’WPCE »āį`$ßÉ6œˆ\\¬!ŖóōļXš öˆ’:.Qw'‘œ(Yą;a¹ĖŌp vŲMb‚ßæü+Ķ׹”а:™ī¦E«“öžrSŸW&¢– ${uĖ+®#\„zØ9/^'Rühń8Ÿékó³cgńč”°ežżLšYąLk`6Æ)Ól?Ē’Gż@VA¼{6ķ%/!„ŠörUNéŻb䟃(®8»‰–|āŠ”æ~ƒäś/®½PęćŖ÷†Š|µ†š†¢AÅi?‘Z»Œ“»Ō|ܼ«ćŒ8žĆ, Æ“Öny¢”œ½3v–Éky”ŽęaµiƒU‚ ķk×ŗÖÆõD\ŃŲāĖ£@Ģ8 Kv¦”ź­`€­6‘‡ūRÖĮ2×Ń5a+HięNĖvĆÅI@żtčY¤Ÿįō”$f`œÅĆø¾¤r*k¬¢żč(®Q¬¶B„‡ Ē”õ†2ńPic!n+É&`ĪĪyzŗ«³CkT‹qjЇ;„$*ßI6ø®‚&F9yŚūžµwGÆiK„āŗĄ&Aē%faoŽéé8ī•wKą¹9»Æ„ķĒTpĪóŖ3lŁœ¾AøuķĪ•ŲŲć×¢Fz"–Š®¤ #ĮØUNi %· 0:½^ ÷w4* m,NC˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSČŁŲŁŁŲČŁ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,ŌŲ›\, ½ha+˜ \é3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄŻ ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌÓ  ÓŌ€¼uą»XXŌņ ņBOLIVIAó óŠ ° ŠĢĢÓ  ÓŌ€X?īX»¼uąŌņ ņŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō€€A/44/40€(1989)ó óŠ į1 ŠĢÓ  Ó405.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Bolivia€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/26/Add.2)€at€its€896ņņthóó,€897ņņthóóŠ “  Šand€900ņņthóó€meetings€on€11€and€13€July€1989€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.896,€897€and€900).Š  ķ ŠĢ406.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party,€who€referred€to€theŠ o æ Šhistorical€development€of€his€countryššs€institutions€and€legal€system,€and€to€the€fundamental€humanŠ X Ø  Šrights€principles€that€had€been€embodied€in€the€first€Bolivian€Constitution€of€1825€and€had€beenŠ A‘  Šmaintained€in€all€succeeding€constitutions€up€to€the€one€that€had€entered€into€force€in€1967.€€HeŠ *z  Šemphasized€that€Boliviaššs€acceptance€of€the€instruments€that€made€up€the€International€Bill€ofŠ c  ŠHuman€Rights€constituted€further€testimony€of€his€countryššs€political€will€to€promote€political€co„Š üL  Šexistence€and€respect€for€the€individual.Š å5  ŠĢ407.€€He€stated€that€the€rights€guaranteed€by€the€Bolivian€Constitution€were€reinforced€by€the€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_ŌŠ · Šof€separation€of€the€executive,€judicial€and€legislative€powers.€€The€articles€of€the€ConstitutionŠ  š Šrelating€to€guarantees€for€the€individual€and€to€fundamental€freedoms€took€precedence€over€anyŠ ‰Ł Šother€law€in€respect€of€their€application€by€the€courts,€judges€and€the€authorities€in€general.€€AnyŠ rĀ Šperson€who€considered€that€his€fundamental€rights€had€been€violated€had€access€to€legal€remedies,Š [« Šnotably€those€of€ņņŌ_ŌamparoŌ_Ōóó€and€ņņhabeas€corpusóó.€€The€International€Covenants€on€Human€Rights€formedŠ D” Šan€integral€part€of€Bolivian€legislation€and€their€provisions€could€be€invoked€in€the€courts.€€CasesŠ -} Šrelating€to€human€rights€fell€within€the€jurisdiction€of€either€the€criminal€courts€or€the€ŌCEUS.,ŌlabourŠ f Štribunal.Š ’O ŠĢ408.€€He€described€the€social,€political€and€economic€difficulties€that€his€country€had€repeatedlyŠ Ń! Šencountered€since€its€independence.€€He€stated€that,€despite€those€difficulties,€Bolivian€society€hadŠ ŗ  Šnever€abandoned€the€idea€of€representative€democracy€and€that,€in€the€course€of€its€history,Š £ó Špersecution€and€the€restriction€of€fundamental€freedoms€had€rarely€assumed€massive€proportions.€Š ŒÜ ŠLike€other€developing€countries,€Bolivia€was€still€characterized€by€substantial€social€inequalities,Š u Å Šflagrant€imbalances€in€the€income€distribution€and€serious€shortcomings€in€infrastructure,Š ^!® Šparticularly€in€rural€areas.€€Since€the€restoration€of€a€representative€and€pluralist€democracy€in€hisŠ G"—  Šcountry,€the€Bolivian€public€authorities€had€pursued€a€policy€of€structural€adjustment€with€the€aimŠ 0#€! Šof€overcoming€the€economic€and€social€crisis,€and€strengthening€and€developing€the€role€of€the€StateŠ $i" Šin€safeguarding€human€rights.Š %R # ŠĢ409.€€Members€of€the€Committee€considered€that€the€report€of€Bolivia€had€been€drafted€in€fullŠ Ō&$"% Šconformity€with€the€Committeeššs€guidelines;€they€nevertheless€expressed€regret€that,€while€givingŠ ½' #& Šinformation€on€the€implementation€of€the€Covenant€in€Bolivian€legislation,€the€report€did€not€containŠ ¦(ö#' Šany€details€on€its€implementation€in€practice,€especially€in€the€context€of€the€Bolivian€judicialŠ )ß$( Šsystem,€and€did€not€describe€€the€difficulties€encountered€in€its€implementation.€€Members€noted€thatŠ x*Č%) Šsignificant€measures€had€been€taken€by€the€Government€to€improve€the€economic€situation€and,Š a+±&* Šconsequently,€the€situation€of€fundamental€rights€in€Bolivia,€but€they€would€have€liked€informationŠ J,š'+ Šon€other€factors€that€might€impede€the€implementation€of€the€Covenant€in€Bolivia,€such€as€the€drugŠ 3-ƒ(, ŠŌ_Ōproblem€or€the€effects€of€legislation€that€was€in€some€respects€outdated.Š ° ŠĢ410.€€Referring€to€article€1€of€the€Covenant,€some€members€of€the€Committee€observed€that,€in€theŠ ‚Ņ Šreport,€reference€was€made€to€the€right€of€the€State€to€determine€its€political,€economic€and€socialŠ k» Šsystem,€whereas€the€Covenant€spoke€of€the€right€of€self„determination€of€peoples.€€Clarification€ofŠ T¤ ŠBoliviaššs€position€on€that€point€was€requested.Š =  ŠĢ411.€€In€connection€with€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€asked€severalŠ  _ Šquestions€about€measures€to€implement€the€Covenantššs€provisions€in€Bolivian€legislation€and€aboutŠ ų H Šthe€operation€of€the€countryššs€judicial€system.€€They€asked€the€following€specific€questions:€whetherŠ į 1  Šthe€law€enforcement€authorities€and,€in€particular,€members€of€the€armed€forces€were€aware€of€theŠ Ź   Šguarantees€and€freedoms€established€in€the€Constitution€and€referred€to€in€the€Covenant,€and€whetherŠ ³  Šthey€were€instructed€to€respect€those€rights;€whether€the€possibility€of€direct€enforcement€of€theŠ œģ  ŠConstitution€by€the€courts€implied€a€tacit€declaration€of€unconstitutionality€in€the€case€of€lawsŠ …Õ  Šdeemed€to€be€at€variance€with€the€Constitution;€what€domestic€provision€empowered€the€legislatureŠ n¾  Što€approve€treaties€and€confer€the€status€of€laws€on€treaties;€whether€the€provisions€of€the€CovenantŠ W§  Šcould€be€applied€directly€by€the€courts€in€Bolivia,€and€in€what€case€they€would€be€invoked;€whatŠ @ Šprovision€would€be€applied€in€the€event€of€a€contradiction€between€the€Covenant€and€the€BolivianŠ )y ŠConstitution€or€other€laws;€and€whether€it€was€possible€for€the€legislature€to€denounce€a€treaty€toŠ b Šwhich€Bolivia€was€a€party,€at€least€with€regard€to€its€application€in€domestic€law.€€Clarification€wasŠ ūK Šalso€requested€on€emergency€courts,€the€competence€of€the€military€courts€and€the€obligatoryŠ ä4 Šcharacter€or€otherwise€of€Supreme€Court€decisions€regarding,€notably,€the€constitutionality€of€aŠ Ķ Šdecision€by€the€supreme€military€court.€€It€was€also€asked€what€measures€had€been€adopted€by€theŠ ¶ ŠBolivian€authorities€to€give€effect€to€the€observations€made€by€the€Committee€on€2€November€1987Š Ÿļ Šon€communication€No.€176/1984€(ņņŌ_ŌPearrietaŌ_Ōóó).Š ˆŲ ŠĢ412.€€In€connection€with€article€3€of€the€Covenant,€questions€were€asked€about€the€equality€of€theŠ ZŖ Šspouses€in€the€choice€of€the€conjugal€home€and€in€the€custody€of€children€in€the€event€of€dissolutionŠ C“ Šof€the€marriage.€€It€was€asked€whether,€in€general,€there€still€existed€in€Bolivia€legal€provisions€thatŠ ,| Šwere€not€completely€consistent€with€the€principle€of€equality€of€rights€as€between€men€and€women,Š e Šin€what€way€equality€was€achieved€in€practice€and€what€difficulties€were€encountered€in€the€processŠ žN Šof€achieving€such€equality.€€It€was€also€noted€that,€according€to€information€received€by€theŠ ē 7 ŠInternational€Labour€Organisation,€the€Bolivian€General€Labour€Act€provided€that€the€proportionŠ Š!   Šof€women€in€an€enterprise€which€could€not€exceed€45€per€cent,€except€in€enterprises€that€by€theirŠ ¹" ! Šnature€required€a€higher€proportion,€and€it€was€observed€that€such€a€provision€appeared€to€beŠ ¢#ņ" Šincompatible€with€articles€3€and€26€of€the€Covenant.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ413.€€As€to€article€4€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€noted€that,€on€several€occasions,Š ]&­!% ŠBolivia€had€exercised€the€right€of€derogation€provided€for€in€paragraph€1€of€that€article.€€In€thatŠ F'–"& Šconnection€they€requested€clarification€of€the€provisions€governing€the€state€of€siege€in€Bolivia€andŠ /(#' Šthose€governing€its€suspension.€€They€asked,€in€particular,€which€authority€was€empowered€to€orderŠ )h$( Šthe€arrest€of€persons€suspected€of€conspiracy€against€law€and€order;€what€guarantees€were€availableŠ *Q%) Šduring€a€state€of€siege€to€a€person€whose€rights€had€been€infringed;€what€authority€could€determineŠ ź*:&* Šthe€civil€or€international€nature€of€a€conflict;€and€what€was€the€nature€of€the€incidents€that€hadŠ Ó+#'+ Šprovoked€the€proclamation€of€a€state€of€siege€on€numerous€occasions€in€Bolivia€in€recent€years.€Š ¼, (, ŠNoting€that,€in€the€notification€received€by€the€Secretary„General€concerning€the€state€of€siegeŠ „-õ(- Šproclaimed€in€1986,€the€Bolivian€authorities€had€given€as€grounds€for€that€proclamation€seriousŠ ° Špolitical€and€social€disturbances,€some€members€observed€that€a€protest€movement€or€general€strikeŠ ™é Šdid€not€fulfill€the€conditions€for€proclamation€of€a€state€of€siege€as€set€forth€in€article€4,€paragraphŠ ‚Ņ Š1,€of€the€Covenant.Š k» ŠĢ414.€€In€connection€with€article€6€of€the€Covenant,€clarification€was€requested€concerning€theŠ =  Šexistence€in€Bolivia€of€capital€punishment,€which,€according€to€a€note€to€article€17€of€theŠ & v ŠConstitution,€still€appeared€to€be€in€force.€€Clarification€was€also€requested€concerning€theŠ  _ Šexpression€š šhomicide€committed€...€for€motives€honouršš,€which€was€contained€in€the€report,€theŠ ų H Šdefinition€of€š špolitical€offencesšš,€the€authorities€that€were€empowered€to€amnesty€political€offencesŠ į 1  Šand€the€possibilities€of€recourse€in€the€event€of€refusal€by€the€competent€authorities€to€enforce€aŠ Ź   Špresidential€decree€of€amnesty.€€Similarly,€information€was€requested€about€cases€of€enforcedŠ ³  Šdisappearance€in€Bolivia€and€about€the€role€of€the€Ō_ŌComisiš;šnŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌNacionalŌ_Ō€de€Ō_ŌInvestigacionesŌ_Ō€deŠ œģ  ŠŌ_ŌDesaparecidosŌ_Ō€(National€Commission€for€Investigations€of€Disappearances).€€Details€were€furtherŠ …Õ  Šrequested€about€legislative€measures€concerning€abortion,€which€seemed€to€be€quite€widespread€inŠ n¾  ŠBolivia.Š W§  ŠĢ415.€€In€connection€with€article€7€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€whyŠ )y Šthe€penalty€imposed€on€any€person€engaging€in€torture€that€led€to€the€death€of€the€victim€was€onlyŠ b Š10€years€of€hard€labour€in€Bolivia,€whether€investigations€were€envisaged€in€connection€with€casesŠ ūK Šof€torture€of€detainees,€such€cases€having€been€recently€reported€in€Bolivia,€whether€there€were€anyŠ ä4 Šstatistics€about€the€approximate€number€of€violations€committed€by€law€enforcement€officials€andŠ Ķ Šwhat€the€result€was€of€any€investigations€into€those€violations.€€It€was€also€asked€what€measures€hadŠ ¶ Šbeen€taken€by€the€Bolivian€authorities€to€ensure€that€a€confession€obtained€through€torture€could€notŠ Ÿļ Šbe€used€in€the€trial,€to€provide€redress€and€compensation€for€the€victims€of€acts€of€torture,€and€toŠ ˆŲ Šcomply€in€general€with€the€general€comments€made€by€the€Committee€about€the€implementation€ofŠ qĮ Šarticle€7€of€the€Covenant.Š ZŖ ŠĢ416.€€In€connection€with€article€8€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€asked€what€penaltyŠ ,| Šwas€imposed€on€persons€who€refused€to€serve€as€scrutineers,€such€service€being€compulsory€inŠ e ŠBolivia,€and€on€persons€who€refused€to€perform€military€service.€€They€also€requested€clarificationŠ žN Šof€the€provisions€of€the€Bolivian€Penal€Code,€which€laid€down€penalties€consisting€of€theŠ ē 7 Šperformance€of€labour€for€certain€offences;€those€penalties€seemed€to€be€incompatible€with€articleŠ Š!   Š8,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Covenant.€€In€addition,€information€was€requested€about€the€regulationsŠ ¹" ! Šgoverning€relations€between€employers€and€employees,€and€in€particular€about€criminal€provisionsŠ ¢#ņ" Šin€Bolivia€to€prevent€the€exploitation€of€an€employee€who€was€financially€indebted€to€his€employer.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ417.€€With€regard€to€article€9€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€whether€persons€arrested€by€the€policeŠ ]&­!% Šfor€š švagrancyšš€were€able€to€invoke€ņņhabeas€corpusóó€and€ņņŌ_ŌamparoŌ_Ōóó,€whether€they€had€the€right€toŠ F'–"& Šassistance€by€a€lawyer€and€what€was€the€maximum€length€of€pre„trial€detention€in€Bolivia.€€It€wasŠ /(#' Šremarked€that€the€power€of€the€police€to€classify€a€person€as€a€š švagrantšš€and€to€detain€him€withoutŠ )h$( Štrial€for€long€periods€did€not€appear€to€be€in€conformity€with€the€provisions€of€articles€7,€9€and€14Š *Q%) Šof€the€Covenant€or€with€those€of€article€16€of€the€Bolivian€Constitution.€€Detailed€information€wasŠ ź*:&* Šrequested€on€the€Bolivian€legislative€provisions€that€contained€a€definition€of€š švagrancyšš,€on€theŠ Ó+#'+ ŠPolice€Act€of€1986,€the€organizational€law€of€1985,€the€functions€of€the€ņņŌ_ŌjuzgadosŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌpolicialesŌ_Ōóó€and€theŠ ¼, (, Šavailability€of€remedies€against€their€decisions.Š „-õ(- Ї418.€€Concerning€article€10€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€requested€detailsŠ ° Šconcerning€the€Bolivian€prison€system,€in€particular€the€treatment€of€pregnant€women€detainees,€theŠ ™é Šcriteria€used€for€setting€remuneration€for€work€by€prisoners,€the€distribution€of€prisoners€awaitingŠ ‚Ņ Štrial€and€convicted€prisoners€according€to€the€š šstage€of€the€investigationšš€and€the€functioning€inŠ k» Špractice€of€the€prison€system€for€minors.€€In€particular,€it€was€asked€whether€the€treatment€ofŠ T¤ Šprisoners€awaiting€trial€was€in€keeping€with€the€Standard€Minimum€Rules€for€the€Treatment€ofŠ =  ŠPrisoners,€especially€with€regard€to€medical€supervision,€and€whether€other€United€NationsŠ & v Šinstruments€concerning€treatment€in€detention€were€implemented€in€Bolivia.Š  _ ŠĢ419.€€Regarding€article€12€of€the€Covenant,€members€wished€to€know€what€criteria€were€used€forŠ į 1  Šgranting€refugee€status€to€foreigners€in€Bolivia,€especially€when€they€had€no€international€documentŠ Ź   Šattesting€to€their€refugee€status,€and€what€overall€policy€the€Government€of€Bolivia€followedŠ ³  Šregarding€the€granting€of€refugee€status.Š œģ  ŠĢ420.€€In€connection€with€article€13€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€whether€a€foreigner€could€appealŠ n¾  Šonly€against€a€decision€concerning€him€by€a€judicial€body€or€also€against€a€decision€by€the€executive,Š W§  Šand€whether€a€court€or€administrative€body€was€empowered€to€reconsider€an€expulsion€order.Š @ ŠĢ421.€€With€regard€to€article€14€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€requested€detailsŠ b Šconcerning€the€application€in€Bolivia€of€the€principle€of€the€presumption€of€innocence€andŠ ūK Šconcerning€delays€in€the€conduct€of€trials.€€Details€were€also€requested€on€the€procedures€used€byŠ ä4 Šemergency€courts,€such€as€the€military€courts,€and€on€their€conformity€with€the€provisions€of€theŠ Ķ ŠCovenant€and€with€the€Committeeššs€general€comment€No.€13€(21).€€It€was€also€asked€whether€theŠ ¶ Šprovisions€of€article€117€of€the€Bolivian€Constitution€concerning€the€independence€of€judges€alsoŠ Ÿļ Šapplied€to€emergency€court€judges€and€in€what€way€the€independence€of€military€court€judges€wasŠ ˆŲ Šguaranteed€in€legislation€and€in€practice.Š qĮ ŠĢ422.€€With€regard€to€article€17€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€theŠ C“ Šexact€meaning€of€article€20€of€the€Bolivian€Constitution,€which€concerned€the€inviolability€ofŠ ,| Šcorrespondence€and€private€papers.€€With€reference€to€what€was€stated€in€the€report,€it€was€askedŠ e Šwhether€in€Bolivia€telephone„tapping€or€bugging€by€electronic€devices€was€prohibited€in€allŠ žN Šcircumstances€or€whether€the€security€police€would€be€permitted€to€use€such€methods€in€certainŠ ē 7 Šcases,€whether€houses€could€be€entered€by€public€officials€in€cases€where€State€security€wasŠ Š!   Šendangered€and€what€type€of€protection€was€guaranteed€for€journalistsšš€sources€of€information.Š ¹" ! ŠĢ423.€€Referring€to€article€18€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€requested€clarification€ofŠ ‹$Ū# Šsupport€by€the€Bolivian€State€for€the€Catholic€religion€and€the€position€of€other€religiousŠ t%Ä $ Šdenominations€in€Bolivia.€€Statistics€on€religious€groups€in€Bolivian€society€were€also€requested.Š ]&­!% ŠĢ424.€€Regarding€article€19€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€asked€whether€the€provisionsŠ /(#' Šset€forth€in€that€article€had€been€invoked€in€the€Bolivian€courts€in€cases€concerning€charges€ofŠ )h$( Šdefamation€against€the€President€of€the€Republic€by€members€of€the€political€opposition€and€whatŠ *Q%) Šthe€outcome€of€such€cases€had€been.€€Clarification€was€also€requested€concerning€BolivianŠ ź*:&* Šlegislative€provisions€relating€to€freedom€of€expression€and€cases€of€derogation€involving€the€pressŠ Ó+#'+ Šor€other€media.€€Information€was€also€requested€about€ownership€of€the€media,€the€measures€beingŠ ¼, (, Šconsidered€to€avoid€the€formation€of€a€monopoly€by€the€media€and€journalistsšš€access€to€the€publicŠ „-õ(- Šauthoritiesšš€information€sources.Š ° ŠĢ425.€€Concerning€article€20€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€asked€how€internationalŠ ‚Ņ Šprovisions€prohibiting€propaganda€for€war€were€reflected€in€Bolivian€national€legislation.Š k» ŠĢ426.€€With€regard€to€articles€21€and€22€of€the€Covenant,€explanations€were€sought€concerning€theŠ =  Štypes€of€punishment€that€would€be€imposed€on€associations€having€illegal€aims€or€acting€withŠ & v Šcriminal€intent.€€It€was€also€asked€what€restrictions€were€imposed€by€law€on€the€right€of€assembly,Š  _ Šhow€a€meeting€or€association€was€determined€to€be€lawful,€under€which€law€such€a€determinationŠ ų H Šcould€be€made€and€which€body€was€empowered€to€make€it,€what€conditions€trade€unions€wereŠ į 1  Šrequired€to€fulfill€in€order€to€be€officially€registered€and€whether€it€was€true€that€there€could€be€noŠ Ź   Šmore€than€one€trade€union€in€a€single€company,€whether€trade€union€activity€was€respected€inŠ ³  Špractice€in€conformity€with€the€provisions€of€article€22€of€the€Covenant€and€what€the€BolivianŠ œģ  Šauthoritiesšš€attitude€was€towards€strikes.Š …Õ  ŠĢ427.€€With€reference€to€article€23€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€asked€what€theŠ W§  Šdifference€was€in€Bolivia,€from€a€legal€standpoint,€between€free€or€ņņde€factoóó€unions€and€marriage,Š @ Šwhether€the€country€had€an€information€policy€on€methods€of€contraception€or€whether€suchŠ )y Šinformation€was€prohibited.€€They€also€asked€for€details€concerning€the€criminal€responsibility€ofŠ b Ša€mother€in€the€event€of€failure€by€her€to€fulfil€her€duty€of€assistance€to€her€minor€child.Š ūK ŠĢ428.€€Concerning€article€24€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€what€the€working€age€for€children€wasŠ Ķ Šunder€Bolivian€labour€legislation.€€It€was€also€asked€to€what€extent€the€National€Board€for€theŠ ¶ ŠProtection€of€Minors€was€concerned€with€minors€in€detention,€what€was€being€done€for€abandonedŠ Ÿļ Šchildren€and€street€children€and,€with€regard€to€the€right€of€children€to€acquire€a€nationality,€whatŠ ˆŲ Šthe€legal€position€of€a€child€born€in€Bolivia€would€be€if€neither€of€the€childššs€parents€was€of€BolivianŠ qĮ Šnationality.Š ZŖ ŠĢ429.€€With€regard€to€article€25€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€noted€that€in€BoliviaŠ ,| Šonly€citizens€who€could€read€and€write€could€be€elected€to€public€office.€€In€that€connection,€theyŠ e Šasked€how€that€basic€requirement€was€verified,€what€percentage€of€the€Bolivian€population€wasŠ žN Šliterate€and,€among€the€illiterate€population,€what€was€the€percentage€of€indigenous€inhabitants,Š ē 7 Špersons€of€mixed€race€and€whites.€€They€also€asked€under€what€conditions€foreigners€couldŠ Š!   Šparticipate€in€municipal€elections,€whether€the€obligation€of€every€citizen€to€vote,€as€set€forth€inŠ ¹" ! Šarticle€219€of€the€Bolivian€Constitution,€was€of€a€legal€or€merely€moral€nature,€what€theŠ ¢#ņ" Šconsequences€were€of€a€refusal€to€exercise€the€right€to€vote,€what€conditions€of€eligibility€were€setŠ ‹$Ū# Šforth€by€the€laws€in€addition€to€those€set€forth€in€the€Constitution,€which€authority€was€empoweredŠ t%Ä $ Što€verify€them€and€what€conditions€must€be€fulfilled€in€Bolivia€in€order€to€form€a€new€political€party.€Š ]&­!% ŠIn€this€connection,€more€information€was€requested€on€the€criteria€for€granting€civic€groups€juridicalŠ F'–"& Špersonality€in€order€to€form€fronts€or€coalitions€for€purposes€of€political€activity.Š /(#' ŠĢ430.€€In€connection€with€article€27€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€theŠ *Q%) Šreasons€why€the€indigenous€Aymara€and€Quechua€peoples€in€Bolivia€were€not€regarded€as€ethnicŠ ź*:&* Šminorities,€which€indigenous€languages€were€taught€in€school€and€whether€it€was€possible€to€useŠ Ó+#'+ Šlanguages€other€than€Spanish€in€relations€with€the€authorities.€€Statistics€were€requested€to€determineŠ ¼, (, Šthe€percentage€of€indigenous€inhabitants€in€relation€to€the€total€population€of€Bolivia,€their€economicŠ „-õ(- Šsituation,€especially€in€the€light€of€the€national€agrarian€reform,€the€proportion€of€such€inhabitantsŠ ° Šamong€persons€pursuing€advanced€studies€and€their€participation€in€national€political€activities.Š ™é ŠĢ431.€€In€reply€to€questions€asked€by€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€BoliviaŠ k» Šreferred€generally€to€the€main€difficulties€his€country€was€encountering€in€its€development€process,Š T¤ Šsuch€as€a€very€low€life€expectancy,€high€infant€morality,€a€high€illiteracy€rate€and€a€high€rate€ofŠ =  Šinflation.Š & v ŠĢ432.€€Replying€to€the€question€asked€in€connection€with€article€1€of€the€Covenant,€he€explained€thatŠ ų H Šthere€was€no€difference€of€interpretation€concerning€that€articleššs€provisions:€the€State€was€in€factŠ į 1  Šthe€outcome€of€the€peopleššs€exercise€of€its€right€of€self„determination.Š Ź   ŠĢ433.€€Referring€to€the€questions€on€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€he€said€that€the€Covenant,€as€a€treatyŠ œģ  Šincorporated€into€Bolivian€legislation,€had€the€same€authority€as€the€other€laws,€but€a€treaty€lawŠ …Õ  Šcould€not€take€precedence€over€the€Constitution.€€The€law€incorporating€a€treaty€could€not€beŠ n¾  Šmodified€unless€there€had€been€a€prior€denunciation€of€the€treaty.€€The€constitutionality€of€the€lawsŠ W§  Šwas€guaranteed€in€Bolivia€by€the€principle€of€the€primacy€of€the€Constitution,€which€required€judgesŠ @ Šand€authorities€to€apply€the€Constitution€in€preference€to€the€other€laws€and€the€law€in€preferenceŠ )y Što€other€decisions€and€resolutions;€it€was€also€guaranteed€by€the€action€of€unconstitutionality,€whichŠ b Šcould€be€pursued€before€the€Supreme€Court€of€Justice.€€He€gave€details€on€the€structure€of€theŠ ūK Šjudicial€bodies€and€on€the€types€of€remedies€available€in€Bolivia€to€guarantee€the€exercise€of€humanŠ ä4 Šrights;€they€consisted€principally€of€ņņhabeas€corpusóó,€ņņŌ_ŌamparoŌ_Ōóó,€ordinary€remedies,€by€way€of€appeal,Š Ķ Šand€extraordinary€remedies,€such€as€application€for€annulment€or€review,€or€automatic€review.€€HeŠ ¶ Šalso€explained€the€order€of€precedence€as€between€internal€laws€and€decree€laws€issued€by€theŠ Ÿļ ŠPresident€of€the€Republic€and€the€Government.€€In€that€connection,€the€Bolivian€Congress€had€begunŠ ˆŲ Ša€review€of€national€legislation€with€a€view€to€standardizing€it.Š qĮ ŠĢ434.€€With€regard€to€article€3€of€the€Covenant,€he€said€that,€in€the€legal€sphere,€there€was€completeŠ C“ Šequality€between€the€spouses€in€Bolivia€and€the€conjugal€home€was€chosen€by€both€spouses;€in€casesŠ ,| Šof€disagreement,€they€could€ask€a€judge€to€decide.€€He€referred€to€divorce€procedure€in€his€countryŠ e Šand€explained€that,€when€a€marriage€was€dissolved,€custody€of€the€children€was€determined€byŠ žN Šmutual€agreement€of€the€parents,€with€the€judgeššs€approval;€in€the€absence€of€agreement,€the€judgeŠ ē 7 Šwould€take€a€decision€in€conformity€with€the€law.€€Bolivian€women€were€not€subordinate€to€theirŠ Š!   Šhusbands,€but€in€practice,€because€of€ancestral€customs,€Bolivian€society€believed€in€the€supremacyŠ ¹" ! Šof€the€family€and€of€the€father€as€head€of€the€family.€€However,€a€growing€number€of€women€hadŠ ¢#ņ" Šjobs€and€were€participating€in€public€life.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ435.€€Regarding€the€state€of€siege€in€Bolivia,€he€explained€that€it€was€a€limited€emergency€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō,Š ]&­!% Šas€it€did€not€apply€throughout€the€country€and€only€certain€rights€were€limited€or€suspended€and€onlyŠ F'–"& Šin€the€case€of€certain€persons.€€The€proclamation€of€the€state€of€siege€was€within€the€competence€ofŠ /(#' Šthe€executive€and€was€effected€by€decree,€with€the€agreement€of€the€Council€of€Ministers;€it€wasŠ )h$( Šthen€submitted€for€approval€to€Congress,€which€either€authorized€it€to€be€maintained€or€decided€toŠ *Q%) Šsuspend€it.€€The€executive€was€also€required€to€ask€Congressššs€consent€to€the€extension€of€the€stateŠ ź*:&* Šof€siege€beyond€90€days.€€During€the€state€of€siege,€persons€suspected€of€participating€in€activitiesŠ Ó+#'+ Šliable€to€jeopardize€public€order€who€were€the€subject€of€a€summons€or€arrest€warrant€had€to€beŠ ¼, (, Šbrought€before€a€judge€within€48€hours€at€the€most.€€Such€persons€could€be€the€subject€of€a€restrictedŠ „-õ(- Šresidence€order.€€He€stressed€that€the€state€of€siege€decreed€in€1985,€and€again€in€1986,€wasŠ ° Šnecessary€because€of€the€countryššs€total€economic€collapse.Š ™é ŠĢ436.€€Concerning€article€6€of€the€Covenant,€he€explained€that€capital€punishment,€which€was€notŠ k» Šprovided€for€in€the€Bolivian€Constitution,€had€in€fact€been€re„established€by€the€Penal€Code.€€In€thatŠ T¤ Šconflict€of€laws,€the€Constitution€took€precedence€over€the€law,€and€if€a€death€sentence€was€handedŠ =  Šdown€by€a€court,€it€was€commuted€to€a€sentence€of€30€yearsšš€imprisonment€by€the€higher€court.€€TheŠ & v ŠBolivian€Constitution€contained€no€definition€or€criminal€characterization€of€political€offences:€suchŠ  _ Šoffences€were€classified€subjectively,€in€the€light€of€the€motives€underlying€them.€€However,€thereŠ ų H Šwere€no€longer€any€political€detainees€in€Bolivia€and€there€had€been€no€amnesty€for€politicalŠ į 1  Šoffences€in€five€years.€€There€had€been€no€problem€of€enforced€disappearances€in€his€country€sinceŠ Ź   Šits€return€to€a€democratic€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō.€€The€ņņAd€Hocóó€Committee€of€Inquiry€into€Pending€Cases€ofŠ ³  ŠDisappearance,€which€had€been€established€by€the€Government€of€Bolivia,€had€ceased€to€function,Š œģ  Šbut€procedures€for€finding€disappeared€persons€remained€open.€€Abortion€was€prohibited€in€Bolivia,Š …Õ  Šapart€from€exceptional€cases€authorized€by€law.Š n¾  ŠĢ437.€€With€regard€to€article€7,€he€said€that€the€Bolivian€Ministry€of€the€Interior€was€organizingŠ @ Štraining€and€information€courses€for€its€personnel,€including€police€personnel,€on€the€Covenant€andŠ )y Šon€domestic€legal€provisions€concerning€the€rights€of€individuals.Š b ŠĢ438.€€In€reply€to€the€questions€relating€to€article€8€of€the€Covenant,€he€said€that€persons€who€refusedŠ ä4 Što€serve€as€scrutineers€were€not€liable€to€serious€penalties.Š Ķ ŠĢ439.€€As€far€as€administrative€procedures€concerning€vagrants€was€concerned,€he€pointed€out€thatŠ Ÿļ Šthey€only€applied€to€habitual€offenders€and€to€criminals€of€no€fixed€abode€and€without€employment,Š ˆŲ Šthe€so„called€ņņŌ_ŌvagosŌ_Ōóó,€who€should€not€be€confused€with€ordinary€unemployed€persons.€€The€personsŠ qĮ Šconcerned€were€entitled€to€be€assisted€by€a€lawyer,€but€were€not€provided€with€free€legal€assistance.Š ZŖ ŠĢ440.€€In€connection€with€article€10€of€the€Covenant,€he€said€that€there€were€practical€problems€inŠ ,| ŠBolivian€prisons,€and€that€the€provisions€concerning€the€separation€of€juvenile€offenders€from€adultsŠ e Šand€the€provision€of€medical€supervision€and€welfare€were€not€always€observed.€€However,€aŠ žN Šnumber€of€improvements€had€been€made,€in€particular€with€regard€to€visiting€rights€and€theŠ ē 7 Špossibility€of€parole€in€exceptional€circumstances.Š Š!   ŠĢ441.€€Referring€to€article€12€of€the€Covenant,€he€said€that€the€international€document€attesting€toŠ ¢#ņ" Šrefugee€status€was€not€a€ņņsine€qua€nonóó€for€Bolivia€to€receive€a€foreigner€as€a€refugee.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ442.€€Turning€to€article€14€of€the€Covenant,€he€observed,€in€respect€of€the€presumption€of€innocence,Š ]&­!% Šthat€Bolivian€law€and€jurisprudence€clearly€illustrated€that€the€burden€of€proof€was€not€on€theŠ F'–"& Šaccused.Š /(#' ŠĢ443.€€In€connection€with€article€17€of€the€Covenant,€he€pointed€out€that€under€Bolivian€law,€privateŠ *Q%) Špapers€could€be€seized€only€when€necessary€for€criminal€cases€and€only€with€prior€authorization.€Š ź*:&* ŠThe€tapping€of€telephone€conversations€was€unlawful€in€all€cases.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ444.€€In€respect€of€article€18€of€the€Covenant,€he€explained€that€State€recognition€of,€and€support€for,Š „-õ(- Šthe€Catholic€religion€was€more€dogmatic€than€practical.€€In€fact,€the€Catholic€Church€received€itsŠ ° Šmaterial€support€from€believers.€€The€State€was€also€involved€in€certain€plans€of€other€religiousŠ ™é Šdenominations€and€there€were€519€religious€sects€in€Bolivia.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ445.€€Regarding€freedom€of€information,€he€said€that€the€need€was€felt€in€Bolivia€to€adjust€existingŠ T¤ Šlegislation€to€modern€information€techniques€and€to€regulate,€in€particular,€the€conflict€between€theŠ =  Š1925€Act€and€the€Decree€Law€of€1951.€€There€was€no€monopolistic€trend€in€ownership€of€the€mediaŠ & v Šin€Bolivia:€morning€daily€papers€belonged€to€the€private€sector,€there€was€no€State„owned€newspaperŠ  _ Šand€there€were€at€present€40€television€channels€in€the€country.Š ų H ŠĢ446.€€In€connection€with€articles€21€and€22€of€the€Covenant,€he€said€that€in€Bolivia€trade€unions€wereŠ Ź   Šrequired€to€possess€legal€personality,€in€accordance€with€the€provisions€of€the€General€Labour€Act.€Š ³  ŠHowever,€under€a€more€recent€act,€prior€authorization€was€no€longer€required€in€order€to€set€up€aŠ œģ  Štrade€union.€€As€to€other€conditions€required€by€the€General€Labour€Act€in€order€to€set€up€tradeŠ …Õ  Šunion,€the€Bolivian€Trade€Union€Federation€considered€that€any€amendment€to€the€currentŠ n¾  Šprovisions€would€be€contrary€to€the€interests€of€workers€and€would€create€dissent.€€There€were€manyŠ W§  Šunions€in€Bolivia€and€the€right€to€strike€was€recognized,€subject€to€observance€of€the€relevantŠ @ Šprocedure,€which€provided€for€prior€direct€negotiations€between€the€parties€to€the€conflict.Š )y ŠĢ447.€€With€reference€to€article€23€of€the€Covenant,€he€said€that€in€Bolivia€free€or€ņņde€factoóó€unionsŠ ūK Šwere€subject€to€the€same€laws€as€marriage,€including€those€relating€to€inheritance€and€succession,Š ä4 Šalbeit€with€slight€variations.€€There€was€no€official€Bolivian€government€policy€in€respect€ofŠ Ķ Šcontraception,€although€there€was€no€prohibition€on€the€dissemination€of€information€on€birthŠ ¶ Šcontrol.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ448.€€With€regard€to€article€24€of€the€Covenant,€he€pointed€out€that€the€Bolivian€Labour€Code€setŠ qĮ Šthe€minimum€age€for€employment€at€14.€€However,€it€was€difficult€to€ensure€that€the€provisionsŠ ZŖ Šconcerning€work€by€minors€were€observed€in€a€poor€country€such€as€Bolivia.€€A€number€of€privateŠ C“ Šorganizations€were€actively€combatting€the€phenomenon€of€juvenile€vagrancy,€which€had€seriouslyŠ ,| Šworsened,€on€account€of€cocaine€trafficking.€€As€far€as€the€nationality€of€children€was€concerned,Š e ŠBolivia€applied€the€ņņjus€sanguinisóó€rule.Š žN ŠĢ449.€€Concerning€article€25€of€the€Covenant,€he€said€that€in€Bolivia€voting€was€considered€to€be€aŠ Š!   Šcivic€duty,€but€the€consequences€of€failure€to€vote€were€negligible.€€The€requirements€regarding€theŠ ¹" ! Šability€to€read€and€write€in€order€to€stand€for€office€in€certain€elections€concerned€only€politicalŠ ¢#ņ" Šoffice€and€did€not€apply€to€persons€wishing€to€enter€the€civil€service.€€Candidatesšš€abilities€wereŠ ‹$Ū# Šchecked€when€they€submitted€their€candidature.€€There€was€no€law€in€Bolivia€specifically€governingŠ t%Ä $ Šthe€operation€of€political€parties,€although€there€were€a€number€of€general€provisions€setting€out,€forŠ ]&­!% Šexample,€the€minimum€number€of€members€required€for€a€political€party€to€present€candidates.Š F'–"& ŠĢ450.€€With€regard€to€article€27€of€the€Covenant,€he€explained€that€the€indigenous€nations€living€onŠ )h$( ŠBolivian€territory€were€not,€unless€otherwise€specified,€considered€as€minorities€because€theyŠ *Q%) Šrepresented,€in€numerical€terms,€a€majority€and€were€not€subject€to€any€separate€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō.€€Since€1952,Š ź*:&* Šit€had€been€easier€for€the€indigenous€populations,€most€of€whom€lived€in€rural€areas,€to€acquire€realŠ Ó+#'+ Šestate€thanks€to€an€extremely€progressive€agrarian€reform€and€the€introduction€of€universal€suffrage,Š ¼, (, Šunder€which€they€had€gained€the€right€to€vote.€€They€were€currently€fully€involved€in€national€lifeŠ „-õ(- Šwhile€preserving€their€cultural€identity€and€traditions.€€Furthermore,€the€authorities€were€striving€toŠ ° Šfacilitate€the€access€of€all€sectors€of€the€population€to€education.Š ™é ŠĢ451.€€He€said€that€the€remarks€made€by€members€of€the€Committee€concerning€the€implementationŠ k» Šof€the€Covenant€in€his€country€would€be€transmitted€to€the€Bolivian€authorities€and€that€the€answersŠ T¤ Što€certain€questions€asked€by€the€Committee,€which€it€had€not€been€possible€to€provide€immediately,Š =  Šwould€be€given€in€the€next€report€by€Bolivia€or€in€subsequent€submissions€by€his€Government.Š & v ŠĢ452.€€Members€of€the€Committee€thanked€the€representative€of€Bolivia€for€the€frank€and€co„operativeŠ ų H Šmanner€in€which€he€had€answered€many€of€their€questions.€€They€nevertheless€observed€that,€evenŠ į 1  Šthough€the€current€Bolivian€Government€had€made€considerable€progress€in€respect€of€theŠ Ź   Šobservance€of€human€rights,€there€were€still€certain€causes€for€concern€regarding€the€effectiveŠ ³  Šimplementation€of€the€Covenant€in€Bolivia€and€a€number€of€questions€remained€unanswered.€€In€thatŠ œģ  Šconnection,€they€expressed€the€hope€that€the€Bolivian€legal€system€inherited€from€the€past€would€beŠ …Õ  Šamended€and€updated.€€They€also€expressed€the€hope€that€the€Bolivian€authorities€would€be€able€toŠ n¾  Šmake€improvements,€bearing€in€mind€the€€relevant€provisions€of€the€Covenant,€in€major€areas€ofŠ W§  Šnational€life€such€as€declaration€of€the€state€of€siege,€the€treatment€of€detainees,€prison€conditions,Š @ Šthe€administration€of€justice,€the€regulations€governing€freedom€of€information,€the€right€to€freedomŠ )y Šof€assembly€and€association,€the€jurisdiction€of€military€courts,€police€powers€in€respect€of€theŠ b Šdetention€of€suspects€and€the€exercise€of€political€rights.Š ūK ŠĢ453.€€On€completion€of€the€consideration€fo€the€initial€report€of€Bolivia,€the€Chairman€also€thankedŠ Ķ Šthe€representative€of€the€State€party€for€his€co„operation€and€expressed€the€hope€that€the€BolivianŠ ¶ Šauthorities€would€be€able€to€answer€a€number€of€questions€raised€by€the€Committee€in€the€nearŠ Ÿļ Šfuture,€either€in€the€form€of€supplementary€information,€or€in€the€second€periodic€report€of€Bolivia.€Š ˆŲ ŠĢĢĢą@ģģ*ģąˆŠ  ,| Šņ ņŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō€€A/52/40€Ō_Ō(1997)ó óŌ_ŌŠ ° ŠĢ191.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€periodic€report€of€Bolivia€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/63/Add.4)€at€itsŠ ƒÓ Š1562ņņndóó€€and€1563ņņrdóó€meetings€(fifty-ninth€session),€held€on€25€March€1997,€at€its€1582ņņndóó€€meeting,€onŠ l¼ Š9€April€1997,€adopted€the€following€comments.Š U„ ŠĢ1.€ņņ€IntroductionóóŠ ' w ŠĢ192.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€second€periodic€report€submitted€by€the€State€party€and€theŠ ł I Šdelegation's€willingness€to€engage€in€a€frank€dialogue€with€the€Committee.€€The€Committee€regrets,Š ā 2  Šhowever,€that€although€the€report€provides€information€on€general€legislative€reforms€in€Bolivia,Š Ė   Šthose€reforms€remain€largely€unadopted€by€Parliament.€€The€delegation€candidly€admitted€that€thereŠ “  Šhave€been€difficulties€in€the€implementation€of€all€the€reforms€which€would,€when€approved,€createŠ ķ  Ša€legal€system€more€compliant€with€the€Covenant.€€The€Committee€appreciated€the€presence€of€aŠ †Ö  Šhighly€competent€delegation€which€provided€in-depth€helpful€information€to€the€Committee€inŠ oæ  Šresponse€to€its€questions€and€thus€allowed€it€to€obtain€a€clearer€view€of€the€overall€human€rightsŠ XØ  Šsituation€in€Bolivia.Š A‘ ŠĢ193.€€The€Committee€commends€the€State€party€for€the€core€document€(Ō_ŌHRIŌ_Ō/CORE/1/Add.54),Š c Šwhich€set€out€many€of€the€problems€existing€in€the€country.Š üL ŠĢ2.€€ņņFactors€and€difficulties€affecting€the€implementation€of€the€CovenantóóŠ Ī ŠĢ194.€€The€Committee€recognizes€that€the€State€party,€which€is€emerging€from€a€change€ofŠ  š Šgovernment€that€ended€a€long€period€of€dictatorial€rule,€is€undergoing€a€transition€towardsŠ ‰Ł Šdemocracy€in€which€the€infrastructure€necessary€for€the€implementation€of€the€Covenant€has€notŠ rĀ Šbeen€fully€developed.€€The€Committee€notes€that€many€encouraging€legislative€initiatives€withŠ [« Šrespect€to€human€rights€are€meeting€with€difficulties€and€that€a€full€assessment€of€theirŠ D” Šimplementation€is€not€yet€possible.Š -} ŠĢ195.€€The€Committee€notes€that€social€and€economic€disparities€are€all-pervasive€in€the€country€andŠ ’O Šresult€in€high€levels€of€poverty€and€illiteracy,€as€well€as€lack€of€opportunity,€especially€for€theŠ č 8 Šindigenous€population,€women€and€the€poor.Š Ń!!  ŠĢ3.€€ņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ £#ó" ŠĢ196.€€The€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€the€efforts€of€the€Government€to€introduce€democracyŠ u%Å $ Šand€to€match€the€country's€level€of€human€rights€protection€with€international€standards.Š ^&®!% ŠĢ197.€€The€Committee€particularly€welcomes€the€promulgation€of€the€1994€Constitution,€whichŠ 0(€#' Šincorporates€provisions€for€the€protection€of€civil€and€political€rights.€€It€also€welcomes€theŠ )i$( ŠGovernment's€declared€intention€to€put€an€end€to€serious€violations€of€human€rights€and€to€create€aŠ *R%) Šbetter€political,€constitutional€and€legal€framework€to€allow€the€full€implementation€of€the€rightsŠ ė*;&* Šenshrined€in€the€Covenant.Š Ō+$'+ ŠĢ198.€€The€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€the€reform€of€the€Penal€Code€which€abolishes€the€deathŠ ¦-ö(- ŠŌ_Ōpenalty.Š ° ŠĢ199.€€The€Committee€also€welcomes€the€legal€reforms€undertaken,€notably€constitutionalŠ ‚Ņ Šamendments€to€bring€Bolivian€law€into€conformity€with€international€human€rights€standards,€theŠ k» Šadoption€of€legislation€to€abolish€imprisonment€and€physical€constraint€for€the€enforcement€ofŠ T¤ Šeconomic€obligations€(Ley€de€Aboliciš;šn€de€Prisiš;šn€y€Apremio€Corporal€por€ObligacionesŠ =  ŠPatrimoniales),€the€new€Bail€Act€(Ley€de€Fianza€Juratoria€contra€la€Retardaciš;šn€de€Justicia€Penal),Š & v Šthe€law€against€domestic€violence€(Ley€contra€la€Vilencia€Intrafamiliar€o€Domstica)€and€the€reformsŠ  _ Šin€the€legislation€governing€the€electoral€system€(Ley€de€Reformas€y€Complementacion€al€RgimenŠ ų H ŠElectoral),€the€legal€aid€programme€(Programa€de€Defensa€Pblica)€and€habeas€corpus€and€ņņamparoóó.Š į 1  ŠĢ200.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€reinstitution,€after€100€years,€of€the€Ministry€of€Justice,€as€wellŠ ³  Šas€the€establishment€of€the€Human€Rights€Department€within€the€Ministry€of€Justice€and€theŠ œģ  Šestablishment€of€the€Gender€Department.€€It€also€welcomes€the€creation€of€the€necessary€legalŠ …Õ  Šmachinery€to€receive€complaints€and€manage€various€aspects€of€human€rights€issues,€includingŠ n¾  Šthrough€the€Ministry€of€Justice,€the€Parliamentary€Commission€for€Human€Rights,€Legal€Aid€andŠ W§  Šthe€Public€Prosecutor's€Office,€and€the€creation€of€a€human€rights€office€in€the€Chapare€area.Š @ ŠĢ201.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€information€that€torture,€forced€disappearances€and€extrajudicialŠ b Šexecutions€are€punishable€offences€in€Bolivia.€€It€also€welcomes€the€information€that€militaryŠ ūK Štribunals€have€no€jurisdiction€except€within€the€military€institution€and€that€cases€of€human€rightsŠ ä4 Šviolations€by€member€of€the€army€and€the€security€forces€fall€under€the€jurisdiction€of€civil€courts.Š Ķ ŠĢ202.€€The€Committee€further€welcomes€the€fact€that€the€number€of€persons€being€held€in€pre-trialŠ Ÿļ Šdetention€has€significantly€decreased.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ203.€€The€Committee€notes€the€penal€reforms€that€have€abolished€discrimination€against€the€AmazonŠ ZŖ ŠIndians€where€it€was€considered€that€they€were€not€criminally€responsible€by€mere€reason€of€theirŠ C“ ŠIndian€origin.€€It€also€welcomes€the€reforms€that€have€introduced€legislation€which€allows€theŠ ,| Šindigenous€populations€to€receive€education€in€their€mother€tongues,€and€the€enactment€of€measuresŠ e Šwhich€permit€the€Indian€communities€to€maintain€their€traditional€means€of€livelihood.Š žN ŠĢ4.€€ņņPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóŠ Š!   ŠĢ204.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€State€party's€legislation€in€respect€of€the€state€of€siegeŠ ¢#ņ" Šdoes€not€comply€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€€There€is€no€constitutional€provision€whichŠ ‹$Ū# Šprohibits€the€derogation€of€the€relevant€rights€of€the€covenant€and€the€expression€"conmoconŠ t%Ä $ Šinterior"€("internal€disturbance")€is€much€too€wide€to€fall€within€the€scope€of€article€4€of€theŠ ]&­!% ŠCovenant.€€Furthermore,€the€Committee€is€concerned€that€minimum€guarantees€were€not€compliedŠ F'–"& Šwith€during€the€state€of€siege€declared€in€1995.Š /(#' ŠĢ205.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€current€legislation€for€combatting€impunity€has€provenŠ *Q%) Što€be€ineffective€in€the€identification,€trial€and€punishment€of€those€responsible€for€human€rightsŠ ź*:&* Šviolations€and€in€the€payment€of€compensation€to€the€victims.€It€also€notes€that€members€of€theŠ Ó+#'+ Šarmed€forces€and€other€government€officials€who€were€involved€in€the€most€serious€human€rightsŠ ¼, (, Šviolations€have€not€always€been€dismissed€and€continue€to€take€advantage€of€their€positions,€thusŠ „-õ(- Šreinforcing€impunity€within€the€State€party.€It€is€also€concerned€at€the€delays€and€failures€of€theŠ ° Šprocess€of€law€and€at€the€non-compliance€by€the€police€with€United€Nations€minimum€standards.Š ™é ŠĢ206.€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€members€of€various€social€sectors,€particularly€humanŠ k» Šrights€activists€and€members€of€trade€unions,€are€subject€to€intimidation€and€thus€face€seriousŠ T¤ Šobstacles€in€the€legitimate€exercise€of€their€rights.Š =  ŠĢ207.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€national€laws€in€conflict€with€the€Covenant€remain€on€theŠ  _ Šbooks,€in€particular€the€Coca€and€Controlled€Substances€Law€(Law€No.€1008).€€The€Committee€isŠ ų H Šparticularly€concerned€that€articles€86€and€116€of€that€law€remove€the€investigating€process€fromŠ į 1  Šjudicial€control,€that€the€right€to€bail€is€severely€restricted,€that€articles€74€and€125€deny€the€right€ofŠ Ź   Šdetainees€who€are€ill€to€be€treated€with€humanity,€and€that€other€provisions€undermine€theŠ ³  Špresumption€of€innocence€(arts.€82€and€117),€the€right€to€an€impartial€tribunal€(arts.€82€and€127),€theŠ œģ  Šright€of€defence€(art.€117),€the€right€to€be€present€at€one's€own€trial€(art.€113)€and€the€right€toŠ …Õ  Šchallenge€any€aspect€of€the€process€(art.€128).Š n¾  ŠĢ208.€€The€Committee€is€particularly€concerned€that€release€on€bail€is€never€possible€for€thoseŠ @ Šcharged€with€offences€that€carry€a€penalty€of€two€or€more€years€of€imprisonment€and€that€theŠ )y Špresumption€of€innocence€is€not€respected€under€current€Bolivian€legislation.Š b ŠĢ209.€€The€Committee€expresses€concern€about€the€lack€of€independence€and€efficiency€of€theŠ ä4 Šjudiciary€and€the€long€delays€in€the€administration€of€justice,€which€do€not€conform€with€theŠ Ķ Šrequirements€of€articles€9€and€14€of€the€Covenant.Š ¶ ŠĢ210.€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€the€conditions€in€places€of€detention.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ211.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that,€despite€constitutional€guarantees€of€the€rights€of€women€andŠ ZŖ Šlaws€attempting€to€put€an€end€to€discrimination,€women€continue€to€receive€unequal€treatment€inŠ C“ ŠBolivia€owing€in€part€to€the€continuation€of€traditional€attitudes€and€outdated€laws€that€clearlyŠ ,| Šcontradict€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€€It€further€notes€that€labour€laws€do€not€protect€the€rightsŠ e Šof€women€adequately,€particularly€those€engaged€in€domestic€work.Š žN ŠĢ212.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€concern€about€the€very€high€level€of€maternal€mortality€referredŠ Š!   Što€in€the€report,€much€of€which€arises€as€a€result€of€illegal€abortion.€€It€regrets€that€the€State€partyŠ ¹" ! Šcould€not€provide€information€about€the€effect€of€laws€that€criminalize€abortion€on€this€high€levelŠ ¢#ņ" Šof€deaths.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ213.€€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€about€the€exploitation€of€children€in€employment,€includingŠ ]&­!% Šthe€practice€of€the€"criadito"€and€the€growing€number€of€street€children.Š F'–"& ŠĢ214.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€curtailment€of€the€rights€of€members€of€trade€unions€toŠ )h$( Šfreedom€of€association,€of€assembly€and€of€expression,€at€the€high€level€of€violence€against€tradeŠ *Q%) Šunion€members,€at€the€intimidation€by€police€agents€of€persons€taking€part€in€peacefulŠ ź*:&* Šdemonstrations,€and€at€the€large€number€of€strikes€that€are€deemed€illegal.€€It€is€particularlyŠ Ó+#'+ Šconcerned€about€the€incidents€that€occurred€in€Potos€and€Chapare.Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- Š215.€€The€Committee€expresses€concern€at€the€impact€of€violence€on€the€part€of€the€security€forces,Š ° Šwhich€curtails€the€enjoyment€by€members€of€indigenous€groups€of€their€rights€under€article€27€ofŠ ™é Šthe€Covenant.€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€that€despite€the€legislation€enacted€to€allow€theŠ ‚Ņ Šindigenous€communities€to€enjoy€the€use€of€their€traditional€lands€in€a€communal€way,Š k» Šdiscrimination€and€other€obstacles€to€the€full€enjoyment€of€the€rights€protected€under€article€27€ofŠ T¤ Šthe€Covenant€continue€to€exist.Š =  ŠĢ5.€€ņņSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóŠ  _ ŠĢ216.€€The€Committee€strongly€encourages€the€Government€to€enact€the€new€draft€legal€frameworkŠ į 1  Šfor€the€protection€of€human€rights€in€Bolivia€so€as€to€ensure€full€conformity€with€the€Covenant,€inŠ Ź   Šparticular€the€new€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure,€aimed€at€the€modernization€of€the€Bolivian€legal€andŠ ³  Šjudicial€structures€and€allowing€the€investigation€and€punishment€of€human€rights€violations.Š œģ  ŠĢ217.€€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€put€into€place€the€necessary€mechanisms€to€avoid€aŠ n¾  Šrecurrence€of€the€events€surrounding€the€1995€state€of€siege,€in€which€the€police€used€excessiveŠ W§  Šviolence€against€the€members€of€teachers'€unions.Š @ ŠĢ218.€€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€investigate€allegations€of€human€rights€violations€inŠ b Šorder€to€bring€to€justice€perpetrators€of€past€and€present€human€rights€abuses.€€It€recommends€thatŠ ūK Šan€independent€mechanism€be€instituted€for€dealing€with€complaints€of€police€violence€and€that€theŠ ä4 Šexistence€of€that€mechanism€be€publicized.€€It€further€urges€the€State€party€to€act€on€the€findings€ofŠ Ķ Šits€investigations,€to€bring€to€justice€the€perpetrators€and€to€provide€proper€compensation€to€theŠ ¶ Švictims,€particularly€with€respect€to€continuing€occurrences€of€torture€and€ill-treatment€by€the€policeŠ Ÿļ Šand€security€forces.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ219.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€amend€Law€No.€1008€in€order€to€make€itŠ ZŖ Šcompatible€with€the€State€party's€obligations€under€the€Covenant.Š C“ ŠĢ220.€€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€comply€with€article€10,€paragraph€2,€of€the€CovenantŠ e Šby€separating€accused€persons€from€convicted€persons€in€prison,€and€juvenile€offenders€from€adults.Š žN ŠĢ221.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Office€of€Ombudsman€and€the€Constitutional€Court€beŠ Š!   Šput€into€place€as€soon€as€possible€and€that€both€be€given€broad€jurisdiction€and€sufficient€resourcesŠ ¹" ! Što€guarantee€the€enjoyment€of€human€rights.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ222.€€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€take€effective€measures€to€abolish€the€practice€of€theŠ t%Ä $ Š"criadito".Š ]&­!% ŠĢ223.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€an€educational€programme€be€devised€so€that€all€segmentsŠ /(#' Šof€the€population,€in€particular€members€of€the€army,€the€security€forces,€the€police€and€the€judiciaryŠ )h$( Šand€lawyers,€are€better€acquainted€with€international€standards€for€the€protection€and€observance€ofŠ *Q%) Šhuman€rights€and€human€dignity.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ224.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€independence€of€the€judiciary€be€ensured€and€a€lawŠ ¼, (, Šregulating€it€be€enacted.€€It€further€recommends€that€the€nomination€of€judges€be€based€on€theirŠ „-õ(- Šcompetence€and€not€their€political€affiliation.€€The€Committee€also€recommends€that€responsibilityŠ ° Šfor€the€judicial€police€be€transferred€from€the€executive€to€the€judiciary.Š ™é ŠĢ225.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€further€measures,€such€as€those€of€the€"Justicia€Communal",Š k» Šbe€taken€to€ensure€that€members€of€indigenous€groups€are€protected€against€violence€within€theŠ T¤ Šcountry€and€enjoy€fully€their€rights€under€article€27€of€the€Covenant,€particularly€with€regard€toŠ =  Špreservation€of€their€culture,€language€and€religion.€€Legislation€on€indigenous€communities€shouldŠ & v Šbe€enacted€without€delay.Š  _ ŠĢ226.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€include€in€its€next€report€comprehensiveŠ į 1  Šinformation€on€the€issues€raised€during€the€consideration€of€the€present€report,€particularly€on€theŠ Ź   Šeffectiveness€of€the€laws€under€review€or€in€existence,€the€evolving€roles€of€the€institutionsŠ ³  Šestablished€for€the€protection€of€human€rights,€and€the€system€of€coordination€of€the€variousŠ œģ  Šinstitutions.€€In€this€regard,€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€Government€draw€on€the€assistanceŠ …Õ  Šavailable€through€the€programme€of€technical€cooperation€of€the€United€Nations€High€CommissionerŠ n¾  Šfor€Human€Rights/Centre€for€Human€Rights.Š W§  ŠĢ227.€€The€Committee€urges€that€respect€for€human€rights€be€institutionalized€at€all€levels€ofŠ )y Šgovernment,€and€recommends€that€human€rights€education€be€provided€in€schools€at€all€levels€andŠ b Šthat€the€present€concluding€observations€be€widely€disseminated.Š ūK ŠĢĢĢ