ÿWPC[ Tiq¨Gþë¿W1‡+öb°AÈÒ=¼5ãºõWL¯™Ä(&s‰kJÏt$ïP¼l ¦!”ñóº4¹žü˜á°\ ­vþk'‡^]Æ…À~ý~îqm9Ö£ù íb¥$;\r¹OwðË4,Þ9 ‚ æ9ÆwÉ¡íòZÏ»HªÝϯ+–Q\ Ä¿ŒÃLïB®¥ûI*¹ Î!„fEí„V•È´¼ÅKƒoÕã ¶1íýï¥êV»úÛeƒþOïí£·3·ª‹:ì|ÄæÓAz6ùï{á§+¿ÌÇØÒÀ927YËwÙá&sóN8), ŒöHì¬q &òÙË è¶g&Ù‰4úúŸ¸Ù4³;aúz´FVp·ÑÇ%‡®³8—Xéãq4tÿp«^ÙÑ¿öDnv`jqðÞ<ö…ÀeMá3‹ýtü7á®±Ñ=qÈI›àÎùN{¨ â‚2dЯ@ÊÙå²á;ÁsIÉ_ çrã†WYÂJþßÝâÄÈÈGù ,«fª"v×òNå°‡Qîç1—ó…†'J4‰Ó¦¬MõE;ã½îômº,ÄÞJÒ «jÎÒèn çœÏÍØ(ë·—wc»%жÕ4„ÝI›ª¼ò~¾mÕÇ #Á¶UNw %Å 0:Ë^ w4)8 m:QNY˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÙØÙÙØÈÙ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô—\, ½ha+ê:i¢Ø+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡¼uè»XXÔò òÓ  ÓBELGIUMó óÔ#†X?æX»¼uè=#ÔÐ ° ÐÓ_ÓÓÓÌÌò òÔ_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô€A/43/40€(1988)Ð “ã ÐÌÌó ó461.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Belgium€(Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/31/Add.3)€at€its€815òòthóó,€816òòthóó,Ð Q ¡ Ð821òòstóó€and€822òòndóó€meetings,€held€on€12€and€15€July€1988€(Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/SR.815€and€816,€821€and€822).Ð : Š ÐÌ462.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party€who,€underscoring€the€longÐ  \  Ðnational€tradition€of€respect€for€human€rights,€stated€that€an€extensive€campaign€to€disseminate€theÐ õ E  Ðtext€of€the€Covenant€in€several€languages€had€been€conducted€prior€to€its€ratification€by€Belgium€onÐ Þ.  Ðthe€occasion€of€the€thirtieth€anniversary€of€the€Universal€Declaration€of€Human€Rights.€€ThatÐ Ç  Ðtradition€had€been€further€strengthened€by€the€increasingly€important€role€played€by€the€right€ofÐ °  Ðindividual€recourse€to€the€organs€set€up€by€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights.€€HeÐ ™é  Ðemphasized€that€his€Government€intended€to€ratify€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€InternationalÐ ‚Ò  ÐCovenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€and€make€the€declaration€provided€for€in€article€14€of€theÐ k» ÐInternational€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination.Ð T¤ ÐÌ463.€€The€representative€then€referred€to€certain€legislation€in€force€when€the€report€had€beenÐ &v Ðdrafted.€€He€described€the€relevant€provisions€relating€to€compensation€for€unlawful€arrest€orÐ _ Ðdetention,€religious€freedom€and€the€protection€of€ideological€and€philosophical€minorities.€€InÐ øH Ðconnection€with€the€latter,€he€drew€particular€attention€to€the€most€recent€report€of€the€NationalÐ á1 ÐCommission€of€the€Cultural€Pact€containing€statistical€information€on€the€complaints€lodgedÐ Ê Ðconcerning€violations€of€the€law€known€s€the€ð ðCultural€Pactðð.Ð ³ ÐÌ464.€€With€regard€to€new€developments€which€had€occurred€since€the€report€had€been€drafted,€theÐ …Õ Ðrepresentative€outlined€the€reforms€being€undertaken€at€the€level€of€each€community€in€respect€ofÐ n¾ Ðthe€legal€protection€of€young€people.€€Similarly,€he€drew€attention€to€the€Act€of€14€July€1987€relatingÐ W§ Ðto€the€procedure€for€recognition€of€the€status€of€political€refugees€which,€òòinter€aliaóó,€had€extended€theÐ @ Ðscope€of€activities€of€the€General€Commission€on€Refugees€and€Stateless€Persons.€€Lastly,€heÐ ) y Ðreferred€to€the€reform€of€the€law€on€filiation,€the€main€object€of€which€was€to€abolish€any€hierarchyÐ !b Ðand€any€discrimination€among€Ô_ÔfiliationsÔ_Ô,€and€which€had€been€carried€out€by€adoption€of€the€Act€ofÐ û!K  Ð31€March€1987.Ð ä"4! ÐÌ465.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€welcomed€the€report,€which€contained€much€information€andÐ ¶$ # Ðhad€been€drafted€strictly€in€conformity€with€the€Committeeððs€general€guidelines€on€the€form€andÐ Ÿ%ï $ Ðcontent€of€reports.€€They€also€expressed€particular€satisfaction€at€the€information€furnished€by€theÐ ˆ&Ø!% Ðrepresentative€of€Belgium€in€his€introductory€statement.€€They€considered,€however,€that€the€reportÐ q'Á"& Ðcould€have€laid€greater€stress€on€the€factors€and,€possibly,€the€difficulties€affecting€theÐ Z(ª#' Ðimplementation€of€the€Covenant€and€particularly€those€stemming€from€the€countryððs€multi„ethnicÐ C)“$( Ðand€multi„cultural€character.€€They€also€wished€to€have€additional€information€on€any€difficultiesÐ ,*|%) Ðthat€might€have€been€experienced€by€Belgium€in€respect€of€its€obligation€to€submit€reports€under€theÐ +e&* Ðvarious€international€human€rights€instruments€ratified€by€it,€and€more€particularly€the€Covenant,Ð þ+N'+ Ðas€well€as€on€the€way€their€preparation€was€organized€in€Belgium.€€Finally,€members€pointed€out€thatÐ ç,7(, Ðthe€general€comments€adopted€by€the€Committee€had€not€given€rise€to€sufficient€observations€in€theÐ Ð- )- ÐÔ_Ôreport.Ð ° ÐÌ466.€€Referring€to€article€1€of€the€Covenant,€members€wished€to€have€information€on€BelgiumððsÐ ‚Ò Ðposition€in€respect€of€òòapartheidóó€and€the€right€of€the€peoples€of€Namibia€and€Palestine€to€self„Ð k» Ðdetermination.€€In€that€regard€it€was€asked€whether€economic€sanctions€had€been€adopted€againstÐ T¤ Ðthe€South€African€òòapartheidóó€Ô_ÔrgimeÔ_Ô.Ð =  ÐÌ467.€€With€regard€to€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€receiveÐ  _ Ðadditional€information€on€the€prohibition€of€discrimination€on€grounds€of€race€and€language.€€InÐ ø H Ðparticular,€they€inquired€about€the€respective€spheres€of€competence€of€the€communities€and€regionsÐ á 1  Ðin€Belgium€and€the€exact€status,€composition€and€powers€of€the€National€Commission€of€the€CulturalÐ Ê   ÐPact.€€Moreover,€noting€that€Belgium€had€many€foreigners€on€its€territory,€particularly€migrantÐ ³  Ðworkers,€they€inquired€to€what€extent€the€principle€of€equality€before€the€law,€defined€in€article€26Ð œì  Ðof€the€Covenant,€was€guaranteed€to€them€and€what€the€exceptional€cases,€referred€to€in€article€128Ð …Õ  Ðof€the€Constitution€were,€in€which€they€did€not€enjoy€the€same€rights€as€nationals.€€Further,€membersÐ n¾  Ðwondered€whether€the€distinction€drawn€between€foreign€minors€and€Belgian€minors€in€theÐ W§  Ðimplementation€of€the€law€providing€for€the€social€and€judicial€protection€of€young€persons€mightÐ @ Ðnot€lead€to€discrimination.€€Lastly,€clarification€was€sought€as€to€the€representation€of€the€variousÐ )y Ðideological€and€philosophical€trends€in€the€composition€of€the€management€or€administration€ofÐ b Ðcultural€institutions,€services€and€facilities.Ð ûK ÐÌ468.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€also€wished€to€have€more€detailed€information€on€the€legalÐ Í Ðstatus€of€the€international€instruments,€relating€to€human€rights,€and€more€especially€the€Covenant,Ð ¶ Ðin€Belgian€internal€law.€€In€particular,€they€inquired€about€the€place€occupied€by€the€Covenant€withinÐ Ÿï Ðthe€Belgian€legal€order€and€asked€whether€there€was€a€system€to€monitor€the€constitutionality€of€lawsÐ ˆØ Ðand€which€authorities€were€competent€to€interpret€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and€settle€anyÐ qÁ Ðconflicts€between€them€and€the€provisions€of€internal€law.€€Noting€a€divergence€of€opinion€betweenÐ Zª Ðthe€Court€of€Cassation,€on€the€one€hand,€and€the€Government€and€the€Council€of€State,€on€the€other,Ð C“ Ðthey€inquired€whether€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€were€directly€applicable.€€Moreover,€membersÐ ,| Ðindicated€their€concern€about€the€apparent€difference€in€status€between€the€Covenant€and€theÐ e ÐEuropean€Convention€on€Human€Rights,€and€requested€additional€information€on€the€reservationÐ þN Ðdeposited€at€the€time€of€ratification,€whereby€articles€19,€21,€and€22€of€the€Covenant€were€appliedÐ ç 7 Ðin€conformity€with€articles€10€and€11€of€the€European€Convention.€€In€addition,€it€was€asked€whatÐ Ð!   Ðthe€limitations€on€the€competence€of€the€courts€were€in€cases€of€a€political€nature,€whether€theÐ ¹" ! Ðspecial€Ô_ÔrgimeÔ_Ô€for€ministers€mentioned€in€articles€90€and€134€of€the€Constitution€applied€only€toÐ ¢#ò" Ðquestions€of€impeachment,€or€whether€it€afforded€wider€protection€for€ministers€against€legalÐ ‹$Û# Ðproceedings,€what€the€dividing€line€was€between€civil€and€political€rights€and€whether€there€wereÐ t%Ä $ Ðany€administrative€decisions€which€could€not€be€contested€before€a€court.€€Lastly,€it€was€askedÐ ]&­!% Ðwhether€measures€had€been€taken€to€give€wide€publicity€in€all€official€languages€to€the€provisionsÐ F'–"& Ðof€the€Covenant€in€schools€and€universities€and€to€the€police.Ð /(#' ÐÌ469.€€With€reference€to€article€3€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€haveÐ *Q%) Ðstatistical€information€on€the€proportion€of€women€in€the€main€institutions€of€the€State.€€QuestionsÐ ê*:&* Ðwere€also€raised€regarding€the€scope€of€application€of€the€limitation€provided€in€respect€ofÐ Ó+#'+ Ðemployment€in€educational€establishments€and€the€practical€consequences€of€the€withdrawal€byÐ ¼, (, ÐBelgium€of€one€of€its€reservations€to€the€Convention€on€the€Political€Rights€of€Women.€€It€was€alsoÐ ¥-õ(- Ðasked€whether€an€amendment€of€the€constitutional€provision€restricting€the€exercise€of€royal€powersÐ ° Ðto€men,€which€had€Ô_ÔhadÔ_Ô€led€Belgium€to€enter€a€reservation€to€that€provision€of€the€Covenant,€wasÐ ™é Ðenvisaged.Ð ‚Ò ÐÌ470.€€With€regard€to€article€4€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€inquired€why,€in€time€ofÐ T¤ Ðwar,€aliens€could€be€removed€from€certain€places€even€if€they€were€not€nationals€of€an€enemyÐ =  Ðcountry.Ð & v ÐÌ471.€€With€reference€to€article€6€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€whyÐ ø H ÐBelgian€legislation,€under€which€a€minor€over€the€age€of€16€could€incur€the€death€penalty,€had€notÐ á 1  Ðbeen€brought€into€line€with€the€Covenant€and€how€often€the€death€penalty€provided€for€in€theÐ Ê   ÐMilitary€Penal€Code€had€been€carried€out.€€Observing€that€the€death€penalty€was€in€fact€not€applied,Ð ³  Ða€member€asked€why€capital€punishment€had€not€been€abolished.€€Referring€to€general€commentsÐ œì  ÐNos.€6€(16)€and€14€(23)€of€the€Committee,€members€also€wished€to€receive€additional€informationÐ …Õ  Ðregarding€the€measures€taken€by€the€Government€in€order€to€reduce€infant€mortality,€increase€lifeÐ n¾  Ðexpectancy€and€combat€malnutrition€and€epidemics.Ð W§  ÐÌ472.€€In€connection€with€articles€7€and€10€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€asked€whatÐ )y Ðremedies€were€available€to€persons€claiming€that€they€were€tortured,€whether€provision€was€madeÐ b Ðin€Belgian€legislation€to€ensure€that€any€statement€obtained€under€torture€was€not€used€as€evidenceÐ ûK Ðin€any€proceedings€and€how€many€police€officers,€prison€warders€and€other€public€officials€had€beenÐ ä4 Ðcharged€and€convicted€for€the€physical€torture€of€a€person.€€More€detailed€information€was€alsoÐ Í Ðrequested€on€the€treatment€of€transsexuals,€the€implicit€permission€for€organ€transplants€given€byÐ ¶ Ðthe€donor€or€his€family€and€the€situation€of€the€patient€in€the€context€of€psychiatric€treatment€andÐ Ÿï Ðmedical€experiments.€€It€was€also€asked€what€the€functions€and€composition€of€the€administrativeÐ ˆØ Ðcommissions€attached€to€each€prison€establishment€were,€what€the€conditions€of€detention€for€minorsÐ qÁ Ðwere€and,€in€particular,€whether€they€were€held€separately€from€adults,€why€there€was€no€totalÐ Zª Ðseparation€between€Ô_ÔunconvictedÔ_Ô€persons€and€convicted€persons,€whether€Belgium€had€problems€ofÐ C“ Ðover„population€in€prisons,€how€soon€the€family€of€the€accused€was€informed€in€case€of€a€prohibitionÐ ,| Ðon€communication€and€whether€the€conditions€governing€life€imprisonment€varied€depending€onÐ e Ðwhether€it€was€handed€down€directly€by€the€courts€or€resulted€from€the€commutation€of€the€deathÐ þN Ðpenalty€handed€down€by€a€civil€or€military€court.Ð ç 7 ÐÌ473.€€With€regard€to€article€9€of€the€covenant,€additional€information€was€requested€on€the€Ô_ÔrecoursesÔ_ÔÐ ¹" ! Ðavailable€to€persons€deprived€of€their€freedom,€the€system€of€release€on€security,€particularly€in€theÐ ¢#ò" Ðcase€of€security€paid€by€a€third€person,€the€maximum€duration€of€pre„trial€detention,€the€averageÐ ‹$Û# Ðtime„span€between€the€arrest€of€an€accused€person€and€his€trial€at€first€instance€and€the€reasons€whyÐ t%Ä $ Ða€person€committed€for€trial€might€not€communicate€with€his€counsel€before€the€first€hearing.€Ð ]&­!% ÐLastly,€further€information€was€sought€on€the€other€types€of€deprivation€of€liberty€mentioned€in€theÐ F'–"& Ðreport€such€as€administrative€detention€or€custody.Ð /(#' ÐÌ474.€€With€regard€to€article€11€of€the€Covenant,€additional€information€was€requested€onÐ *Q%) Ðimprisonment€for€debt€under€Belgian€law.Ð ê*:&* ÐÌ475.€€With€reference€to€article€12€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€asked€what€theÐ ¼, (, Ðsituation€was€in€respect€of€the€status€of€aliens€in€Belgium€and€what€problems€and€difficulties€hadÐ ¥-õ(- Ðarisen€in€practice.€€In€particular,€further€information€was€sough€as€to€whether€it€was€possible€toÐ ° Ðderogate€from€the€right€of€an€alien€freely€to€choose€his€residence€and€it€was€asked€whether€any€suchÐ ™é Ðprovisions€fell€within€the€framework€of€the€exceptions€listed€in€article€12,€paragraph€3.Ð ‚Ò ÐÌ476.€€With€regard€to€article€13€of€the€Covenant,€concern€was€expressed€over€the€recent€expulsionÐ T¤ Ðof€foreigners€of€Asian€origin€and,€in€that€connection,€it€was€asked€what€provisions€had€been€madeÐ =  Ðfor€appeal€against€such€decisions.Ð & v ÐÌ477.€€With€respect€to€article€14€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€secure€moreÐ ø H Ðinformation€about€the€representation€of€the€three€Belgian€linguistic€communities€in€the€Court€ofÐ á 1  ÐCassation,€the€organization€of€the€bar,€the€system€of€legal€aid,€the€circumstances€and€conditions€inÐ Ê   Ðwhich€a€judge€might€be€dismissed€or€suspended,€the€system€of€remuneration€of€judges,€the€procedureÐ ³  Ðapplicable€to€minors€and,€particularly,€the€period€of€time€during€which€provisional€measures€mightÐ œì  Ðbe€taken€before€the€hearing€by€the€childrenððs€judge.€€Lastly,€one€member€pointed€out€that€the€termÐ …Õ  Ðð ðproof€of€innocenceðð€used€in€the€Act€of€20€April€1974€seemed€to€be€incompatible€with€the€principleÐ n¾  Ðof€presumption€of€innocence€provided€for€under€the€Covenant.Ð W§  ÐÌ478.€€Regarding€article€16€of€the€Covenant,€further€information€was€sought€concerning€the€procedureÐ )y Ðof€ð ðjudicial€interdictionðð€mentioned€in€the€report.Ð b ÐÌ479.€€With€regard€to€article€17€of€the€Covenant,€the€members€pointed€out€that€the€Committee€hadÐ ä4 Ðadopted€general€comment€No.€16€(32)€at€its€thirty„second€session.€€In€that€connection,€they€askedÐ Í Ðwhat€interpretation€was€given€by€Belgium€to€the€terms€ð ðfamilyðð€and€ð ðdomicileðð,€what€BelgiumððsÐ ¶ Ðpractice€was€in€respect€of€the€automatic€processing€of€personal€data€and€what€rights€individuals€hadÐ Ÿï Ðin€that€regard,€whether€individual€petitions€had€been€brought€and€what€their€consequences€had€been.€Ð ˆØ ÐAdditional€information€was€also€requested€on€the€suppression€of€telegraph€and€telephoneÐ qÁ Ðcommunications€and€on€the€difference€of€treatment€that€appeared€to€exist€between€Belgian€minorsÐ Zª Ðand€foreign€minors€in€the€protection€of€their€private€life.Ð C“ ÐÌ480.€€In€relation€to€article€18€of€the€Covenant,€members€wished€to€receive€additional€informationÐ e Ðconcerning€the€religious€denominations€recognized€in€Belgium,€the€rights€enjoyed€by€non„Ð þN Ðrecognized€denominations€and€the€criterion€of€national€interest€on€which€the€granting€of€legalÐ ç 7 Ðrecognition€was€based.€€One€member€also€inquired€about€the€situation€of€conscientious€objectorsÐ Ð!   Ðwith€regard€to€access€to€civil€service€posts€and€asked€whether€compulsory€voting€was€compatibleÐ ¹" ! Ðwith€article€18,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant.Ð ¢#ò" ÐÌ481.€€With€reference€to€article€19€of€the€Covenant,€some€members€asked€whether€Belgium€hadÐ t%Ä $ Ðenacted€legislation€concerning€the€dissemination€of€information€by€the€authorities.Ð ]&­!% ÐÌ482.€€With€reference€to€articles€21€and€22€of€the€Covenant,€some€members€asked€for€furtherÐ /(#' Ðparticulars€concerning€the€restrictions€applied€to€public€open„air€meetings.€€They€also€asked€whetherÐ )h$( Ðaction€had€been€taken€to€give€effect€to€the€recommendations€of€the€International€Ô_ÔLabourÔ_ÔÐ *Q%) ÐOrganization€concerning€the€settlement€of€industrial€disputes,€and€whether€military€personnel€aloneÐ ê*:&* Ðwere€denied€the€right€to€strike.Ð Ó+#'+ ÐÌ483.€€With€reference€to€article€23€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€whether€the€amendments€made€inÐ ¥-õ(- Ðthe€legislation€concerning€descents€had€abolished€all€difference€of€treatment€between€children€bornÐ ° Ðout€of€wedlock€and€those€born€in€wedlock.€€It€was€wondered€why€active€members€of€the€police€forceÐ ™é Ðcould€not€contract€marriage€unless€previously€authorized€to€do€so€and€whether€there€were€any€otherÐ ‚Ò Ðexceptions€to€article€23€of€the€Covenant,€and€it€was€asked€what€the€Belgian€view€of€the€best€interestsÐ k» Ðof€the€child€was,€especially€where€they€might€be€held€to€conflict€with€the€interests€of€a€parent.Ð T¤ ÐÌ484.€€With€regard€to€article€25€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€to€what€extent€aliens,€and€moreÐ & v Ðspecifically€migrant€workers,€had€an€opportunity€of€participating€in€public€life.€€So€far€as€compulsoryÐ  _ Ðvoting€was€concerned€further€particulars€were€requested€concerning€penalties€applicable€to€citizensÐ ø H Ðwho€did€not€vote.Ð á 1  ÐÌ485.€€With€reference€to€article€27€of€the€Covenant,€the€members€regretted€that€the€subject€had€notÐ ³  Ðbeen€elaborated€more€fully€in€Belgiumððs€report.€€In€that€respect€they€asked,€òòinter€aliaóó,€for€particularsÐ œì  Ðconcerning€the€enjoyment€by€minorities€of€the€rights€guaranteed€by€the€Covenant,€the€effect€ofÐ …Õ  Ðlinguistic€differences€on€civil€and€political€rights,€and€the€meaning€of€the€terms€ð ðideological€andÐ n¾  Ðphilosophical€minoritiesðð€mentioned€in€article€6€(b)€of€the€Constitution.Ð W§  ÐÌ486.€€In€reply€to€questions€asked€by€members€of€the€Committee€concerning€difficulties€encounteredÐ )y Ðby€Belgium€in€preparing€its€initial€report,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€explained€that€changesÐ b Ðhad€occurred€in€some€of€the€services€concerned€and€that€in€addition,€because€the€task€was€a€novelÐ ûK Ðone,€the€officials€responsible€had€Ô_ÔhadÔ_Ô€to€change€their€methods€of€work.€€Furthermore,€the€report€hadÐ ä4 Ðbeen€drafted€in€co„operation€with€various€ministerial€departments€and€services,€including€thoseÐ Í Ðresponsible€for€justice€and€foreign€affairs,€with€the€consequence€that€the€process€had€taken€quite€aÐ ¶ Ðlong€time.€€Despite€the€difficulties€it€had€Ô_ÔhadÔ_Ô€to€contend€with,€the€Belgian€Government€stressed€thatÐ Ÿï Ðthe€system€of€submitting€reports€had€the€merit€of€encouraging€the€States€party€to€carry€out€a€kind€ofÐ ˆØ Ðexamination€of€conscience€demanded€by€the€international€community.€€Nevertheless,€theÐ qÁ ÐGovernment€hoped€that€the€forthcoming€meetings€of€presiding€officers€of€the€bodies€set€up€underÐ Zª Ðhuman€rights€instruments€would€consider€in€detail€measures€that€might€be€adopted€in€order€toÐ C“ Ðimprove€in€certain€respects€the€procedure€of€preparation€and€submission€of€reports€by€StateÐ ,| Ðauthorities.Ð e ÐÌ487.€€Referring€to€the€questions€concerning€his€countryððs€position€with€respect€to€òòapartheidóó€andÐ ç 7 Ðpeoplesðð€rights€to€self„determination,€the€representative€stressed€that€the€òòapartheidóó€policy€in€SouthÐ Ð!   ÐAfrica€was€in€utter€conflict€with€the€most€fundamental€human€rights.€€Nevertheless,€it€was€BelgiumððsÐ ¹" ! Ðconsistent€policy€to€decline€to€apply€comprehensive€economic€sanctions;€it€preferred€to€use,€as€aÐ ¢#ò" Ðpolitical€signal,€any€means€of€pressure€at€the€disposal€of€the€international€community.€€RegardingÐ ‹$Û# Ðthe€application€of€the€sanctions€ordered€by€the€United€Nations,€he€said€that€Belgiumððs€position€mightÐ t%Ä $ Ðchange€if€South€Africa€failed€to€heed€the€appeals€addressed€to€it.€€So€far€as€the€Namibian€andÐ ]&­!% ÐPalestinian€peoples€were€concerned,€he€said€that€Belgiumððs€position€was€based€on€Security€CouncilÐ F'–"& Ðresolutions€435€(1978)€and€on€the€Venice€Declaration€of€the€States€members€of€the€EuropeanÐ /(#' ÐCommunity,€respectively.Ð )h$( ÐÌ488.€€Regarding€the€problems€connected€with€discrimination€based€on€race€or€language,€he€referred,Ð ê*:&* Ðfirst,€to€the€various€reports€submitted€since€1978€to€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€RacialÐ Ó+#'+ ÐDiscrimination€and€explained€the€provisions€of€the€1981€Act€concerning€the€prevention€andÐ ¼, (, Ðpunishment€of€racist€and€xenophobic€agitation€and€utterances.€€With€regard€to€the€language€problemÐ ¥-õ(- Ðin€Belgium,€he€drew€attention€to€the€three€stages€in€the€process€of€institutional€reform.€€The€first€hadÐ ° Ðbeen€the€1970€Constitution€which€had€recognized€the€existence€of€cultural€communities,€languageÐ ™é Ðgroups€and€economic€regions:€French,€Dutch€and€German€regions€and€a€bilingual€region€forÐ ‚Ò ÐBrussels,€together€with€three€Ô_ÔsocioÔ_Ô„economic€regions€„€Walloon,€Flemish€and€for€Brussels€„€had€thusÐ k» Ðbeen€created.€€The€second€stage€had€been€the€1980€constitutional€reform€which€had€extended€theÐ T¤ Ðpowers€of€the€communities€and€established€a€court€of€arbitration€to€settle€conflicts€between€nationalÐ =  Ðlaws€and€community€or€regional€decrees.€€Following€a€prolonged€political€crisis,€a€new€adjustmentÐ & v Ðwas€under€discussion€furthering€the€above„mentioned€trends.€€Lastly,€with€regard€to€the€specialÐ  _ Ðstatus€of€the€eight€communes€along€the€language€frontier€between€the€Flemish€and€WalloonÐ ø H Ðcommunities,€he€drew€attention€to€the€significant€differences€in€the€concepts€of€law€of€the€Dutch„Ð á 1  Ðspeaking€and€French„speaking€communities.Ð Ê   ÐÌ489.€€In€reply€to€other€questions€concerning€equality€before€the€law€and€non„discrimination,€heÐ œì  Ðexplained€that€under€article€128€of€the€Constitution€there€were€certain€exceptions€to€the€equality€ofÐ …Õ  Ðtreatment€of€aliens€and€nationals.€€For€example,€only€certain€categories€of€alien€were€eligible€for€theÐ n¾  Ðbenefit€of€judicial€assistance,€and€only€non„profit„making€associations,€at€least€three€fifths€of€whoseÐ W§  Ðmembers€were€Belgians€or€aliens€entered€in€the€population€register€and€living€in€the€territory,€couldÐ @ Ðclaim€their€rights€and€obligations€with€respect€to€third€parties.€Similarly,€certain€restrictions€wereÐ )y Ðapplicable€with€respect€to€deprivation€of€liberty€and€the€right€to€vote€and€to€be€eligible€for€office.€Ð b ÐHe€added€that€there€was€a€possibility€of€discrimination€between€foreign€minors€and€Belgian€minors,Ð ûK Ðdepending€on€the€attitude€taken€by€the€courts.€€Some€judges€held€that€they€had€jurisdiction€withÐ ä4 Ðrespect€to€aliens€under€the€age€of€21€years€by€reason€of€their€personal€status,€whereas€others€appliedÐ Í Ðthe€legislation€concerning€the€protection€of€young€persons.€€This€discrimination€should€howeverÐ ¶ Ðdisappear,€for€parliament€was€considering€a€bill€that€would€fix€the€age€of€majority€at€18€years.Ð Ÿï ÐÌ490.€€In€reply€to€a€number€of€questions€concerning€the€status€of€the€Covenant€in€Belgian€law,€heÐ qÁ Ðexplained€that€traditionally€Belgian€doctrine€was€divided€into€two€opposing€schools€of€thought,Ð Zª Ðknown€respectively€as€the€Ô_ÔdualistÔ_Ô€and€the€monist€school.€€In€order€that€it€should€be€operative€inÐ C“ Ðdomestic€law€a€treaty€must€first€have€been€ð ðreceivedðð€according€to€a€specific€procedure€and€mustÐ ,| Ðhave€been€ratified€by€the€King.€€Having€been€ratified€and€having€been€published€in€the€òòÔ_ÔMoniteurÔ_ÔÐ e ÐÔ_ÔbelgeÔ_Ôóó,€the€Covenant€had€accordingly€become€part€of€Belgian€domestic€law.€€Nevertheless,€in€orderÐ þN Ðto€produce€its€effects€in€internal€law€a€treaty€must€furthermore€have€a€legal€object€and€its€provisionsÐ ç 7 Ðmust€be€directly€applicable.€€Since€the€Covenant€did€not€contain€any€provision€expressly€specifyingÐ Ð!   Ðthat€last€point,€it€was€for€the€court€to€determine€whether€a€rule€of€the€Covenant€produced€directÐ ¹" ! Ðeffects€for€the€benefit€of€individuals.€€It€was€in€keeping€with€that€attitude€that€on€17€January€1984Ð ¢#ò" Ðthe€Court€of€Cassation€had€ruled€that€article€9,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant€was€directly€applicable€„Ð ‹$Û# Ða€ruling€conflicting€with€the€view€of€the€Council€of€State€and€the€Government€of€the€time.€Ð t%Ä $ ÐFurthermore,€an€international€norm€producing€direct€effects€prevailed€over€rules€of€domestic€law,Ð ]&­!% Ðeven€those€enacted€subsequently.€€Referring€to€the€status€of€the€Covenant€and€of€the€EuropeanÐ F'–"& ÐConvention,€he€explained€that€neither€of€the€two€instruments€was€subordinate€to€the€other,€evenÐ /(#' Ðthough€the€public€and€practitioners€of€law€were€more€aware€of€the€European€instrument€because€itÐ )h$( Ðhad€been€ratified€earlier€and€provided€for€different€machinery.Ð *Q%) ÐÌ491.€€In€reply€to€other€questions€in€connection€with€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€he€gave€an€explanationÐ Ó+#'+ Ðconcerning€the€legislative€provisions€which€made€an€exception€regarding€the€institution€of€criminalÐ ¼, (, Ðproceedings€against€ministers.€€The€object€of€those€provisions€was€to€avoid€a€situation€in€whichÐ ¥-õ(- Ðministers€might€be€exposed€to€the€risk€of€large€numbers€of€judicial€proceedings€by€reason€of€theÐ ° Ðexercise€of€their€functions,€and€to€leave€it€to€the€highest€court€of€the€land€to€deal€with€problemsÐ ™é Ðrequiring€careful€consideration.€€The€provisions€had€only€rarely€been€applied.€€He€added€thatÐ ‚Ò Ðpenalties€other€than€removal€from€office€were€prescribed€by€the€Penal€Code,€that€the€demarcationÐ k» Ðbetween€civil€rights€and€political€rights€had€become€very€complex,€inasmuch€as€the€citizen€possessedÐ T¤ Ðmore€and€more€political€rights€as€a€beneficiary€of€services€provided€by€the€State,€that€the€CouncilÐ =  Ðof€State€issued€its€rulings€by€means€of€orders€on€applications€to€set€aside€acts€under€regulations€byÐ & v Ðthe€administrative€authorities,€that€the€Belgian€Government€had€taken€all€necessary€action€toÐ  _ Ðpublicize€information€relating€to€the€Covenant,€and€that€human€rights€were€given€great€prominenceÐ ø H Ðin€the€Ô_ÔprogrammesÔ_Ô€of€training€of€pupils,€students,€the€military,€the€gendarmerie€and€the€police.Ð á 1  ÐÌ492.€€In€reply€to€questions€in€connection€with€article€3€of€the€Covenant,€he€provided€a€large€numberÐ ³  Ðof€statistical€data€showing€the€increase€in€the€number€of€women€holding€responsible€posts€in€theÐ œì  Ðvarious€agencies€of€the€State.€€Regarding€State€establishments€of€supervised€education€andÐ …Õ  Ðobservation€Ô_ÔcentresÔ_Ô,€he€said€that€the€supervisory€personnel€had€to€be€of€the€same€sex€as€the€minorsÐ n¾  Ðentrusted€to€them.€€With€regard€to€the€withdrawal€of€a€reservation€made€by€Belgium€to€theÐ W§  ÐConvention€on€the€Political€Rights€of€Women,€he€said€that,€under€the€International€Ô_ÔLabourÔ_ÔÐ @ ÐConventions,€special€provisions€might€still€be€prescribed,€according€to€the€sex€of€the€personÐ )y Ðconcerned,€regarding€access€to€certain€jobs,€in€the€light€of€the€working€conditions.€€Lastly,€referringÐ b Ðto€the€prevision€debarring€women€from€acceding€to€the€throne,€he€explained€that€Ô_ÔthatÔ_Ô€was€one€of€theÐ ûK Ðprovisions€of€the€Constitution€proposed€to€be€amended€and€that€for€historic€reasons€questionsÐ ä4 Ðrelating€to€the€royal€family€had€always€been€very€delicate.Ð Í ÐÌ493.€€With€reference€to€article€4€of€the€Covenant,€he€explained€that€the€statutory€provisionsÐ Ÿï Ðconcerning€the€removal€of€aliens€in€time€of€war€dated€from€the€Second€World€War;€those€provisionsÐ ˆØ Ðwere€to€be€reviewed.Ð qÁ ÐÌ494.€€In€reply€to€questions€asked€by€members€concerning€article€6€of€the€Covenant,€he€explainedÐ C“ Ðthat,€as€the€death€penalty€was€no€longer€enforced€in€Belgium,€it€had€never€been€envisaged€to€repealÐ ,| Ðthe€provisions€under€which€a€minor€over€the€age€of€16€years€might€be€liable€to€that€penalty.€€Besides,Ð e Ðin€time€of€peace€the€death€penalty€was€invariably€commuted,€whether€the€person€concerned€was€aÐ þN Ðmember€of€the€armed€forces€or€a€civilian,€into€imprisonment€for€life.€€The€possible€ratification€ofÐ ç 7 ÐProtocol€No.€7€to€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights€concerning€the€abolition€of€the€deathÐ Ð!   Ðpenalty€was€under€consideration.€€That€was,€however,€a€delicate€question€since€the€authorities€wereÐ ¹" ! Ðfearful€of€reviving€a€dispute€which€was€no€longer€topical€and€which€might€have€unforeseenÐ ¢#ò" Ðrepercussions.Ð ‹$Û# ÐÌ495.€€In€reply€to€questions€asked€by€members€in€connection€with€articles€7€and€10€of€the€Covenant,Ð ]&­!% Ðhe€explained€that,€regarding€confessions€that€might€have€been€extracted€under€torture,€the€personÐ F'–"& Ðconcerned€could€withdraw€the€confession€at€any€time€and€that€the€judge€evaluated€the€situation€asÐ /(#' Ða€whole€according€to€his€conscience.€€So€far€as€the€authorities€were€aware,€only€one€or€two€cases€ofÐ )h$( Ðtorture,€in€the€mitigated€meaning€of€the€term,€were€reported€in€any€one€year;€the€persons€responsibleÐ *Q%) Ðhad€been€reprimanded€or€suspended€from€office€or€dismissed.€€He€added€some€particularsÐ ê*:&* Ðconcerning€the€treatment€of€transsexuals€and€the€consequential€change€in€personal€status.€€An€ActÐ Ó+#'+ Ðdated€13€June€1986€concerning€organ€transplants€had€entered€into€force;€it€stated€that,€in€the€eventÐ ¼, (, Ðof€the€removal€of€an€organ€from€a€living€person,€the€knowing€consent€of€the€donor€was€required;Ð ¥-õ(- Ðwhereas,€in€the€case€of€the€removal€of€an€organ€from€a€corpse,€consent€was€presumed,€sinceÐ ° Ðtransplants€were€prohibited€only€in€cases€where€there€was€an€objection€in€writing.€€On€the€protectionÐ ™é Ðof€persons€suffering€from€mental€diseases,€he€said€that€such€a€person,€with€respect€to€whom€aÐ ‚Ò Ðjudicial€decision€had€been€made€and€who€had€accordingly€been€committed€to€the€psychiatric€sectionÐ k» Ðof€a€prison€establishment,€was€free€to€apply€for€discharge€on€the€basis€of€a€medical€report€by€a€doctorÐ T¤ Ðof€his€choice€and€was€free€to€use€any€legal€remedies€to€produce€evidence€of€his€state€of€health.€Ð =  ÐFurthermore,€a€psychiatrist€could€recommend€that€a€patient€should€be€treated€outside€a€psychiatricÐ & v Ðestablishment€if€the€family€or€friends€of€the€patient€provided€support.€€He€added€that,€so€far€asÐ  _ Ðmedical€experiments€were€concerned,€the€knowing€consent€of€the€person€concerned€was€likewiseÐ ø H Ðrequired,€and€in€any€case€such€experiments€on€prisoners€were€prohibited.Ð á 1  ÐÌ496.€€In€reply€to€other€questions€asked€by€members€concerning€conditions€of€detention,€he€explainedÐ ³  Ðthat€the€administrative€committee€attached€to€every€penitentiary€establishment€included€among€itsÐ œì  Ðmembers€„€depending€on€the€size€of€the€establishment€„€between€three€and€nine€members€appointedÐ …Õ  Ðfor€six€years€by€the€Minister€of€Justice;€the€Ô_ÔProcureurÔ_Ô€du€Ô_ÔRoiÔ_Ô€and€the€burgomaster€were€òòex€officioóóÐ n¾  Ðmembers€of€such€Committees.€€They€communicated€to€the€Minister€any€relevant€information€andÐ W§  Ðproposals€and€performed€the€function€of€supervising€the€conditions€of€detention.€€In€addition,€inÐ @ Ðpursuance€of€a€decision€by€the€European€court€of€Human€Rights,€the€legislation€concerning€theÐ )y Ðdetention€of€minors€would€be€amended.€€In€general€it€was€the€object€of€the€authorities€to€reduce€theÐ b Ðprison€population€through€early€discharge,€the€possible€abolition€of€short„term€sentences,€anÐ ûK Ðadjustment€of€the€terms€of€imprisonment,€and€recourse€to€alternative€penalties.€€An€order€banningÐ ä4 Ðall€communication€could€not€be€made€by€a€judge€for€a€period€exceeding€three€days,€such€period€notÐ Í Ðbeing€renewable;€such€an€order€applied€to€all€persons€concerned,€including€the€prisonerððs€€lawyer,Ð ¶ Ðand€the€prisoner€and€his€family€were€informed€accordingly.€€He€added€that,€in€cases€where€the€deathÐ Ÿï Ðpenalty€was€commuted,€the€legal€Ô_ÔrgimeÔ_Ô€applied,€including€the€rules€governing€conditional€release,Ð ˆØ Ðwas€the€same€as€that€applicable€to€a€sentence€of€life€imprisonment.Ð qÁ ÐÌ497.€€With€reference€to€article€9€of€the€Covenant,€he€stated€that€the€court€of€summary€jurisdictionÐ C“ Ðwas€henceforth€empowered€to€determine€whether€a€particular€case€of€detention€contravened€the€law.€Ð ,| ÐAs€a€consequence,€the€time„limits€had€become€very€short,€since€the€summary€jurisdiction€procedureÐ e Ðwas€extremely€rapid.€€Bail€required€for€the€purpose€of€obtaining€a€personððs€release€could€be€postedÐ þN Ðby€a€third€party.€€There€was€no€specific€rule€concerning€the€duration€of€detention€pending€trial;€suchÐ ç 7 Ðdetention€might€continue€as€long€as€there€were€grounds€for€it€in€the€light€of€the€public€interest€andÐ Ð!   Ðsecurity.€€Nevertheless,€the€Government€intended€to€review€the€legislation€concerning€the€groundsÐ ¹" ! Ðfor€detention€pending€trial€as€appraised€by€the€court€and€the€rules€concerning€the€duration€of€suchÐ ¢#ò" Ðdetention.€€Any€person€detained€was€entitled€to€contact€a€lawyer€immediately€after€the€first€hearingÐ ‹$Û# Ðby€the€court,€which€had€to€take€place€within€24€hours.€€So€far€as€other€kinds€of€deprivation€of€libertyÐ t%Ä $ Ðwere€concerned,€the€representative€explained€that€an€Act€of€11€February€1988€provided€additionalÐ ]&­!% Ðsafeguards€with€respect€to€custody€or€administrative€detention.Ð F'–"& ÐÌ498.€€In€reply€to€questions€in€connection€with€article€12€of€the€Covenant,€he€explained€that€a€RoyalÐ )h$( ÐOrder€dated€7€May€1985€had€forbidden€aliens€to€settle€in€six€communes€of€the€Brussels€urban€area,Ð *Q%) Ðthe€reasons€for€the€ban€including€financial€constraints,€the€obsolete€state€of€the€dwellings€and€theÐ ê*:&* Ðlack€of€infrastructure.€€The€answer€to€the€question€whether€the€enactment,€pursuant€to€whichÐ Ó+#'+ Ðexceptions€could€be€made€to€the€principle€of€an€alienððs€freedom€to€choose€his€residence,€wasÐ ¼, (, Ðcompatible€with€the€relevant€provisions€of€the€Covenant€depended€on€how€the€expression€ð ðpublicÐ ¥-õ(- Ðinterestðð€and€ð ðòòorder€publicóóðð€used€in€the€relevant€provision€were€interpreted.Ð ° ÐÌ499.€€With€reference€to€article€14€of€the€Covenant,€he€explained€that€the€Court€of€Cassation€wasÐ ‚Ò Ðcomposed€of€26€judges,€of€whom€13€were€Dutch„speaking€and€13€French„speaking.€€With€regardÐ k» Ðto€the€independence€of€the€judiciary,€he€stated€that€the€Government€had€no€means€of€exertingÐ T¤ Ðpressure€on€judges,€that€judges€were€appointed€for€life,€that€they€could€not€be€moved€without€theirÐ =  Ðconsent,€and€that€their€salaries€were€fixed€by€law.€€Belgium€law€fully€respected€the€principles€thatÐ & v Ðan€accused€was€invariably€presumed€to€be€innocent€and€that€the€onus€of€proof€fell€on€theÐ  _ Ðprosecution.Ð ø H ÐÌ500.€€Commenting€on€questions€raised€under€article€17€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€statedÐ Ê   Ðthat€wire„tapping€was€formally€prohibited,€that€in€a€court€of€law€a€judge€could€obtain€informationÐ ³  Ðon€the€times,€the€names€of€callers€and€subscribers€and€the€number€of€calls,€but€that€the€content€ofÐ œì  Ðtelephone€conversations€remained€confidential,€and€that€the€national€register€contained€data€such€asÐ …Õ  Ðname,€date€of€birth,€place€of€birth€and€sex.Ð n¾  ÐÌ501.€€In€reply€to€question€asked€by€members€of€the€Committee€concerning€article€18€of€theÐ @ ÐCovenant,€he€stated€that€the€six€religions€recognized€were€the€Catholic,€Protestant,€Israelite,Ð )y ÐAnglican,€Islamic€and€Orthodox€religions,€the€decisive€test€being€the€number€of€persons€practicingÐ b Ðthe€religion€in€question€in€Belgium.€€The€sole€consequence€of€the€statutory€recognition€of€a€religionÐ ûK Ðwas€that€the€State€paid€the€salaries€of€the€ministers€of€religion€and€established€the€appropriateÐ ä4 Ðmanagement€bodies;€the€State€had€no€right€to€intervene€in€other€matters€and€all€other€religions€couldÐ Í Ðbe€freely€Ô_ÔpractisedÔ_Ô€and€professed.€€He€added€that€conscientious€objectors€who€respected€theÐ ¶ Ðobligations€implicit€in€their€status€were€deemed€to€fulfil€the€statutory€conditions€concerning€accessÐ Ÿï Ðto€the€public€service.€€So€far€as€compulsory€voting€was€concerned,€he€stated€that€Ô_ÔthatÔ_Ô€requirementÐ ˆØ Ðwas€not€incompatible€with€paragraph€2€of€the€article€in€question,€for€it€was€open€to€the€electors€atÐ qÁ Ðany€time€to€deposit€a€blank€or€void€ballot€paper.Ð Zª ÐÌ502.€€With€reference€to€article€19€of€the€Covenant,€he€stated€that,€despite€differences€of€opinion€onÐ ,| Ðthe€subject,€the€Belgian€Government€was€planning€to€make€provision€in€the€Constitution€for€theÐ e Ðprinciple€that€administrative€actions€must€be€public€and€substantiated€by€reasons,€and€to€improveÐ þN Ðthe€relationship€between€members€of€the€public€and€the€authorities.Ð ç 7 ÐÌ503.€€Regarding€questions€raised€under€articles€21€and€22€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€statedÐ ¹" ! Ðthat€no€preference€was€given€to€the€negotiation€procedure€rather€than€the€dialogue€procedure€inÐ ¢#ò" Ðdealings€between€the€authorities€and€trade„union€organizations.€€Although€in€theory€the€law€forbadeÐ ‹$Û# ÐBelgian€civil€servants€from€striking,€in€actual€practice€they€had€resorted€to€strike.Ð t%Ä $ ÐÌ504.€€Replying€to€questions€asked€under€article€23€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€said€that€inÐ F'–"& Ðthe€case€of€divorce€the€interests€of€the€children€took€precedence€over€those€of€the€parents.€€InÐ /(#' Ðaddition,€he€explained€that€it€was€essential€that€the€spouses€of€police€officers€should€be€aboveÐ )h$( Ðsuspicion;€therefore,€the€marriage€of€a€member€of€the€police€force€had€to€be€authorized€by€theÐ *Q%) Ðcommanding€officer.Ð ê*:&* ÐÌ505.€€With€respect€to€article€25€of€the€Covenant,€he€stated€that€the€penalties€applicable€to€personsÐ ¼, (, Ðwho€did€not€appear€at€the€voting€stations€were€very€mild€and€rarely€enforced.Ð ¥-õ(- Ї506.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€warmly€thanked€the€representative€of€Belgium€for€havingÐ ° Ðanswered€most€of€the€questions€in€such€detail;€it€was€noted,€however,€that€some€of€those€questionsÐ ™é Ðhad€not€been€touched€upon€or€called€for€a€more€specific€answer.€€They€expressed€the€hope€that€theÐ ‚Ò Ðsecond€periodic€report€would€contain€the€necessary€information€and€clarifications.Ð k» ÐÌ507.€€The€Chairman€expressed€his€thanks€to€the€delegation€of€Belgium€both€for€the€informationÐ =  Ðprovided€and€for€the€clear€and€objective€answers€given€to€questions€asked€by€members.Ð  & v Ðò òÔ_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô€A/47/40€(1992)Ð ° ÐÌÌó ó395.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€periodic€report€of€Belgium€(Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/57/Add.3)€at€itsÐ n¾ Ð1142òòndóó€and€1143òòrdóó€meetings,€held€on€7€April€1992€(Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/SR.€1142€and€SR.€1143).€€(For€theÐ W§ Ðcomposition€of€the€delegation,€see€annex€VIII).Ð @  ÐÌ396.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party,€who€noted€that€the€CovenantÐ  b Ðhad€become€part€of€Belgiumððs€internal€law€after€it€had€been€approved€by€the€Parliament€in€1981€andÐ û K Ðratified€by€the€Crown€in€1983.€€Under€Belgian€law,€it€was€for€a€court€to€decide€whether€a€treatyÐ ä 4  Ðprovision€was€directly€applicable.€€In€1971€the€Court€of€Cassation€of€Belgium€had€affirmed€theÐ Í   Ðprimacy€of€the€provisions€of€international€treaties€over€national€laws.€€A€Belgian€court€mightÐ ¶  Ðtherefore€apply€national€provisions€only€if€they€were€compatible€with€those€of€international€treatiesÐ Ÿï  Ðdirectly€applicable€in€internal€law.€€In€1984€the€Court€of€Cassation€of€Belgium€had€also€affirmed€thatÐ ˆØ  Ðarticle€9,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant€had€direct€effects€in€internal€law€for€individuals€and,€sinceÐ qÁ  Ðthen,€the€Court€had€confirmed€such€direct€applicability€in€the€case€of€other€provisions€of€theÐ Zª  ÐCovenant.Ð C“ ÐÌòòConstitutional€and€legal€framework€within€which€the€Covenant€is€implementedÐ e ÐÌóó397.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€the€status€wasÐ ç7 Ðof€provisions€of€the€Covenant€that€were€not€directly€applicable€and€those,€other€than€article€9,Ð Ð  Ðparagraph€2,€of€the€Covenant,€which€had€been€interpreted€by€the€Court€to€be€directly€applicable;€toÐ ¹  Ðwhat€extent€the€Covenant€was€applicable€in€the€legislation€of€the€Flemish,€French€and€GermanÐ ¢ò Ðcommunities;€and€what€difficulties€had€affected€the€implementation€of€the€institutional€reforms.Ð ‹Û ÐÌ398.€€Members€also€wished€to€know€whether€the€Belgian€Government,€when€drawing€up€new€legalÐ ]­ Ðprovisions,€considered€itself€bound€by€the€Covenant€or€by€the€European€Convention€on€HumanÐ F– ÐRights;€whether€the€Court€of€Arbitration€was€competent€to€apply€the€Covenant€directly;€whether€itÐ / Ðmight€be€more€appropriate€for€the€administrative€and€other€executive€authorities€to€decide€on€theÐ h Ðdirect€applicability€of€a€provision€of€an€international€treaty,€particularly€where€its€interpretation€wasÐ  Q Ðnot€controversial;€what€criteria€were€used€in€establishing€international€treaties€in€the€hierarchy€ofÐ ê : Ðinternal€law;€whether€an€action€invoking€a€provision€of€the€Covenant€could€be€brought€before€anÐ Ó!#  Ðordinary€court;€how€the€distinction€drawn€by€the€Belgian€Constitution€between€civil€and€politicalÐ ¼" ! Ðrights€was€determined€in€practice;€how€the€rights€of€linguistic€minorities€were€protected;€and€howÐ ¥#õ" Ðtheir€ð ðlinguistic€optionsðð€in€administrative€dealings€was€exercised;€whether€there€was€a€specificÐ Ž$Þ# Ðreason€for€the€Belgian€Constitution€to€stipulate€that€all€powers€stemmed€ð ðfrom€the€nationðð€ratherÐ w%Ç $ Ðthan€ð ðfrom€the€peopleðð;€why€Belgium€had€expressed€reservations€to€articles€of€the€Covenant€thatÐ `&°!% Ðwere€almost€identical€to€the€equivalent€provisions€of€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights;Ð I'™"& Ðand€whether€the€State€party€intended€to€accede€to€the€Optional€Protocol.Ð 2(‚#' ÐÌ399.€€In€his€response€to€the€questions€raised€by€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€theÐ *T%) ÐState€party€said€that,€in€addition€to€article€9€(2)€of€the€Covenant,€articles€9€(3),€14€(1)€and€(2)€and€17Ð í*=&* Ðhad€been€declared€by€the€Court€of€Cassation€to€be€directly€applicable.€€Provisions€of€the€CovenantÐ Ö+&'+ Ðthat€were€not€directly€applicable€did€not€confer€any€right€on€individuals€unless€their€principles€wereÐ ¿,(, Ðreflected€in€domestic€legislation.€€Provisions€of€the€Covenant€that€were€directly€applicable€tookÐ ¨-ø(- Ðprecedence€not€only€over€national€legislation€but€also€over€the€enactments€of€the€communes€andÐ ° Ðregions.€There€were€four€major€difficulties€impeding€the€application€of€the€Covenant,€namely,€theÐ ™é Ðcentrifugal€nature€of€Belgian€federalism;€the€countryððs€bipolar€structure;€different€interpretations€ofÐ ‚Ò Ðthe€language€law€in€the€north€and€south;€and€the€need€to€strike€a€balance,€when€allocating€resources,Ð k» Ðbetween€the€requirements€of€national€solidarity€and€those€of€regional€and€communal€autonomy.€Ð T¤ ÐÌ400.€€The€representative€further€explained€that€there€was€basically€no€difference€between€the€statusÐ & v Ðof€the€Covenant€and€that€of€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights€in€Belgiumððs€legal€system,Ð  _ Ðexcept€in€the€system€for€monitoring€compliance€with€those€instruments.€€Monitoring€complianceÐ ø H Ðwith€the€Covenant,€done€through€the€Committee,€was€of€a€political€nature,€while€control€of€theÐ á 1  ÐEuropean€Convention€was€carried€out€through€the€European€Commission€of€Human€Rights.€TheÐ Ê   Ðstringent€procedures€of€the€European€Court€of€Human€Rights,€which€had€the€power€to€requireÐ ³  ÐBelgium€to€change€any€provision€of€its€legislation€that€was€inconsistent€with€the€Convention,€hadÐ œì  Ðled€Belgium€to€give€particular€attention€to€the€Convention.Ð …Õ  ÐÌ401.€€The€Belgian€legislature€acknowledged€its€obligation€under€article€2,€paragraph€2,€of€theÐ W§  ÐCovenant€to€adapt€internal€legislation€to€the€requirements€of€international€law.€€Where€that€had€notÐ @ Ðbeen€done,€an€international€provision€could€have€direct€effects€in€domestic€law€when€it€was€clearÐ )y Ðand€comprehensive,€when€it€required€Belgium€either€to€refrain€from€an€action€or€to€act€in€a€specificÐ b Ðmanner,€and€when€it€could€be€invoked€as€a€source€of€law€by€individuals€without€the€need€for€anyÐ ûK Ðinternal€legislation€for€the€purpose€of€implementation.€€The€court€was€responsible€for€determiningÐ ä4 Ðwhether€a€provision€had€been€inadequately€incorporated€into€the€law€and€whether€the€internationalÐ Í Ðprovision€was€clear€enough€to€have€direct€effects.€€Any€public€authority,€including€the€DepartmentÐ ¶ Ðof€Foreign€Affairs,€could€express€its€views€as€to€whether€a€provision€had€direct€effects,€but,€in€theÐ Ÿï Ðfinal€analysis,€it€was€up€to€the€courts€to€determine€the€provisionððs€applicability.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ402.€€Regarding€the€distinction,€made€in€the€Belgian€Constitution,€between€civil€and€political€rights,Ð Zª Ðthe€representative€said€the€current€constitutional€reform€process€aimed,€òòinter€aliaóó,€at€simplifying€thatÐ C“ Ðcomplicated€issue.€€The€best€criterion€for€determining€the€nature€of€a€right€was€the€need€for€theÐ ,| Ðlegislature€to€refer€it€either€to€an€administrative€or€an€ordinary€court.€The€German€community€hadÐ e Ðits€own€administration€and€government.€€The€principle€of€territorial€Ô_ÔmonolingulismÔ_Ô€required€thatÐ þN Ðresidents€of€Flanders€speak€Flemish,€and€that€residents€of€Ô_ÔWalloniaÔ_Ô€speak€€French.€€In€27€borderÐ ç 7 Ðcommunes,€known€as€ð ðlinguistic€optionðð€communes,€people€had€the€right€to€services€in€a€languageÐ Ð!   Ðother€than€the€official€language€of€the€commune.€€Dutch€speakers€represented€a€linguistic€majorityÐ ¹" ! Ðof€5.7€million,€compared€with€4€million€French€speakers.Ð ¢#ò" ÐÌ403.€€Concerning€Belgiumððs€reservations€to€articles€19,€21€and€22€of€the€Covenant,€theÐ t%Ä $ Ðrepresentative€explained€that€articles€10€and€11€of€the€European€Convention€on€Human€RightsÐ ]&­!% Ðaccorded€greater€rights€of€exception€than€those€in€the€Covenant€and€Belgium€had€therefore€decidedÐ F'–"& Ðto€refer€to€the€more€explicit€rights€of€exception€in€the€European€Convention.€€The€procedure€to€ratifyÐ /(#' Ðthe€Optional€Protocol€had€been€initiated€and€it€was€hoped€that€the€Protocol€would€be€ratified€beforeÐ )h$( ÐBelgiumððs€next€report€was€considered€by€the€Committee.Ð *Q%) ÐÌÌòòNon„discrimination€and€equality€of€the€sexesóóÐ ¼, (, ÐÐ ¥-õ(- Ð404.€€Regarding€those€issues,€members€wished€to€know€what€inequalities€still€limited€opportunitiesÐ ° Ðavailable€to€women;€what€measures€had€been€taken€to€resolve€those€inequalities;€what€theÐ ™é Ðrestrictions€were€on€the€rights€of€aliens€and€compared€with€those€of€citizens;€what€problems,€if€any,Ð ‚Ò Ðhad€occurred€because€of€migrant€workers;€why€the€Belgian€Constitution,€in€referring€toÐ k» Ðdiscrimination,€did€not€discuss€sex,€race,€color€or€religion;€how€minorities€were€treated€in€law€andÐ T¤ Ðin€practice;€what€the€ð ðalarm„bell€proceduresðð€were;€what€the€basis€was€for€categorizing€judges€asÐ =  ÐDutch„speaking€or€French„speaking;€why€legislation€had€been€enacted€that€discriminated€againstÐ & v Ðforeigners€because€of€their€nationality;€why€aliens€were€obliged€to€exercise€ð ðpolitical€discretionðð;Ð  _ Ðwhether€men€and€women€had€equal€rights€regarding€their€childrenððs€citizenship;€and€howÐ ø H Ðprostitution€was€viewed.Ð á 1  ÐÌ405.€€In€his€response,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€one€fifth€of€the€ministers€in€theÐ ³  Ðcurrent€Government€were€women.€€Nevertheless,€there€were€still€inequalities€in€such€areas€asÐ œì  Ðemployment,€salaries,€training€and€promotion,€as€well€as€working€conditions.€€Legislation€and€otherÐ …Õ  Ðmeasures,€including€equal€opportunity€Ô_ÔprogrammesÔ_Ô,€had€been€adopted€to€promote€equal€opportunityÐ n¾  Ðfor€men€and€women€in€both€the€public€and€the€private€sectors.€€Except€for€rare€cases€established€byÐ W§  Ðlaw,€foreigners€enjoyed€the€same€individual€freedoms€and€civil€rights€guaranteed€under€theÐ @ ÐConstitution€as€Belgian€citizens.€€However,€there€were€restrictions€on€political€activities€byÐ )y Ðforeigners€where€such€activities€might€pose€a€threat€to€public€order€or€national€security.€€The€KingÐ b Ðwas€authorized,€in€the€public€interest,€to€prohibit€foreigners€from€living€in€certain€communes.€€WhileÐ ûK Ðforeigners€were€not€eligible€to€vote€or€to€stand€for€election,€it€was€intended€to€amend€theÐ ä4 ÐConstitution€to€enable€European€Community€citizens€residing€in€Belgium€to€vote€in€local€andÐ Í ÐEuropean€elections.€€A€Royal€Commission€on€Immigration€Policy€had€been€established€in€1989€toÐ ¶ Ðinvestigate€the€problems€of€migrant€workers,€to€identify€appropriate€measures€to€promote€mutualÐ Ÿï Ðacceptance€between€immigrants€and€indigenous€communities€and€to€create€a€harmoniousÐ ˆØ ÐÔ_ÔmulticulturalÔ_Ô€society.€€In€its€first€two€reports€the€Royal€Commission€had€proposed€a€wide€range€ofÐ qÁ Ðmeasures,€including€granting€Belgian€nationality,€by€applying€the€principle€of€òòÔ_ÔjusÔ_Ô€solióó,€to€second„Ð Zª Ðgeneration€immigrants€whose€parents€had€been€legal€residents€in€Belgium€for€more€than€10€years.Ð C“ ÐÌ406.€€Regarding€minorities€and€Ô_ÔintercommunalÔ_Ô€cooperation,€the€representative€said€there€were€legalÐ e Ðand€constitutional€mechanisms€to€foster€cooperation€between€communities€and€regions,€as€well€asÐ þN Ðto€protect€minority€languages€in€various€regions.€€In€order€to€ensure€linguistic€equality€amongÐ ç 7 Ðjudges,€the€language€in€which€they€earned€their€diplomas€determined€the€linguistic€group€to€whichÐ Ð!   Ðthey€belonged.Ð ¹" ! ÐÌ407.€€Since€the€Covenant€expressly€prohibited€discrimination€on€specific€grounds,€a€prohibition€thatÐ ‹$Û# Ðwas€implicit€in€Belgian€law,€there€was€no€need€to€amend€the€Constitution,€which€addressed€theÐ t%Ä $ Ðquestion€of€the€equality€of€all€citizens€only€in€general€terms.€€The€Constitution€allowed€the€threeÐ ]&­!% Ðcommunities€to€conclude€treaties€independently€in€areas€of€their€own€competence,€such€as€culturalÐ F'–"& Ðexchange€or€education,€but€the€question€of€whether€economic€and€social€regions€had€suchÐ /(#' Ðcompetence€was€currently€under€debate€within€the€European€Community.€€Prostitution€wasÐ )h$( Ðconsidered€a€legitimate€occupation€when€it€was€Ô_ÔpractisedÔ_Ô€by€women€who€were€properly€inoculatedÐ *Q%) Ðand€were€of€age.€€However,€it€was€felt€that€the€State€should€discourage€the€practice,€and€specialÐ ê*:&* Ðmeasures€would€be€taken€to€deal€with€the€problem€of€trafficking€in€women€and€prostitution,€to€whichÐ Ó+#'+ Ðimmigrant€women€were€particularly€vulnerable.Ð ¼, (, ÐÐ ¥-õ(- ÐòòRight€to€life,€liberty€and€security€of€the€person€and€treatment€of€prisoners€and€other€detaineesóóÐ ° ÐÌ408.€€In€connection€with€those€issues,€members€wished€to€be€informed€about€the€current€situationÐ ‚Ò Ðin€respect€of€the€death€penalty€and€the€ratification€of€the€Second€Optional€Protocol;€rules€andÐ k» Ðregulations€governing€the€use€of€firearms€by€the€police€and€security€forces;€details€concerning€theÐ T¤ ÐProtection€of€Young€Persons€Act€1965;€detention€in€institutions€other€than€prisons€and€for€reasonsÐ =  Ðother€than€crimes;€the€maximum€length€of€pretrial€detention;€remedies€available€to€persons€claimingÐ & v Ðwrongful€detention€and€their€effectiveness;€measures€to€prevent€cruel,€inhuman€or€degradingÐ  _ Ðtreatment€of€prisoners€and€detainees;€procedure€for€the€review€of€prison€conditions;€and€complianceÐ ø H Ðwith€United€Nations€Standard€Minimum€Rules€for€the€Treatment€of€Prisoners€and€the€availabilityÐ á 1  Ðof€relevant€regulations€and€directives€to€prisoners€in€all€official€languages.€€In€addition,€membersÐ Ê   Ðwished€to€know€whether€the€Government€was€addressing€the€affirmative€aspects€of€the€right€to€life,Ð ³  Ðsuch€as€the€right€to€health,€the€elimination€of€epidemics€and€pollution„related€issues;€what€wasÐ œì  ÐBelgiumððs€position€regarding€organ€transplants€from€aborted€foetuses;€whether€detainees€had€theÐ …Õ  Ðright€to€ask€for€a€lawyer€as€soon€as€they€were€arrested;€whether€medical€examinations€were€carriedÐ n¾  Ðout€by€independent€doctors;€how€solitary€confinement€was€Ô_ÔpractisedÔ_Ô;€and€whether€those€held€inÐ W§  Ðtransit€zones€had€the€right€to€appeal€their€detention,€as€provided€for€under€article€9,€paragraph€4,€ofÐ @ Ðthe€Covenant.Ð )y ÐÌ409.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€said€that€a€bill€had€been€reintroduced€before€the€legislatureÐ ûK Ðexpressly€to€abolish€the€death€penalty,€except€for€the€most€serious€military€crimes€in€time€of€war.€Ð ä4 ÐA€law€was€also€being€drafted€to€adopt€the€Second€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant€and€the€SixthÐ Í ÐProtocol€to€the€European€Convention€On€Human€Rights.€€The€use€of€firearms€was€governed€by€law,Ð ¶ Ðwith€absolute€necessity€being€the€basic€principle€governing€any€use€of€firearms.€€A€bill€had€beenÐ Ÿï Ðintroduced€in€June€1991€to€coordinate€the€functions€of€the€various€police€forces€and€to€reformÐ ˆØ Ðexisting€laws€by€providing€uniform€regulations€on€the€use€of€force€and€firearms.€€A€bill€proposingÐ qÁ Ðreforms€in€the€Protection€of€Young€Persons€Act€of€1965€had€been€drawn€up€including€a€measureÐ Zª Ðrestricting€the€application€of€the€Act€to€minors€over€14€years€of€age€charged€with€a€crime€punishableÐ C“ Ðby€one€yearððs€imprisonment€and€providing€for€a€hearing€by€a€judge€for€such€minors.€€A€new€law€onÐ ,| Ðthe€protection€of€the€mentally€ill€made€it€impossible€for€a€person€to€be€hospitalized€or€held€forÐ e Ðobservation€without€a€court€order.€€The€new€Act€on€pretrial€detention€of€1990€guaranteed€theÐ þN Ðindividualððs€basic€rights€while€at€the€same€time€improving€the€administration€of€justice.€€TheÐ ç 7 Ðminimum€sentence€for€crimes€warranting€pretrial€detention€had€been€raised€from€six€months€to€oneÐ Ð!   Ðyearððs€imprisonment,€but€there€was€no€definite€time„limit€for€pretrial€detention.€€Guarantees€ofÐ ¹" ! Ðindividual€rights€had€also€been€improved€through€such€measures€as€the€introduction€of€a€moreÐ ¢#ò" Ðrigorous€definition€of€conditions€of€arrest€and€more€detailed€arrest€and€interrogation€records,Ð ‹$Û# Ðproviding€free€access€to€a€lawyer€and€according€the€right€to€a€public€hearing€after€six€months€ofÐ t%Ä $ Ðdetention.€€About€60€claims€a€year€involving€compensation€for€wrongful€detention€were€broughtÐ ]&­!% Ðbefore€the€Minster€of€Justice,€about€half€of€which€were€granted.€€A€detainee€could,€at€his€ownÐ F'–"& Ðinitiative,€contact€his€family€in€writing€or€by€telephone€immediately€following€arrest,€unless€he€wasÐ /(#' Ðheld€incommunicado,€in€which€case€he€could€have€immediate€access€to€a€lawyer.€€There€had€beenÐ )h$( Ðno€complaints€of€torture€during€the€reporting€period,€although€some€complaints€of€ill„treatment€hadÐ *Q%) Ðbeen€made€about€maximum€security€prisons€and€solitary€confinement.€€Such€practices€might€beÐ ê*:&* Ðdefensible€on€the€grounds€that€restrictive€measures€had€to€be€taken€where€circumstances€andÐ Ó+#'+ Ðprudence€so€required€and€that€dangerous€prisoners€had€to€be€kept€separate€from€others.€€That€matterÐ ¼, (, Ðwas€currently€before€a€court€of€appeal.€€A€detainee€could€lodge€complaints€about€mistreatment€toÐ ¥-õ(- Ðthe€authorities€of€the€penitentiary€system,€the€Minister€of€Justice€and€courts€with€summaryÐ ° Ðjurisdiction.€€A€monitoring€committee€would€be€making€periodic€visits€to€prisons€after€ratificationÐ ™é Ðby€Belgium€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€TreatmentÐ ‚Ò Ðor€Punishment.€The€United€Nations€Standard€Minimum€Rules€for€the€Treatment€of€Prisoners,€whichÐ k» Ðwere€available€in€French€and€Dutch€to€all€persons€within€the€penitentiary€system,€were€generallyÐ T¤ Ðrespected.Ð =  ÐÌ410.€€The€rules€governing€the€conditions€of€preventive€detention€had€recently€been€changed.€€InÐ  _ Ðgeneral€terms,€the€grounds€for€detention€were€reviewed€within€five€days€of€detention.€€DetaineesÐ ø H Ðcould€lodge€an€appeal€at€each€phase€of€their€detention€and€had€the€right€to€request€a€lawyer.€€TheÐ á 1  Ðaffiliation€of€doctors€who€performed€medical€examinations€of€detainees€had€been€criticized€andÐ Ê   Ðcorrective€steps€were€being€taken.€€Relevant€information€concerning€organ€transplants€from€abortedÐ ³  Ðfoetuses€would€be€made€available€to€the€Committee€at€a€later€date.Ð œì  ÐÌòòFreedom€of€movement€and€expulsion€of€aliensÐ n¾  ÐÌóó411.€€In€relation€to€those€issues,€members€asked€for€information€on€the€status€of€the€Royal€DecreeÐ @ Ðof€7€May€1985,€prohibiting€certain€aliens€from€residing€or€establishing€themselves€in€someÐ )y Ðcommunes,€and€of€the€appeal€lodged€against€it€and€concerning€the€conditions€and€status€of€personsÐ b Ðreceived€at€Ô_ÔCentreÔ_Ô€127€at€Ô_ÔZaventemÔ_Ô€airport.€€They€also€wished€to€know€whether€an€appeal€againstÐ ûK Ðan€expulsion€order€had€suspensive€effect.Ð ä4 ÐÌ412.€€In€his€response,€the€representative€acknowledged€that€the€restriction€placed€in€areas€whereÐ ¶ Ðimmigrants€could€settle€were€highly€contentious€and€possibly€inconsistent€with€the€provisions€of€theÐ Ÿï ÐCovenant.€€The€concerns€expressed€by€members€of€the€Committee€would€be€passed€on€to€hisÐ ˆØ ÐGovernment,€which€was€considering€the€adoption€of€new€measures.€€There€were€several€categoriesÐ qÁ Ðof€expulsion€of€aliens,€depending€on€their€status.€€Appeals€had€suspensive€effect€on€the€expulsionÐ Zª Ðorders€and€all€remedies€were€based€on€the€provisions€of€the€European€Convention€and€the€Covenant.€Ð C“ ÐNew€rules€governing€the€expulsion€of€aliens€had€recently€been€introduced,€following€the€decisionÐ ,| Ðof€the€European€Court€of€Justice€that€imprisonment€and€subsequent€expulsion€of€aliens€constitutedÐ e Ðdouble€jeopardy.€€Asylum„seekers€without€valid€travel€documents€could€no€longer€enter€BelgiumÐ þN Ðas€of€right,€but€were€confined€to€a€reception€Ô_ÔcentreÔ_Ô€at€the€transit€zones€of€the€airport€while€theirÐ ç 7 Ðrequests€were€being€processed.€€Notwithstanding€the€finding€of€the€Committee€against€Torture€thatÐ Ð!   Ðthe€transit€zones€were€detention€areas,€the€Court€of€Appeal€in€Belgium€had€recently€reaffirmed€itsÐ ¹" ! Ðruling€that€such€confinement,€for€periods€under€two€months,€did€not€constitute€administrative€orÐ ¢#ò" Ðpenal€detention.Ð ‹$Û# ÐÌòòRight€to€a€fair€trialóóÐ ]&­!% ÐÌ413.€€In€connection€with€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€the€proceduresÐ /(#' Ðwere€for€the€appointment€and€removal€of€members€of€the€judiciary;€how€the€Bar€was€organized€andÐ )h$( Ðhow€it€functioned;€and€whether€legal€assistance€was€available€to€criminal€defendants€and,€if€so,€howÐ *Q%) Ðit€operated.Ð ê*:&* ÐÌ414.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€said€that€appointments€of€judges€were€made€by€the€King€on€theÐ ¼, (, Ðadvice€of€an€elected€body€and€the€competent€branch€of€the€judiciary.€€Judges€were€appointed€for€lifeÐ ¥-õ(- Ðand€could€be€removed€only€with€their€own€consent€or€by€decision€of€the€Court€of€Appeal.€€The€legalÐ ° Ðprofession€in€Belgium€was€independent€and€private.€€Lawyers€had€to€be€Belgians€or€nationals€of€aÐ ™é ÐState€member€of€the€European€Community.€€A€council€was€elected€annually€by€each€Bar€AssociationÐ ‚Ò Ðand€also€at€the€national€level,€to€safeguard€the€traditions€and€professional€interests€of€lawyers.€Ð k» ÐCriminal€defendants€were€entitled€to€ask€for€the€assistance€of€a€lawyer€and€the€Government€intendedÐ T¤ Ðto€provide€assistance€through€social€assistance€committees€and€through€subsidies€to€lawyers€whoÐ =  Ðdid€òòpro€bonoóó€work€for€indigent€clients.Ð & v ÐÌòòFreedom€of€expression,€assembly€and€associationÐ ø H ÐÌóó415.€€With€regard€to€those€issues,€members€requested€information€concerning€restrictions€pertainingÐ Ê   Ðto€the€freedom€of€expression€and€examples€of€the€ð ðserious€reasonsðð€that€had€been€accepted€by€theÐ ³  ÐÔ_ÔLabourÔ_Ô€Court€for€dismissing€trade„union€representatives.€€Members€also€wished€to€know€whetherÐ œì  Ðthe€State€had€a€monopoly€on€television€broadcasting;€who€exercised€control€over€the€media;€whatÐ …Õ  Ðthe€criteria€were€for€determining€access€by€professional€associations€to€the€National€Ô_ÔLabourÔ_Ô€Council;Ð n¾  Ðwhether€legislation€existed€to€protect€such€right€of€access€and€what€action€had€been€taken€toÐ W§  Ðimplement€ILO€recommendations€in€that€regard;€and€whether€the€provision€of€the€BelgianÐ @ ÐConstitution€restricting€outdoor€meetings€was€compatible€with€article€21€of€the€Covenant.Ð )y ÐÌ416.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€said€that,€as€a€general€principle,€preventative€action€to€restrictÐ ûK Ðfreedom€of€expression€was€not€permissible€under€Belgian€law.€€However,€a€posteriori€judicialÐ ä4 Ðproceedings€could€be€taken€under€the€civil€or€criminal€codes€to€redress€damage€to€a€personððsÐ Í Ðreputation.€€While€censorship€of€the€press€and€other€media€was€prohibited€by€the€Constitution,€thereÐ ¶ Ðhad€been€petitions€to€prevent€the€publication€or€broadcasting€of€damaging€materials.€€In€such€casesÐ Ÿï Ðmagistrates€had€sought€to€strike€a€balance€between€all€interested€parties€without€impeding€theÐ ˆØ Ðfreedom€of€expression,€and€granted€petitions€only€where€the€rights€of€a€third€party€had€beenÐ qÁ Ðmanifestly€violated.€€Public€television€channels€in€both€Flemish€and€French€were€State„owned€andÐ Zª Ðoperated€but€several€French€and€Flemish€private€channels€were€also€in€operation.Ð C“ ÐÌ417.€€Concerning€the€dismissal€of€trade„union€representatives,€the€representative€said€that€ð ðseriousÐ e Ðreasonsðð€were€defined€by€law€as€any€serious€transgression€that€immediately€and€definitely€renderedÐ þN Ðfuture€collaboration€between€the€employer€and€employee€impossible.€€Trade„union€representativesÐ ç 7 Ðwere€protected€against€dismissal€for€reasons€related€to€their€official€status€and€the€ð ðserious€reasonsððÐ Ð!   Ðcould€not€be€linked€to€the€existence€or€discharge€of€official€duties€as€trade„union€representatives.Ð ¹" ! ÐÌòòProtection€of€the€family€and€child,€right€to€participate€in€the€conduct€of€public€affairsÐ ‹$Û# ÐÌóó418.€€In€relation€to€those€issues,€members€asked€for€information€on€legislation€regarding€divorce€andÐ ]&­!% Ðcustody€of€children€and€concerning€the€law€and€practice€relating€to€the€employment€of€minors.€Ð F'–"& ÐMembers€also€wished€to€know€what€the€differences€were€between€the€status€of€legitimate€and€naturalÐ /(#' Ðchildren€and€whether€the€existence€of€the€monarchy€impeded€the€application€of€the€principle€of€equalÐ )h$( Ðaccess€to€public€office€by€providing€privileged€treatment€for€the€aristocracy.Ð *Q%) ÐÌ419.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€said€that€the€custody€of€children€in€the€event€of€a€divorce€orÐ Ó+#'+ Ðseparation€was€determined€either€by€agreement€or€by€court€order,€which€was€subject€to€review.€€InÐ ¼, (, Ðdetermining€custody,€the€best€interests€of€the€child€were€the€paramount€factor.€€Where€custody€wasÐ ¥-õ(- Ðawarded€to€one€parent,€the€other€retained€the€right€to€maintain€personal€relations€with€the€child.€€AllÐ ° Ðsuch€rights€were€subject€to€judicial€control€if€the€childððs€physical€or€mental€health€was€consideredÐ ™é Ðto€be€in€jeopardy.€€Children€who€had€not€completed€their€compulsory€schooling€were€prohibitedÐ ‚Ò Ðfrom€taking€up€employment€except€in€areas€related€to€their€education€and€training.€€Work€in€the€Ð k» Ðmining€industry€and€activities€that€might€jeopardize€or€threaten€the€health€or€morals€of€minors€underÐ T¤ Ð19€were€also€prohibited.€€The€fact€that€a€few€public€functions€were€reserved€for€the€royal€family€didÐ =  Ðnot€interfere€with€full€access€by€all€citizens€to€public€employment.Ð & v ÐÌòòConcluding€observations€by€individual€membersÐ ø H ÐÌóó420.€€Members€of€the€Committee€commended€the€State€party€on€its€excellent€report,€which€containedÐ Ê   Ðdetailed€information€on€the€law€and€practice€relating€to€the€implementation€of€the€€CovenantððsÐ ³  Ðprovisions.€€They€also€expressed€appreciation€to€the€representative€of€the€State€party€for€his€effortsÐ œì  Ðto€respond€fully€to€the€Committeeððs€questions,€praised€the€competence€of€the€delegation€andÐ …Õ  Ðconsidered€that€the€dialogue€had€been€fruitful€and€constructive.Ð n¾  ÐÌ421.€€While€recognizing€the€existence€of€a€sound€mechanism€for€the€protection€of€human€rights€andÐ @ Ðthe€difficulties€experienced€by€Belgium,€members€voiced€some€continuing€concerns€in€such€areasÐ )y Ðas€the€jurisdictional€problem€between€the€national€and€community€governments;€discriminationÐ b Ðagainst€aliens€and€immigrants;€the€lack€of€an€overall€judicial€authority€to€deal€with€preventiveÐ ûK Ðdetention;€the€practice€of€detention€by€the€police;€and€the€cultural€bias€against€women.€€They€alsoÐ ä4 Ðurged€the€State€party€to€bring€domestic€law€into€line€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant,€inÐ Í Ðparticular€articles€14,€21€and€26,€and€to€review€the€need€for€its€reservations€to€the€Covenant.Ð ¶ ÐÌ422.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€said€he€would€report€the€various€comments€of€theÐ ˆØ ÐCommittee€to€his€Government€and€hoped€that€the€next€periodic€report€would€show€that€theÐ qÁ ÐCommitteeððs€expectations€had€been€met.Ð Zª ÐÌ423.€€In€concluding€the€consideration€of€the€second€periodic€report€of€Belgium,€the€ChairmanÐ ,| Ðexpressed€satisfaction€over€the€human€rights€situation€in€Belgium.Ð e ÐÌòòComments€of€the€CommitteeÐ ç 7 ÐÌóó424.€€As€indicated€in€paragraph€45€above,€the€Committee,€at€its€1123òòrdóó€meeting,€held€on€24€MarchÐ ¹" ! Ð1992,€decided€that€henceforth,€at€the€conclusion€of€the€consideration€of€a€State€partyððs€report,€itÐ ¢#ò" Ðwould€adopt€comments€reflecting€the€view€of€the€Committee€as€a€whole.Ð ‹$Û# ÐÌ425.€€In€accordance€with€that€decision,€at€its€1148òòthóó€meeting,€held€on€10€April€1992,€the€CommitteeÐ ]&­!% Ðadopted€the€following€comments.Ð F'–"& ÐÌÌÌòòIntroductionÐ ê*:&* ÐÌóó426.€€The€Committee€commends€the€State€party€on€its€excellent€report,€which€contains€detailedÐ ¼, (, Ðinformation€on€law€and€practice€relating€to€the€implementation€of€the€Covenantððs€provisionsÐ ¥-õ(- Ðsubsequent€to€the€consideration€of€the€initial€report.€€The€Committee€appreciates€theÐ ° Ðcomprehensiveness€of€the€report,€which€is€in€conformity€with€the€Committeeððs€guidelines.€€InÐ ™é Ðparticular,€the€Committee€is€grateful€for€both€the€oral€and€written€responses€provided€by€the€StateÐ ‚Ò Ðparty€representative.€€The€Committee€also€appreciates€the€high€competence€of€the€delegation€andÐ k» Ðconsiders€that€the€dialogue€with€the€State€party€was€fruitful€and€constructive.Ð T¤ ÐÌ1.€€€òòPositive€aspectsóóÐ & v ÐÌ427.€€The€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€the€changes€in€law€and€in€practice€during€the€periodÐ ø H Ðunder€review,€in€particular€the€several€decisions€of€the€Court€of€Cassation€affirming€the€applicabilityÐ á 1  Ðof€certain€provisions€of€the€Covenant;€the€law€on€economic€reorientation€prohibiting€anyÐ Ê   Ðdiscrimination€based€on€sex;€the€law€abolishing€all€discrimination€between€children€born€in€and€outÐ ³  Ðof€wedlock;€the€draft€law€permitting€immediate€communication€between€the€accused€and€his€lawyer;Ð œì  Ðthe€bill€proposing€to€abolish€the€death€penalty;€and€the€planned€accession€to€the€Second€OptionalÐ …Õ  ÐProtocol€to€the€Covenant.Ð n¾  ÐÌ2.€€€òòFactors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€application€of€the€CovenantÐ @ ÐÌóó428.€€The€Committee€notes€some€of€the€major€difficulties€experienced€by€Belgium,€such€as€theÐ b Ðcentrifugal€character€of€Belgian€federalism,€the€bipolar€nature€of€the€legal€system€and€the€languageÐ ûK Ðdifferences€among€the€population.€€The€complexity€of€the€Belgian€legal€framework€seems€to€haveÐ ä4 Ðimpeded€a€direct€reference€to€the€Covenant€to€a€certain€extent.Ð Í ÐÌ3.€€€òòPrincipal€subjects€of€concernÐ Ÿï ÐÌóó429.€€Although€noting€the€direct€applicability€of€several€provisions€of€the€Covenant,€which€for€partÐ qÁ Ðof€Belgian€domestic€law,€the€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€difference€between€civil€rightsÐ Zª Ðenjoyed€by€citizens€and€those€enjoyed€by€aliens,€which€may€lead€to€discrimination€against€aliens.€Ð C“ ÐOther€areas€of€concern€included€the€scope€of€interpretation€given€to€article€6€of€the€Covenant;€theÐ ,| Ðadequacy€of€monitoring€pretrial€detention€as€well€as€the€impartiality€of€the€authorities€who€examineÐ e Ðthose€arrested;€the€adequacy€of€remedies€for€wrongful€detention;€the€adequacy€of€information€onÐ þN Ðfreedom€of€expression,€especially€in€relation€to€television€broadcasting;€and€arrangements€as€toÐ ç 7 Ðfreedom€of€assembly€in€open€air.Ð Ð!   ÐÌ4.€€€òòSuggestions€and€recommendationsÐ ¢#ò" ÐÌóó430.€€The€Committee€recommends€to€the€State€party€to€reflect€more€adequately€in€internalÐ t%Ä $ Ðadministrative€practice€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€that€are€not€reflected€in€the€EuropeanÐ ]&­!% ÐConvention€for€the€Protection€of€Human€Rights€and€Fundamental€Freedoms€(e.g.€arts,€25,€26€andÐ F'–"& Ð27),€and€to€ensure€that€the€laws€regarding€restrictions€on€freedom€of€expression€and€assembly€areÐ /(#' Ðcompatible€with€those€provided€for€in€the€Covenant.€€The€Committee€also€recommends€that€the€StateÐ )h$( Ðparty€further€improve€the€effectiveness€of€the€protection€granted€to€minority€rights€at€the€communalÐ *Q%) Ðlevel.€€The€Committee€further€recommends€that€the€State€party€reconsider€its€reservations€so€as€toÐ ê*:&* Ðwithdraw€as€many€as€possible.Ð  Ó+#'+ Ðò òÔ_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô€A/54/40€Ô_Ô(1999)ó óÔ_ÔÐ ° ÐÌÌ67.€€The€Committee€considered€the€third€periodic€report€of€Belgium€(Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/94/Add.3)€at€its€1706òòthóóÐ l¼ Ðand€1707òòthóó€meetings€(Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/SR.1706-1707),€held€on€22€October€1998,€and€adopted€the€followingÐ U¥ Ðconcluding€observations€at€its€1720òòthóó€meeting€(Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/SR.1720),€held€on€2€November€1998.€Ð > Ž ÐÌ1.€€òò€IntroductionóóÐ  ` ÐÌ68.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€appreciation€to€the€State€party€for€its€comprehensive€report,€as€wellÐ â 2  Ðas€for€its€very€useful€core€document€(Ô_ÔHRIÔ_Ô/CORE/1/Add.1/Rev.1).€It€welcomes€the€open€andÐ Ë   Ðself-critical€approach€taken€by€the€State€party€in€the€preparation€of€the€report,€and€notes€theÐ ´  Ðinvolvement€and€collaboration€of€many€national€institutions€and€universities.€It€observes,€however,Ð í  Ðthat€while€the€report€provides€details€on€the€legal€order,€it€contains€little€information€on€actualÐ †Ö  Ðpractice.€The€Committee€welcomes€the€additional€data€provided€by€the€delegation€from€the€capitalÐ o¿  Ðand€its€readiness€to€provide€written€answers€to€pending€questions.€Ð X¨  ÐÌ2.€€òòPositive€aspectsóóÐ *z ÐÌ69.€€The€Committee€commends€the€establishment€of€institutions€aimed€at€monitoring€the€observanceÐ üL Ðof€human€rights€by€State€authorities,€including€the€Ô_ÔCentreÔ_Ô€for€Equality€and€Against€Racism,€and€theÐ å5 Ðcommittee€to€monitor€the€police€services,€with€jurisdiction€over€all€branches€of€the€police€force.€Ð Î ÐÌ70.€€The€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€the€establishment€of€the€Council€on€Equal€OpportunitiesÐ  ð Ðfor€Men€and€Women.€It€notes€that€the€participation€of€women€in€public€affairs€has€increased€sinceÐ ‰Ù Ðthe€previous€report,€but€requests€that€more€detailed€information€on€women's€participation€in€the€workÐ r Ðforce€be€made€available€in€the€next€periodic€report.€Ð [« ÐÌ71.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€on-going€measures€to€reform€the€judicial€system€undertaken€byÐ -} Ðthe€State€party,€in€particular€those€aimed€at€strengthening€the€independence€of€the€judiciary€throughÐ f Ðthe€establishment€of€a€Supreme€Judicial€Council€and€a€Council€of€Attorneys-General.€The€new€lawÐ ÿO Ðon€the€recruitment€of€judges€and€the€increase€in€the€number€of€judges€constitute€positiveÐ è 8 Ðdevelopments.€Furthermore,€penal€procedures€have€been€improved€with€regard€to€the€gathering€ofÐ Ñ!!  Ðinformation€and€investigations,€and€the€handling€of€information€by€the€police.€The€role€of€the€policeÐ º" ! Ðand€of€the€investigating€judge€have€been€better€defined.€The€Committee€welcomes€the€abrogationÐ £#ó" Ðof€the€Act€of€11€July€1994€with€a€view€to€modernizing€the€criminal€justice€system€and€reducing€theÐ Œ$Ü# Ðbacklog€in€the€courts€of€appeal.€Ð u%Å $ ÐÌ72.€€The€Committee€takes€note€of€new€instructions€relating€to€the€methods€and€techniques€underÐ G'—"& Ðwhich€deportations€are€carried€out.€Ð 0(€#' ÐÌ73.€€The€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€that€children€of€illegal€immigrants€are€entitled€toÐ *R%) Ðeducation€and€medical€care.€Ð ë*;&* ÐÌ74.€€The€Committee€considers€it€a€positive€sign€that€unaccompanied€minors€seeking€asylum€are€notÐ ½, (, Ðsent€back€to€their€countries€of€origin,€unless€their€safety€is€guaranteed.€Ð ¦-ö(- ÐÔ_Ô‡75.€€With€regard€to€the€extradition€of€asylum€seekers,€the€Committee€welcomes€the€assurances€byÐ ° Ðthe€delegation€that€extradition€procedures€are€suspended€until€the€asylum€determination€proceduresÐ ™é Ðare€concluded.€Ð ‚Ò ÐÌ76.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€fact€that€Belgium€has€started€the€procedure€for€ratifying€theÐ T¤ ÐSecond€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant€aiming€at€the€abolition€of€the€death€penalty.€Ð =  ÐÌ77.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€establishment€of€an€inter-ministerial€committee€with€competenceÐ  _ Ðover€trafficking€in€persons,€prostitution€and€pornography,€as€well€as€the€adoption€of€other€legislativeÐ ø H Ðmeasures€with€extraterritorial€application.€It€also€welcomes€the€enactment€of€new€laws€aimed€atÐ á 1  Ðcombating€more€effectively€the€traffic€in€minors.€Ð Ê   ÐÌ78.€€The€Committee€welcomes€measures€taken€by€the€State€party€to€improve€prison€conditions,€inÐ œì  Ðparticular€by€introducing€alternative€forms€of€punishment€and€building€new€establishments€toÐ …Õ  Ðalleviate€overcrowding.€Ð n¾  ÐÌ3.€€€òòPrincipal€subjects€of€concern€and€recommendationsóóÐ @ ÐÌ79.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€grave€concern€over€the€reports€of€widespread€police€brutalityÐ b Ðagainst€suspects€in€custody.€It€regrets€the€lack€of€transparency€in€the€conduct€of€investigations€onÐ ûK Ðthe€part€of€police€authorities€and€the€difficulty€in€obtaining€access€to€this€information.€Ð ä4 ÐÌ80.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€behaviour€of€Belgian€soldiers€in€Somalia€under€the€aegisÐ ¶ Ðof€the€United€Nations€Operation€in€Somalia€(UNOSOM€II),€and€acknowledges€that€the€State€partyÐ Ÿï Ðhas€recognized€the€applicability€of€the€Covenant€in€this€respect€and€opened€270€files€for€purposesÐ ˆØ Ðof€investigation.€The€Committee€regrets€that€it€has€not€received€further€information€on€the€resultsÐ qÁ Ðof€the€investigations€and€the€adjudication€of€cases€and€requests€the€State€party€to€submit€thisÐ Zª Ðinformation.€Ð C“ ÐÌ81.€€Procedures€used€in€the€repatriation€of€some€asylum€seekers,€in€particular€the€placing€of€aÐ e Ðcushion€on€the€face€of€an€individual€in€order€to€overcome€resistance,€entails€a€risk€to€life.€The€recentÐ þN Ðcase€of€a€Nigerian€national€who€died€in€such€a€manner€illustrates€the€need€to€re-examine€the€wholeÐ ç 7 Ðprocedure€of€forcible€deportations.€The€Committee€would€like€to€receive€written€information€on€theÐ Ð!   Ðresults€of€the€investigations€into€this€incident€as€well€as€of€any€criminal€or€disciplinary€proceedings.Ð ¹" ! ÐIt€recommends€that€all€security€forces€concerned€in€effecting€deportations€should€receive€specialÐ ¢#ò" Ðtraining.€Ð ‹$Û# ÐÌ82.€€The€Committee€regrets€that€Belgium€has€not€withdrawn€its€reservations€to€the€Covenant€andÐ ]&­!% Ðurges€the€Government€to€reconsider€its€position€in€particular€with€regard€to€article€10.€TheÐ F'–"& ÐGovernment's€explanation€that€the€reservation€is€necessary€because€there€is€a€problem€ofÐ /(#' Ðovercrowding€in€prisons€is€not€persuasive.€In€addition,€alternative€sentences,€including€to€communityÐ )h$( Ðservice,€should€be€encouraged€in€view€of€its€rehabilitative€function.€Ð *Q%) ÐÌ83.€€Community€service€and€parole€should€be€monitored€and€supervised€in€a€more€coherent€way.€TheÐ Ó+#'+ ÐCommittee€encourages€the€Government€to€undertake€an€overall€review€of€its€sentencing€policy€andÐ ¼, (, Ðconsequent€training€for€the€judiciary.€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€suspects€do€not€at€presentÐ ¥-õ(- Ðhave€access€to€counsel€and€to€medical€visits€from€the€moment€of€arrest.€The€Committee€is€alsoÐ ° Ðconcerned€about€the€non-application€of€judicial€guarantees€in€administrative€tribunals€and€otherÐ ™é Ðnon-judicial€entities.€Suspects€should€be€promptly€informed€of€their€rights€in€a€language€theyÐ ‚Ò Ðunderstand.€Ð k» ÐÌ84.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€length€of€pre-trial€detention€and€about€the€large€numberÐ =  Ðof€detainees€still€awaiting€trial.€The€Committee€reminds€the€State€party€that€pursuant€to€article€9,Ð & v Ðparagraph€3,€of€the€Covenant,€pre-trial€detention€should€be€considered€exceptional€and€must€beÐ  _ Ðjustifiable.€It€urges€the€State€party€to€review€its€rules€and€practice€for€granting€bail.€The€CommitteeÐ ø H Ðnotes€furthermore€that€the€period€of€five€months'€detention,€which€may€be€extended€to€eight€months,Ð á 1  Ðto€which€asylum€seekers€may€be€subjected,€may€amount€to€arbitrary€detention€in€violation€of€articleÐ Ê   Ð9€of€the€Covenant,€unless€the€detention€is€subject€to€judicial€review€which€secures€the€release€of€theÐ ³  Ðperson€if€there€is€no€lawful€purpose€being€served€by€the€detention.€Ð œì  ÐÌ85.€€Bearing€in€mind€that€pursuant€to€article€10,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Covenant,€the€essential€aim€ofÐ n¾  Ðincarceration€should€be€the€reformation€and€social€rehabilitation€of€offenders,€the€Committee€urgesÐ W§  Ðthe€State€party€to€develop€rehabilitation€programmes€both€for€the€time€during€imprisonment€and€forÐ @ Ðthe€period€after€release,€when€ex-offenders€must€be€reintegrated€into€society€if€they€are€not€toÐ )y Ðbecome€recidivists.€Ð b ÐÌ86.€€The€Committee€considers€that€the€current€jurisprudence€of€the€Court€of€Cassation€stating€thatÐ ä4 Ðno€judicial€guarantees€apply€to€the€pre-trial€stage€is€inconsistent€with€the€Covenant;€consequently,Ð Í Ðthese€guarantees€should€be€extended€to€the€pre-trial€stage.€Ð ¶ ÐÌ87.€€The€Committee€expresses€grave€concern€about€the€retention€of€article€53€of€the€Act€of€8€AprilÐ ˆØ Ð1965€on€the€protection€of€young€persons,€which€entitles€the€authorities€to€incarcerate€minors€for€aÐ qÁ Ðperiod€of€15€days.€This€practice€raises€questions€not€only€under€article€10€but€under€articles€7€andÐ Zª Ð24€as€well.€Furthermore,€the€practice€of€not€separating€minors€from€adult€offenders€in€jail€is€not€onlyÐ C“ Ðincompatible€with€article€10,€paragraph€3,€but€constitutes€a€violation€of€article€24€of€the€Covenant.€Ð ,| ÐÌ88.€€While€noting€that€the€State€party€is€taking€measures€to€do€away€with€the€practice€of€keepingÐ þN Ðpsychiatric€patients€in€prison€psychiatric€annexes€for€several€months€before€transferring€them€toÐ ç 7 Ðhospitals€that€treat€mental€disorders€("òòtablissement€de€protection€socialeóó"),€the€Committee€pointsÐ Ð!   Ðout€that€this€practice€is€incompatible€with€articles€7€and€9€of€the€Covenant€and€that€it€should€beÐ ¹" ! Ðdiscontinued.€Ð ¢#ò" ÐÌ89.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€concern€about€the€distinction€made€in€Belgian€legislation€betweenÐ t%Ä $ Ðfreedom€of€assembly€and€the€right€to€demonstrate,€which€is€excessively€restricted.€It€recommendsÐ ]&­!% Ðthat€such€differentiation€be€abolished.€Ð F'–"& ÐÌ90.€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€requirement€of€prior€authorization€for€foreign€channels€on€cableÐ )h$( Ðnetworks€is€not€entirely€in€conformity€with€article€19.€The€right€to€freedom€of€broadcasting€shouldÐ *Q%) Ðfirst€be€recognized;€restrictions€may€be€imposed€as€provided€for€in€paragraph€3€of€article€19.€Ð ê*:&* ÐÌ91.€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€procedures€for€recognizing€religions€and€the€rules€for€publicÐ ¼, (, Ðfunding€of€recognized€religions€raise€problems€under€articles€18,€26€and€27€of€the€Covenant.€Ð ¥-õ(- Ї92.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€report€gives€very€little€information€on€the€de€facto€situationÐ ° Ðof€women.€The€Committee€requests€that€the€next€report€provide€precise€information€on€the€outcomeÐ ™é Ðof€measures€to€promote€equality€and€to€combat€violence€against€women.€Ð ‚Ò ÐÌ93.€€The€Committee€remains€concerned€about€the€production,€sale€and€distribution€ofÐ T¤ Ðpaedo-pornography.€It€urges€the€State€party€to€take€effective€measures€to€curtail€the€possession€andÐ =  Ðdistribution€of€these€criminal€materials.€Ð & v ÐÌ94.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€provisions€relating€to€fake€marriages€and€to€the€expulsion€ofÐ ø H Ðaliens€may€give€insufficient€protection€to€the€right€to€marry€and€family€life€as€recognized€in€articlesÐ á 1  Ð17€and€23€of€the€Covenant.€Ð Ê   ÐÌ95.€€The€Committee€requests€the€State€party€to€ensure€the€publication€and€wide€dissemination€inÐ œì  ÐBelgium€of€the€State€party's€report€as€well€as€of€the€Committee's€concluding€observations.€Ð …Õ  ÐÌ96.€€The€Committee€has€fixed€the€date€for€submission€of€Belgium's€fourth€periodic€report€at€OctoberÐ W§  Ð2002.€Ð @ ÐÌÌÌ€ÌÌÓ½Ó