988„1989€showed€that€about€50€per€cent€of€children€attending€day„care€centresŠ ų H Šand€primary€and€secondary€schools€were€female,€and€that€one€third€of€all€university€students€wereŠ į 1  Šfemale.€€A€report€on€the€measures€taken€to€promote€the€participation€of€women€in€the€life€of€theŠ Ź   Šcountry€would€be€brought€to€the€attention€of€the€Committee€as€soon€as€it€was€completed.€€On€theŠ ³  Šissue€of€equal€pay,€the€representative€acknowledged€that€such€equality€had€not€been€guaranteed€inŠ œģ  ŠAustria.€€The€Government€had€€therefore€established€an€Equal€Pay€Committee€and€it€was€expectedŠ …Õ  Šthat€matters€would€improve€slowly.Š n¾  ŠĢņņState€of€emergencyóóŠ @ ŠĢ92.€€Concerning€that€issue,€members€wished€to€know,€in€the€absence€of€any€constitutional€provisionŠ b Šregarding€the€suspension€of€fundamental€rights,€how€an€emergency€situation€would€be€dealt€with.Š ūK ŠĢ93.€€In€his€response,€the€representative€said€Austria€had€no€specific€legislation€relating€to€emergencyŠ Ķ Šsituations.€€The€Constitution€authorized€the€Federal€Government€to€issue€decrees€which€had€the€forceŠ ¶ Šof€parliamentary€legislation,€but€that€power€had€never€been€used.Š Ÿļ ŠĢņņRight€to€lifeóóŠ qĮ ŠĢ94.€€With€regard€to€that€issue,€members€noted€that€Austria€was€considering€ratification€of€the€SecondŠ C“ ŠOptional€Protocol€aiming€at€the€abolition€of€capital€punishment.€€They€also€wished€to€know€whatŠ ,| Šrules€and€regulations€governed€the€use€of€firearms€by€the€police€and€security€forces;€whether€the€ideaŠ e Šof€homicide€at€the€request€of€the€victim€included€euthanasia€practised€by€a€doctor;€whether€suicideŠ žN Šhad€been€decriminalized;€when€it€was€planned€to€legalize€abortions;€and€whether€any€steps€had€beenŠ ē 7 Štaken€to€provide€the€population€with€a€healthy€environment€by€curbing€pollution€and€by€adoptingŠ Š!   Šmeasures€against€acquired€immune€deficiency€syndrome€(AIDS),€cancer€or€tobacco„related€diseases.Š ¹" ! ŠĢ95.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€said€that€the€use€of€firearms€by€the€police€and€security€forces€wasŠ ‹$Ū# Šrestricted€by€a€1969€law€which€provided€that€they€could€only€be€used€when€necessary€to€subdue€anŠ t%Ä $ Šaggressive€person€after€a€warning€had€been€issued€and€other€means€had€failed.€€š šActivešš€euthanasiaŠ ]&­!% Šwas€regarded€as€illegal€and€contrary€to€medical€ethics.€€Attempted€suicide€had€ceased€to€be€anŠ F'–"& Šoffence,€but€helping€a€person€to€commit€suicide€was€still€punishable.€€Termination€of€pregnancyŠ /(#' Šduring€the€first€three€months€was€not€punishable€by€law.€€The€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure€had€beenŠ )h$( Šamended€in€1987€with€a€view€to€imposing€greater€penalties€for€pollution„related€offences,€butŠ *Q%) Šdiscussion€of€that€sensitive€issue€was€still€continuing.€€A€system€under€which€cases€of€AIDS€wereŠ ź*:&* Šregistered€had€been€introduced€and€the€principle€of€anonymity€was€strictly€respected.€€HomosexualŠ Ó+#'+ Šprostitution€had€also€been€decriminalized€to€enable€the€application€of€preventive€measures€and€toŠ ¼, (, Šfight€AIDS€more€effectively.€€It€was€also€planned€to€provide€drug€addicts€with€substitute€Ō_Ōproducts.Š „-õ(- ЇņņLiberty€and€security€of€the€person€and€treatment€of€prisoners€and€other€detaineesóóŠ ° ŠĢ96.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€whether€there€had€beenŠ ‚Ņ Šany€allegations€of€violations€of€obligations€under€article€7€of€the€Covenant€and€whether€statisticsŠ k» Šregarding€ill„treatment€of€detainees€were€available.€€Noting€that€torture€had€been€practiced€inŠ T¤ ŠAustria,€members€requested€information€on€the€measures€that€had€been€taken€to€prevent€ill„Š =  Štreatment,€on€the€competent€investigative€authorities€and€complaints€procedures,€and€concerning€theŠ & v Šmain€problems€faced€by€the€prison€commissions€and€how€such€problems€had€been€addressed.€€It€wasŠ  _ Šalso€asked€how€Austrian€law€complied€with€articles€7€and€9,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Covenant;€whetherŠ ų H Šguidelines€had€been€issued€to€the€security€forces;€and€what€was€the€average€length€of€pretrialŠ į 1  Šdetention.€€Members€also€inquired€about€the€principles€of€the€Austrian€law€of€evidence,€in€particularŠ Ź   Šwhether€confessions€obtained€through€ill„treatment€were€admissible€in€evidence.Š ³  ŠĢ97.€€In€addition,€members€wished€to€know€whether€there€was€any€procedure€providing€for€the€reviewŠ …Õ  Šof€compulsory€confinement€decisions;€whether€the€European€Committee€for€the€Prevention€ofŠ n¾  ŠTorture€had€detected€any€cases€of€violations€of€the€provisions€of€the€European€Convention€for€theŠ W§  ŠPrevention€of€Torture€and€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment;€how€soon€after€arrestŠ @ Ša€detainee€was€allowed€to€contact€counsel;€what€were€the€powers€and€performance€of€prisonŠ )y Šcommissions;€and€which€authority€was€responsible€for€the€systematic€monitoring€of€the€treatmentŠ b Šof€persons€held€in€psychiatric€institutions€and€reformatories€for€juvenile€delinquents.€€Members€alsoŠ ūK Šquestioned€the€basis€for€the€reservation€entered€by€the€Austrian€Government€with€respect€to€articleŠ ä4 Š10€of€the€Covenant€and€wondered€if€it€could€be€withdrawn.Š Ķ ŠĢ98.€€Replying€to€the€questions€raised€by€members,€the€representative€confirmed€that€there€had€beenŠ Ÿļ Šallegations€of€violations€of€obligations€under€article€7€of€the€Covenant.€€In€1989€a€decree€was€issued,Š ˆŲ Šordering€that€justifiable€allegations€should€be€the€subject€not€only€of€a€police€inquiry,€but€also€of€aŠ qĮ Šthorough€investigation€by€an€independent€examining€magistrate.€€While€it€was€too€early€to€provideŠ ZŖ Šstatistics€on€the€results€of€the€inquiries€(a€decree€stating€that€statistics€should€be€kept€of€allegationsŠ C“ Šof€ill„treatment€during€detention€was€issued€in€May€1991),€the€representative€referred€to€a€reportŠ ,| Špublished€by€Amnesty€International€in€1990€in€which€14€individual€cases€had€been€mentioned.€€EvenŠ e Šbefore€the€publication€of€that€report,€a€decree€containing€strict€orders€concerning€the€rights€ofŠ žN Šdetainees€to€communicate€with€counsel€and€the€possibility€of€warning€third€parties€of€the€arrest€hadŠ ē 7 Šbeen€given.€€Furthermore,€a€pamphlet€on€the€rights€of€detained€minors€had€also€been€published.€€TheŠ Š!   Šprison€commissions€were€independent€bodies€responsible€for€monitoring€the€prison€conditions€andŠ ¹" ! Šrecommending€ways€of€improvement.€€As€a€result€of€their€work,€some€proposals€had€been€made€withŠ ¢#ņ" Ša€view€to€improving€prison€conditions€and€promoting€training€Ō_ŌprogrammesŌ_Ō€for€inmates.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ99.€€Regarding€pretrial€detention,€the€representative€noted€that€a€person€remanded€in€custody€afterŠ ]&­!% Šarrest€would€have€to€be€brought€before€a€magistrate€within€48€hours€and€to€be€questioned€by€aŠ F'–"& Šmagistrate€within€the€following€24€hours,€which€could€be€extended€up€to€72€hours.€€Any€doubt€aboutŠ /(#' Šthe€lawfulness€of€the€arrest€or€detention€in€the€view€of€the€magistrate€would€result€in€the€release€ofŠ )h$( Šthe€detainee,€although€such€a€decision€could€be€appealed€against.€€According€to€the€figures€availableŠ *Q%) Šfor€1988,€the€average€length€of€pretrial€detention€was€76€days.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ100.€€On€the€issue€of€admissibility€of€evidence€obtained€through€ill„treatment,€the€representativeŠ ¼, (, Šexplained€that€the€Austrian€Parliamentššs€declaration,€made€when€the€Convention€against€Torture€andŠ „-õ(- ŠOther€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment€was€ratified,€had€in€effect€prohibitedŠ ° Šthe€use€of€statements€obtained€by€torture.€€The€Austrian€Government€was€aware€that€the€Code€ofŠ ™é ŠCriminal€Procedure€would€have€to€be€amended€in€the€light€of€article€15€of€the€European€ConventionŠ ‚Ņ Šon€Human€Rights€so€as€to€provide€explicitly€for€the€prohibition€of€the€use€as€evidence€of€confessionsŠ k» Šobtained€through€ill„treatment.€€In€the€view€of€the€Austrian€authorities,€article€15€of€the€EuropeanŠ T¤ ŠConvention€was€even€more€restrictive€than€article€7€of€the€Covenant.Š =  ŠĢ101.€€In€response€to€queries€about€confinement€in€psychiatric€institutions,€the€representative€said€thatŠ  _ Šcompulsory€confinement€had€dropped€by€two€thirds€over€the€previous€15€years€and€that€a€new€lawŠ ų H Šand€new€procedures€had€been€in€effect€since€1€January€1991.€€Under€that€law,€any€person€confinedŠ į 1  Šcompulsorily€in€a€psychiatric€institution€had€to€be€brought€before€the€competent€civil€court€withinŠ Ź   Štwo€days€and€questioned€by€the€magistrate€within€the€following€four€days.€€Any€restriction€ofŠ ³  Šfreedom€of€movement€and€communication€would€have€to€be€based€on€a€judicial€decision,€which€hadŠ œģ  Što€be€given€within€8€days,€and€against€which€an€appeal€could€be€lodged€within€14€days.Š …Õ  ŠĢ102.€€Referring€to€the€reservation€entered€in€respect€of€article€10€of€the€Covenant,€the€representativeŠ W§  Šexplained€that€one€of€the€reasons€was€that€the€Government€had€not€regarded€the€provisions€in€theŠ @ ŠCovenant€with€respect€to€juvenile€prisoners€as€adequate€or€in€conformity€with€its€own€practice.€Š )y ŠAlthough€Austria€recognized€the€principle€of€separating€young€untried€prisoners€from€adults,€theŠ b Šstrict€application€of€that€principle€could€have€meant€that€a€young€person€of€18€could€not€share€a€cellŠ ūK Šwith€somebody€of€19,€which€had€been€the€new€age€of€criminal€responsibility€since€1988.€Š ä4 ŠFurthermore,€in€recent€years€there€were€barely€more€than€2€or€3€young€prisoners€in€each€penitentiaryŠ Ķ Šestablishment€and€the€total€number€of€juvenile€delinquents€serving€prison€sentences€had€neverŠ ¶ Šexceeded€50.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ103.€€In€response€to€membersšš€queries€as€to€whether€the€maximum€period€of€pretrial€detention€couldŠ qĮ Šbe€reduced€from€five€days€to€three€days,€the€representative€said€that€the€Government€intended€toŠ ZŖ Šamend€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure€in€order€to€reduce€the€maximum€from€five€to€four€days,€thusŠ C“ Šbringing€the€practice€into€line€with€the€decisions€of€the€European€Court€of€Human€Rights.€€ThereŠ ,| Šwere€no€special€provisions€relating€to€terrorism€and,€fortunately,€there€had€thus€far€been€no€terroristŠ e Šact€committed€by€an€Austrian.€€The€installation€of€recording€devices€to€monitor€the€questioning€ofŠ žN Šdetainees€was€not€yet€a€current€practice€in€the€European€democracies.€€However,€under€a€plannedŠ ē 7 Šreform€of€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure€it€was€envisaged€that€a€detained€person€would€have€theŠ Š!   Šright€to€request€a€trustworthy€third€party,€such€as€a€lawyer,€to€be€present€during€the€questioning.€Š ¹" ! ŠMoreover,€the€Government€had€recently€taken€action€on€training€police€officers€in€human€rightsŠ ¢#ņ" Šmatters.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢņņRight€to€a€fair€trialóóŠ ]&­!% ŠĢ104.€€In€connection€with€that€issue,€members€wished€to€know€what€criteria€were€followed€inŠ /(#' Šselecting€members€of€a€jury;€what€was€the€average€length€of€criminal€cases;€whether€there€had€beenŠ )h$( Šany€application€for€payment€of€compensation€in€accordance€with€the€Criminal€Compensation€Act;Š *Q%) Šand€whether€the€reservation€entered€under€article€14€of€the€Covenant€would€be€withdrawn.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ105.€€Replying€to€the€questions€raised€by€members,€the€representative€said€that€since€1€January€1991Š ¼, (, Šmembers€of€a€jury€and€assessors€had€been€chosen€in€random€manner.€€The€average€length€of€criminalŠ „-õ(- Šcases€was€rather€shorter€than€in€other€countries,€especially€since€the€introduction€of€a€monitoringŠ ° Šsystem€in€1990.€€The€question€of€payment€of€compensation€arose€in€the€event€of€unlawful€detention,Š ™é Špretrial€detention€and€subsequent€failure€to€bring€charges,€and€in€the€case€of€an€acquittal€at€the€endŠ ‚Ņ Šof€a€second€trial€of€a€person€who€had€been€sentenced€and€imprisoned.€€Statistics€for€the€previous€8Š k» Šyears€showed€that€there€were€on€average€from€5€to€24€cases€of€compensation€per€year,€most€of€whichŠ T¤ Šcame€under€the€pretrial€detention€category.€€Two€thirds€of€the€cases€were€found€justifiable,€with€theŠ =  Švictims€receiving€compensation.Š & v ŠĢ106.€€As€for€the€question€concerning€Austriaššs€reservations€in€connection€with€article€14,€paragraphŠ ų H Š5,€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€explained€that€since€criminal€proceedings€in€Austria€wereŠ į 1  Šinvariably€of€a€two„tiered€character,€the€Austrian€authorities€were€not€certain€that€the€imposition€ofŠ Ź   Ša€more€severe€sentence€by€a€court€of€second€instance,€which€would€not€be€subject€to€appeal,€wouldŠ ³  Šbe€consistent€with€the€provision€in€question.€€Thus,€the€reservations€were€entered€by€way€ofŠ œģ  Šprecaution.€€With€regard€to€article€14,€paragraph€7,€the€representative€explained€that€only€inŠ …Õ  Šexceptional€cases,€where€new€evidence€was€to€be€submitted,€would€a€trial€be€reopened€following€aŠ n¾  Šfinal€judgement.€€The€Government€could€envisage€withdrawing€Austriaššs€reservations€if€theŠ W§  ŠCommittee€or€any€other€United€Nations€body€could€provide€the€necessary€assurances€that€AustrianŠ @ Špractice€was€not€inconsistent€with€the€Covenant.Š )y ŠĢņņFreedom€of€movement€and€expulsion€of€aliensóóŠ ūK ŠĢ107.€€With€regard€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€receive€further€informationŠ Ķ Šconcerning€the€relevant€judicial€or€administrative€procedures€for€appeal€against€a€prohibition€orderŠ ¶ Šand€asked€whether€such€an€appeal€had€suspensive€effect.€€In€addition,€members€wished€to€knowŠ Ÿļ Šwhether€there€were,€in€law€or€practice,€any€restrictions€on€the€right€of€a€citizen€to€establish€hisŠ ˆŲ Šresidence€and€domicile€anywhere€in€Austria;€what€Austriaššs€policy€was€on€immigration€and€theŠ qĮ Šgranting€of€asylum;€how€many€people€had€applied€for€refugee€status€or€temporary€status€in€AustriaŠ ZŖ Šafter€fleeing€Yugoslavia;€and€what€policy€was€envisaged€in€the€latter€regard€in€the€future.Š C“ ŠĢ108.€€In€reply,€the€representative€said€the€substance€of€article€13€of€the€Covenant€had€beenŠ e Šincorporated€into€the€Seventh€Protocol€to€the€European€Convention€and€consequently€into€AustriaššsŠ žN ŠConstitution.€€However,€the€Protocol€differed€from€the€Covenant€on€the€issue€of€whether€an€appealŠ ē 7 Šagainst€expulsion€order€had€suspensive€effect.€€Whilst€the€Protocol€acknowledged€in€principle€thatŠ Š!   Šthere€should€be€suspensive€effect€in€cases€of€expulsion,€some€exceptions€were€regarded€as€necessaryŠ ¹" ! Šin€cases€involving€public€order€and€for€reasons€of€national€security.€€In€those€exceptional€cases€anŠ ¢#ņ" Šalien€might€be€expelled€before€he€could€exercise€his€right€to€submit€reasons€against€the€expulsion,Š ‹$Ū# Što€have€his€case€reviewed€and€to€be€represented.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ109.€€Regarding€the€freedom€of€movement,€the€representative€confirmed€that€Austrian€nationalsŠ F'–"& Šcould€move€freely€within€the€country.€€On€the€question€of€asylum,€Austriaššs€policy€was€to€grantŠ /(#' Šasylum€to€political€refugees€under€all€circumstances.€€For€other€refugees,€the€Government€was€tryingŠ )h$( Što€work€out€an€adequate€policy.€€At€present,€if€a€refugee€had€passed€through€a€country€where€hisŠ *Q%) Šsecurity€was€guaranteed,€he€would€be€repatriated€to€that€country.€€Only€a€few€requests€for€refugeeŠ ź*:&* Šstatus€had€been€made€by€Ō_ŌSloveniansŌ_Ō€and€Croatians€and€they€had€been€granted.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢņņFreedom€of€religion€and€expression;€prohibition€of€propaganda€for€war€and€incitement€to€national,Š „-õ(- Šracial€or€religious€hatredóóŠ ° ŠĢ110.€€In€connection€with€those€issues,€members€wished€to€be€informed€of€the€modalities€applicableŠ ‚Ņ Što€conscientious€objectors€and€the€duration€of€the€alternative€service€required€of€them;€howŠ k» ŠJehovahššs€Witnesses,€objected€to€any€kind€of€alternative€service,€were€dealt€with;€which€practicesŠ T¤ Šwere€not€considered€as€being€consistent€with€public€order€or€public€morals;€how€the€right€to€seekŠ =  Šinformation,€envisaged€in€article€19,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant,€was€guaranteed;€whether€theŠ & v Šapplication€of€the€article€III€of€the€Criminal€Code€had€given€rise€to€any€difficulties€with€regard€toŠ  _ Šthe€implementation€of€article€19€of€the€Covenant;€and€what€limits€were€imposed€by€Austrian€law€onŠ ų H Šthe€right€to€seek€and€impart€information.Š į 1  ŠĢ111.€€Noting€that€there€were€no€private€television€or€radio€stations€in€Austria,€members€also€wishedŠ ³  Što€know€whether€those€forms€of€mass€media€were€completely€monopolized€by€the€State.€€MembersŠ œģ  Šalso€asked€what€policy€guidelines€were€followed€to€ensure€objective€reporting€by€the€press€and€whatŠ …Õ  Šthe€criteria€and€selection€mechanism€were€with€respect€to€the€granting€of€subsidies€to€the€press.€€InŠ n¾  Šaddition,€they€requested€clarification€of€the€legal€basis,€interpretation€and€application€of€article€188Š W§  Šof€the€Criminal€Code,€which€provided€for€penalties€in€cases€where€a€belief,€custom€or€institution€wasŠ @ Šridiculed€or€discredited,€and€asked€which€person€was€duly€authorized€by€law,€pursuant€to€article€14Š )y Šof€the€Basic€Law,€to€compel€another€person€to€take€part€in€religious€activities.Š b ŠĢ112.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€explained€that€under€a€new€proposal€currently€under€study,Š ä4 Šconscientious€objectors€would€no€longer€be€subjected€to€examination€and€their€alternative€serviceŠ Ķ Šwould€be€only€two€months€longer€than€military€service.€€As€for€problems€relating€to€JehovahššsŠ ¶ ŠWitnesses,€a€practical€solution€had€been€found€based€on€the€legal€provision€that€the€militaryŠ Ÿļ Šauthorities€could€dismiss€people€from€military€service€who€were€unfit€for€such€service.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ113.€€On€request,€the€Austrian€people€were€completely€free€to€seek€and€impart€any€information€theyŠ ZŖ Šwished,€provided€that€they€did€not€act€contrary€to€the€Penal€Code.€€How€information€was€madeŠ C“ Šavailable€to€the€public€requesting€information€depended€on€the€circumstances€of€the€case,€bearingŠ ,| Šin€mind€the€interests€of€the€parties€concerned.€€Article€111€of€the€Criminal€Code€was€essentially€aŠ e Šmechanism€to€defend€the€reputation€of€private€individuals€and€there€was€no€intention,€at€present,€toŠ žN Šamend€it.€€The€violation€of€public€order€was€not€a€criminal€but€an€administrative€offence€and€judgesŠ ē 7 Šand€prosecutors€were€therefore€not€dealing€with€questions€of€public€order€in€the€context€of€articleŠ Š!   Š111.Š ¹" ! ŠĢ114.€€The€radio€and€television€enterprise€was€not€a€state€monopoly€but€was€under€a€separateŠ ‹$Ū# Šbroadcasting€authority,€with€a€legal€entity,€which€licensed€newscasters€to€collect€and€broadcastŠ t%Ä $ Šinformation.€€A€commission,€comprised€of€judges€and€other€individuals,€controlled€the€objectivityŠ ]&­!% Šof€radio€and€television€broadcasts,€but€its€decision€could€be€appealed.€€The€Government€wasŠ F'–"& Šcurrently€redrafting€the€anti„monopoly€and€anti„trust€laws€in€general,€with€a€special€section€relatingŠ /(#' Što€the€mass€media.€€The€guidelines€for€granting€subsidies€to€newspapers€were€not€available,€but€itŠ )h$( Šwas€clear€that€the€Government€had€no€influence€on€the€editorial€policy€of€new€papers€receiving€suchŠ *Q%) Šsubsidies.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ115.€€As€regards€article€188€of€the€Criminal€Code,€the€representative€shared€the€view€that€theŠ ¼, (, Šprovisions€relating€to€blasphemy€were€obsolete,€but€noted€that€they€had€been€designed€to€defendŠ „-õ(- Špublic€order€and€tolerance€among€different€religious€groups.€€Article€188€would€come€into€play€inŠ ° Šthe€case€of€public€Ō_ŌbehaviourŌ_Ō€causing€justifiable€annoyance€and€serious€irritation€to€members€of€aŠ ™é Šparticular€religious€group,€and€the€article€was€not€inconsistent€with€article€19,€paragraph€3,€of€theŠ ‚Ņ ŠCovenant.€€In€the€Ō_ŌLingensŌ_Ō€case,€the€European€Court€of€Human€Rights€had€ruled€that€a€distinctionŠ k» Šwould€have€to€be€drawn€between€the€substance€of€information€and€opinion,€which€might€be€shockingŠ T¤ Šand€offensive,€and€the€form€in€which€such€€information€or€opinion€was€expressed.€€Thus,€forŠ =  Šexample,€ņņThe€Satanic€Versesóó€would€be€protected€under€the€special€provision€for€freedom€of€the€artsŠ & v Šin€Austrian€legislation€and€article€188€of€the€Criminal€Code€would€be€interpreted€in€the€light€of€thatŠ  _ Šfreedom.€€On€the€question€of€elucidation€of€the€situation€of€persons€having€authority€over€others,€theŠ ų H Šrepresentative€explained€that€children€up€to€age€14€were,€as€far€as€religion€was€concerned,€under€theŠ į 1  Šauthority€of€their€parents.Š Ź   ŠĢņņFreedom€of€assembly€and€associationóóŠ œģ  ŠĢ116.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€wished€to€know€whether€any€meetings€had€been€brokenŠ n¾  Šup€by€the€authorities€during€the€period€under€review;€which€formations€had€been€prohibited€andŠ W§  Šwhich€associations€had€been€dissolved;€why€open„air€meetings€were€not€allowed;€and€why€aliensŠ @ Šwere€not€allowed€to€promote,€organize€or€preside€over€any€meetings€for€the€discussion€of€publicŠ )y Šaffairs.Š b ŠĢ117.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€noted€that€freedom€of€assembly€has€guaranteed€in€Austria€inŠ ä4 Šaccordance€with€article€21€of€the€Covenant€although€24€hoursšš€notice€had€to€be€given€to€theŠ Ķ Šauthorities.€€Recent€cases€of€meetings€being€broken€up€concerned€the€National€Socialist€Party€which,Š ¶ Šunder€constitutional€law,€was€forbidden€to€meet€in€Austria.€€Freedom€to€form€associations€wasŠ Ÿļ Šguaranteed€and€recent€Ō_ŌbanningsŌ_Ō€related€to€the€creation€of€neo„Nazi€groups€and€other€unconstitutionalŠ ˆŲ Šformations.€€Restrictions€on€foreigners€with€regard€to€the€holding€of€meetings€applied€only€to€theŠ qĮ Šcase€of€interference€in€public€affairs€and€were€consistent€with€article€16€of€the€European€ConventionŠ ZŖ Šon€Human€Rights.Š C“ ŠĢņņRights€of€persons€belonging€to€minoritiesóóŠ e ŠĢ118.€€Concerning€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€be€informed€of€factors€andŠ ē 7 Šdifficulties€relating€to€the€implementation€and€enjoyment€of€rights€under€article€27€of€the€Covenant;Š Š!   Šthe€composition,€functions€and€activities€of€the€Ethnic€Group€Advisory€Councils;€and€the€percentageŠ ¹" ! Šof€persons€belonging€to€minorities€who€held€public€office.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ119.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€said€that€Austria€had€not€experienced€difficulties€in€that€regardŠ t%Ä $ Šsince€the€provisions€of€the€State€Treaty€of€1955€went€well€beyond€those€of€article€27.€€As€90€per€centŠ ]&­!% Šof€Austriaššs€citizens€were€Roman€Catholic,€religious€minorities€formed€only€a€small€proportion€ofŠ F'–"& Šthe€population€and€encountered€no€restrictions€in€the€profession€and€practice€of€their€own€religion.€Š /(#' ŠThe€Government€had€completed€a€report€on€ethnic€minorities€and€would€make€it€available€in€EnglishŠ )h$( Šin€due€course.€€The€Ethnic€Group€Advisory€Councils€advised€the€Federal€Government€and€itsŠ *Q%) Šministers€in€matters€concerning€ethnic€groups€and€sought€to€safeguard€and€represent€the€overallŠ ź*:&* Šcultural,€social€and€economic€interests€of€the€minorities.€€They€were€involved€in€the€drafting€of€anyŠ Ó+#'+ Šrelevant€legal€instruments€and€were€empowered€to€make€proposals€for€improvement.€€The€AdvisoryŠ ¼, (, ŠCouncils€had€the€same€position,€functions€and€competence€with€regard€to€the€governments€of€theŠ „-õ(- ŠņņŌ_ŌLnderŌ_Ōóó.€€There€were€four€ethnic€groups€living€in€Austria€„€Ō_ŌSloveniansŌ_Ō,€Croatians,€Hungarians€andŠ ° ŠCzechs.€€Financial€subsidies€were€being€granted€to€ethnic€minorities€and€the€amount€of€suchŠ ™é Šsubsidies€had€been€increasing.€€It€had€not€been€possible€to€determine€the€percentage€of€personsŠ ‚Ņ Šbelonging€to€minorities€in€public€office€as€they€were€hard€to€identify.€€Only€those€who€claimedŠ k» Šaffiliation€with€a€given€ethnic€group€were€considered€as€belonging€to€that€minority€group€and€theyŠ T¤ Šwere€small€in€number.Š =  ŠĢņņConcluding€observations€by€individual€membersóóŠ  _ ŠĢ120.€€Members€of€the€Committee€expressed€warm€appreciation€for€the€high€quality€of€the€report,Š į 1  Šwhich€was€informative€and€straightforward.€€They€also€welcomed€the€candor€and€competence€of€theŠ Ź   ŠState€party€€representatives€in€answering€the€Committeeššs€questions,€which€had€made€for€a€usefulŠ ³  Šand€constructive€dialogue.Š œģ  ŠĢ121.€€While€recognizing€Austriaššs€traditions€and€the€Governmentššs€efforts€to€promote€respect€forŠ n¾  Šhuman€rights,€members€expressed€continuing€concern€about€a€number€of€areas€where,€in€their€view,Š W§  Šfurther€improvements€were€needed.€€One€such€concern€related€to€the€status€of€the€Covenant€inŠ @ Šrelation€to€Austrian€law.€€It€was€noted€in€particular€that,€as€far€as€grounds€for€discrimination€wereŠ )y Šconcerned,€Austrian€law€was€not€in€complete€conformity€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€€TheŠ b Šincorporation€of€at€least€articles€26€and€27€of€the€Covenant€into€domestic€law€was€suggested€as€oneŠ ūK Špossible€remedy€in€that€connection.€€A€related€concern€was€the€list€of€Austrian€reservations€to€theŠ ä4 ŠCovenant,€which€members€urged€the€State€party€to€reduce.Š Ķ ŠĢ122.€€Other€concerns€raised€by€members€related€to€such€matters€as€the€independence€of€theŠ Ÿļ Šadministrative€courts;€the€inadequacy€of€protection€extended€to€detainees€at€the€interrogation€stage;Š ˆŲ Šthe€impartiality€of€the€mechanisms€for€investigating€cases€involving€alleged€torture€and€ill„treatmentŠ qĮ Šby€the€police;€the€monopolistic€character€of€the€electronic€media;€and€restrictions€on€speech€underŠ ZŖ Šarticle€111€of€the€Criminal€Code,€as€well€as€the€freedom€to€impart€information.Š C“ ŠĢ123.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€said€the€dialogue€had€been€extremely€interesting€andŠ e Šthanked€the€Committee€for€the€warm€welcome€it€had€accorded€to€his€delegation.Š žN ŠĢ124.€€In€concluding€the€consideration€of€the€second€periodic€report€of€Austria,€the€Chairman€thankedŠ Š!   Šthe€delegation€for€its€responses€to€the€Committeeššs€questions€on€an€excellent€report€and€requestedŠ ¹" ! Šthe€delegation€to€convey€the€Committeeššs€views€to€the€competent€authorities.Š ¢#ņ" ŠŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ ŠĢĢĢņ ņŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō€€A/54/40€(1999)ó óŠ /(#' ŠĢĢ178.€€The€Committee€considered€the€third€periodic€report€of€Austria€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/83/Add.3)€at€itsŠ ė*;&* Š1718th€and€1719ņņthóó€meetings€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.1718-1719),€held€on€30€October€1998,€and€adopted€theŠ Ō+$'+ Šfollowing€concluding€observations€at€its€1726th€meeting€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.1726),€held€on€5€NovemberŠ ½, (, Š1998.€Š ¦-ö(- Ї1.€ņņIntroductionóóŠ ° ŠĢŌ_Ō179.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€detailed€report€submitted€by€the€State€party€and€expresses€itsŠ ‚Ņ Šappreciation€for€the€clear,€updated€information€provided€orally€by€the€delegation.€While€noting€theŠ k» Šhigh€quality€of€the€report€of€the€State€party,€the€Committee€notes€the€considerable€delay€in€itsŠ T¤ Šsubmission;€the€report€would€have€been€improved€by€the€inclusion€of€quantitative€and€practical€data,Š =  Šalthough€the€delegation€provided€such€additional€information.€Š & v ŠĢ2.€ņņPositive€factorsóóŠ ų H ŠĢ180.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€ratification€by€Austria€of€the€Second€Optional€Protocol€to€theŠ Ź   ŠCovenant€with€effect€from€2€June€1998.€Š ³  ŠĢ181.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€withdrawal€by€Austria€of€some€of€its€reservations€to€theŠ …Õ  ŠCovenant;€it€would€have€been€appreciated€if€the€reasons€for€these€withdrawals€and€the€precise€natureŠ n¾  Šof€their€effect,€as€well€as€the€reasons€for€the€maintenance€of€the€remaining€reservations,€had€beenŠ W§  Šmore€clearly€explained.€Š @ ŠĢ182.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€recent€constitutional€and€legislative€changes€aimed€at€improvedŠ b Šprotection€against€discrimination;€legislation€to€promote€the€rights€and€prospects€of€disabled€personsŠ ūK Šis€also€welcomed.€The€admission€of€women€to€the€armed€forces€and€their€advancement€in€the€CivilŠ ä4 ŠService€is€appreciated.€Š Ķ ŠĢ183.€€The€Committee€also€welcomes€the€end€to€the€monopoly€on€radio€broadcasting€and€theŠ Ÿļ Šestablishment€of€private€radio€stations€in€Austria.€Š ˆŲ ŠĢ3.€ņņPrincipal€subjects€of€concern€and€recommendationsóóŠ ZŖ ŠĢ184.€€While€noting€that€the€European€Convention€for€the€Protection€of€Human€Rights€andŠ ,| ŠFundamental€Freedoms€has€been€incorporated€into€the€Austrian€Constitution,€the€CommitteeŠ e Šemphasizes€that€a€number€of€articles€of€the€Covenant€exceed€the€scope€of€the€provisions€of€theŠ žN ŠEuropean€Convention.€The€Committee,€therefore,€recommends€that€the€State€party€ensure€that€allŠ ē 7 Šrights€protected€under€the€Covenant€are€given€effect€in€Austrian€law.€Š Š!   ŠĢ185.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€State€party's€clear€intention€not€to€adopt€appropriateŠ ¢#ņ" Šprocedures€for€taking€into€account€the€Committee's€Views€under€the€Optional€Protocol€in€accordanceŠ ‹$Ū# Šwith€its€obligations€under€article€2€of€the€Covenant.€Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ186.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€there€is€no€provision€in€the€Code€of€Criminal€ProcedureŠ F'–"& Šwhereby€a€statement€by€way€of€confession€must,€if€challenged,€be€proved€not€to€have€been€extractedŠ /(#' Šby€means€of€torture€or€ill-treatment.€The€Committee€recommends€that€steps€be€taken€to€amend€theŠ )h$( ŠCode€of€Criminal€Procedure€in€this€regard.€Š *Q%) ŠĢ187.€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€the€presence€of€a€lawyer€to€advise€a€detained€personŠ Ó+#'+ Šis€not€authorized€at€the€preliminary€stage€of€judicial€criminal€investigation€(prior€to€the€person'sŠ ¼, (, Šappearance€before€a€judge).€It€recommends€that€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure€be€revised€so€as€toŠ „-õ(- Šguarantee€more€fully€the€right€of€a€suspect€to€be€assisted€by€a€lawyer€at€all€stages€of€the€proceedings.Š ° ŠFurther,€while€commending€the€efforts€undertaken€by€the€State€party€to€prevent,€investigate€andŠ ™é Špunish€acts€of€ill-treatment€of€suspects€and€detainees,€the€Committee€regrets€that€audio€recordingŠ ‚Ņ Šof€interrogations€of€detainees€is€not€yet€used€systematically.€The€Committee€recommends€that€audioŠ k» Šrecording€of€interrogations€be€implemented€in€all€Lnder.€Š T¤ ŠĢ188.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€certain€features€of€Austrian€law€and€procedure€concerningŠ & v Šasylum€seekers€and€immigrants.€These€concerns€relate€to€(a)€apparently€insufficient€legal€guaranteesŠ  _ Što€prevent€deportation€in€cases€where€there€is€a€risk€of€treatment€that€would€violate€article€7;€(b)€theŠ ų H Štreatment€of€persons€against€whom€there€is€a€deportation€decision€but€who€remain€in€the€country,Š į 1  Šraising€issues€under€articles€7,€10€and€16;€and€(c)€sanctions€against€passenger€carriers€and€otherŠ Ź   Špre-frontier€arrangements€that€may€affect€the€rights€of€any€person€to€leave€any€country,€includingŠ ³  Šhis€or€her€own€(art.€12,€para.€2,€of€the€Covenant).€Š œģ  ŠĢ189.€€The€Committee€considers€that,€despite€recent€reforms,€the€nature€and€functions€of€theŠ n¾  Šautonomous€administrative€tribunals€continue€to€raise€questions€in€connection€with€the€requirementsŠ W§  Šof€"due€process"€under€article€14€of€the€Covenant.€It€encourages€the€State€party€fully€to€implementŠ @ Šthe€principle€of€independence€of€all€courts€and€tribunals.€Š )y ŠĢ190.€€The€Committee€considers€that€existing€legislation€on€the€minimum€age€of€consent€for€sexualŠ ūK Šrelations€in€respect€of€male€homosexuals€is€discriminatory€on€the€grounds€of€sex€and€sexualŠ ä4 Šorientation.€It€requests€that€the€law€be€revised€to€remove€such€discriminatory€provisions.€Š Ķ ŠĢ191.€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€the€State€party€appears€to€restrict€the€definition€ofŠ Ÿļ Šminorities€to€certain€legally€recognized€groups.€It€requests€that€specific€information€on€all€ethnic,Š ˆŲ Šreligious€or€linguistic€minorities€be€included€in€Austria's€next€periodic€report,€in€the€light€of€theŠ qĮ ŠCommittee's€general€comment€No.€23€(50).€Š ZŖ ŠĢ192.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€legal€provisions€in€Austria€relating€to€the€recognition€ofŠ ,| Šreligions€and€the€benefits€accorded€to€recognized€religions€may€result€in€discrimination€contrary€toŠ e Šarticles€18€and€26€of€the€Covenant.€Š žN ŠĢ193.€€The€Committee€would€appreciate€information€in€the€next€periodic€report€about€the€applicationŠ Š!   Šand€effect€of€article€283€of€the€Criminal€Code,€concerning€propaganda€and€incitement€to€war€andŠ ¹" ! Što€national,€racial€or€religious€hatred.€Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ194.€€The€Committee€requests€that€in€its€next€periodic€report€the€State€party€provide€furtherŠ t%Ä $ Šinformation€about€measures€being€implemented€to€counter€all€forms€of€violence€against€women.€Š ]&­!% ŠĢ195.€€The€Committee€requests€that€the€State€party€address€the€Committee's€concerns€andŠ /(#' Šrecommendations€in€detail€in€its€next€periodic€report.€Š )h$( ŠĢ196.€€The€Committee€sets€the€date€for€the€submission€of€Austria's€fourth€periodic€report€at€OctoberŠ ź*:&* Š2002.€It€requests€that€the€text€of€the€State€party's€third€periodic€report€and€the€present€concludingŠ Ó+#'+ Šobservations€be€published€and€widely€disseminated€within€Austria€and€that€the€next€periodic€reportŠ ¼, (, Šbe€disseminated€among€non-governmental€organizations€operating€in€Austria.€Š „-õ(- Š