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ĻĀ‚–Ą” ¹ŲõęG~錼„ŪeÖSŖaCćwĀ ÕĮJÜńßż ¬sķ?k¼kWļ2-ēdÖ}™ĆNͰ†Ķ~.܋įŹjįxеӔąĪųįGFsĀÜ䢿 ‰6Ź&~¬Yß°źV˜0H ±jiųÓNHĢNģ®upF)6pĀuÜ齌Kżó‘Āóf¤€„øōāį.|bŪYš-C$'=FĪūtoŁņ*d¹Łķ)śOžæŃ£ųĖÖzž;yņœ—ČŻé9±¼jŁļšA¦ 9Æż¹Ž©āĒtyĒMkFoč$Ś› ½ƒjž:[w*Ó¾µhkÓ1œ˜a® „Ÿ½­węr­TKÉνs #Į¶UNw %Å 0:ĖN^ w4+: m<U@S˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 5e,,,,0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,Ōé. !½¾.p}.bk33|x ’U‹’ĄĄĄ(ČhH  Z‹(Times New Roman Ż ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņŌCEUS.,ŌCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREŠ ° ŠĢņņŌUS.,CE.,@ŌV.€N.€I.€M.€ŌCEUS.,Ōv.€CanadaóóŠ ą ŠĢŌUS.,CE.,ŖŌCommunication€No€119/1998ŌCEUS.,ŌŠ pĄ ŠĢ12€November€2002Š P   ŠĢŌUS.,CE.,ŌCAT/C/29/D/119/1998ŌCEUS.,ŌŠ 0 € ŠĢĢVIEWSŠ P  Šó óĢĢņņņņComplainantóó:€ŌUS.,CE.,ŒŌMr.€V.€N.€I.€M.€Š Š  ŠĢņņState€party€concerned:óó€CanadaŠ ° ŠĢņņDate€of€submission:óó€3€November€1998óóŠ ą ŠĢĢņņÓ  ÓThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€andŠ `° ŠOther€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Š P  ŠĢņņMeetingóó€on€12€November€2002,€Š 0€ ŠĢņņHaving€consideredóó€complaint€No.€119/1998,€submitted€to€the€Committee€against€Torture€underŠ ` Šarticle€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€orŠ P ŠPunishment,€Š š@ ŠĢņņHaving€taken€into€accountóó€the€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€the€complaint€andŠ Š  Šthe€State€party,€Š Ą! ŠĢņņAdoptsóó€the€following€decision:€Š  #š! ŠĢĢÓ©Óņ ņņņŌUKUS.,ŌÓ  ÓŌ‡ X¢XXXŌDecision€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionó óóóŌ#†X¢XX X¢Ö#ŌŌUS.,UK.,øŌŌUKUS.,Ōņ ņņņó óóóŌUS.,UK.,qŌŠ p&Ą!$ ŠÓŹÓÓÓĢĢ1.1€€The€complainant€is€Mr.€V.€N.€I.€M.,€a€national€of€Honduras€born€in€1966.€He€is€currently€livingŠ @)$' Šin€Canada,€where€he€requested€asylum€on€27€January€1997.€This€request€was€rejected€and€he€claimsŠ 0*€%( Šthat€his€enforced€repatriation€to€Honduras€would€be€a€violation€by€Canada€of€article€3€of€theŠ  +p&) ŠConvention€against€Torture.€He€is€represented€by€counsel.€Š ,`'* ŠĢ1.2€€In€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€brought€theŠ š-@), Šcomplaint€to€the€attention€of€the€State€party€on€18€November€1998.€At€the€same€time,€acting€underŠ ° Šrule€108€of€its€rule€of€procedure,€the€Committee€requested€the€State€party€not€to€expel€theŠ  š Šcomplainant€to€Honduras€while€his€complaint€was€being€considered.€Š ą ŠĢņņņ ņThe€facts€as€submitted€by€the€complainant€ó óóóŠ pĄ ŠĢ2.1€€The€complainant€claims€that,€in€April€1988,€he€was€accused€by€the€military€of€having€plantedŠ P   Ša€bomb€in€a€building€where€he€was€arrested,€being€the€only€person€on€the€scene€at€the€time€of€theŠ @  Šexplosion€on€19€April€1988.€While€seriously€injured,€he€was€interrogated€the€day€after€his€arrest€andŠ 0 € Šclaims€that€doctors€amputated€his€arm€under€pressure€from€the€military€in€order€to€make€him€revealŠ  p  Šthe€names€of€his€alleged€accomplices.€An€army€officer€reportedly€told€a€nurse€and€a€doctor€thatŠ `  Šremoving€part€of€his€arm€was€a€way€of€sending€a€warning€to€other€"leftists".€Š P  ŠĢ2.2€€Following€his€arrest,€he€was€detained€for€three€years€and€four€months€until€8€August€1991.Š ą0  ŠMeanwhile,€a€decision€by€San€Pedro€Sula€Criminal€Court€No.€3€of€13€January€1989€dismissed€theŠ Š  Šproceedings€against€him€for€lack€of€evidence.ņņ1/óó€€The€complainant€claims€that€during€his€detention,Š Ą Šhe€was€treated€by€the€military€as€if€he€was€guilty€of€the€bombing€and€was€tortured€and€ill-treatedŠ ° Šmany€times.€Š  š ŠĢ2.3€€With€the€help€of€the€Pentecostalist€Church,€the€author€then€contacted€the€Canadian€authoritiesŠ €Š Što€obtain€refugee€status€in€Canada,€but€was€informed€that€he€had€to€be€present€himself€in€Canada€forŠ pĄ Šan€application€to€be€valid.€In€April€1992,€he€fled€to€Costa€Rica.€During€this€period,€his€brothers€andŠ `° Šsisters€were€constantly€harassed€by€the€military€to€make€them€say€where€he€was€hiding.€In€May€1992,Š P  Šhis€brother€was€detained€illegally€for€five€days€for€that€purpose.€He€was€then€released,€but€only€afterŠ @ Šhaving€again€been€threatened€with€death.€The€complainant€then€contacted€the€Canadian€Embassy€inŠ 0€ ŠCosta€Rica€once€more€to€obtain€help,€but€this€was€refused€because€the€political€situation€was€delicate,Š  p Šon€account€of€terrorist€acts€carried€out€by€Honduran€citizens€during€that€period€and€the€CanadianŠ ` Šauthorities€could€not€assist€him.€For€lack€of€resources,€the€complainant€returned€to€Honduras€inŠ P ŠMarch€1993,€where€he€hid€in€a€small€village€near€the€border€with€El€Salvador€until€1995.€Š š@ ŠĢ2.4€€In€1995,€a€law€was€adopted€in€Honduras€inviting€all€citizens€to€report€abuses€by€the€military.€TheŠ Š  Šcomplainant€tried€in€vain€to€exercise€this€right€by€filing€various€complaints€against€the€officers€whoŠ Ą! Šhad€ordered,€or€were€responsible€for,€the€amputation€of€his€arm.€Š °"  ŠĢ2.5€€In€January€1996,€the€complainant€tried€to€obtain€a€disability€pension€and,€in€support€of€his€claim,Š $ą" Šhe€needed€to€submit€a€complete€medical€report.€However,€the€hospital€denied€him€access€to€his€fileŠ €%Š # Šand€informed€the€military€of€his€request.€The€author€was€then€arrested€again€by€members€of€theŠ p&Ą!$ Šmilitary€in€civilian€clothes,€who€questioned€him,€beat€him€and€stabbed€him€in€the€abdomen.€He€wasŠ `'°"% Šseriously€injured€and€had€to€go€into€hiding€again.€Š P( #& ŠĢ2.6€€The€complainant€also€states€that,€after€1994,€he€remained€in€contact€by€mail€with€Radio€MoscowŠ 0*€%( Šand€some€Cuban€friends€and€that,€in€January€1997,€the€Honduran€authorities€intercepted€one€of€hisŠ  +p&) Šletters,€which€was€later€used€as€evidence€of€his€"subversive€activities".€Š ,`'* ŠĢ2.7€€The€complainant€stayed€in€hiding€until€January€1997,€when€he€left€Honduras€after€havingŠ š-@), Šobtained€a€Salvadoran€passport.€The€author€arrived€in€Canada€and€immediately€applied€for€refugeeŠ ° Šstatus.€Š  š ŠĢ2.8€€After€the€complainant's€departure,€his€sister€was€reportedly€questioned€and€threatened€with€deathŠ €Š Šat€her€place€of€work€by€members€of€the€military,€who€wanted€to€know€the€complainant'sŠ pĄ Šwhereabouts.€Š ` ° ŠĢ2.9€€In€Canada,€the€complainant€was€first€denied€his€request€for€asylum€dated€17€September€1997.Š @  ŠFollowing€that€decision,€he€submitted€an€application€for€a€judicial€review€to€the€Federal€Court€ofŠ 0 € ŠCanada,€which€was€rejected€on€6€February€1998.€Š  p  ŠĢ2.10€€The€complainant€then€initiated€the€appropriate€proceedings€to€be€included€in€theŠ P  Š"Post-Determination€Refugee€Claimants€in€Canada"€class€(Ō_ŌPDRCCŌ_Ō€application).€This€request€wasŠ š@  Šrejected€and€he€again€applied€to€the€Federal€Court€for€a€judicial€review.€The€Court€also€rejected€thatŠ ą0  Šapplication.€Š Š  ŠĢ2.11€€On€21€October€1998,€the€complainant€filed€a€request€for€a€ministerial€dispensation€to€beŠ ° Šexempted€from€the€normal€application€of€the€law€on€humanitarian€grounds€(application€forŠ  š Šhumanitarian€status).€This€request€was€rejected€on€30€March€1999.€Š ą ŠĢņ ņņņThe€complaint€óóó óŠ pĄ ŠĢ3.1€€The€complainant€believes€that€human€rights€are€not€respected€in€Honduras€and€that€impunity€forŠ P  Šthe€perpetrators€of€abuses€is€the€rule.€He€claims€that€persons€possessing€information€concerningŠ @ Šillegal€acts€committed€by€the€military€are€particularly€threatened,€as€in€his€own€case.€He€thereforeŠ 0€ Šconsiders€that€he€may€face€torture,€extrajudicial€execution€or€enforced€disappearance€if€returned€toŠ  p ŠHonduras.€Š ` ŠĢ3.2€€In€support€of€his€allegations€of€the€risk€of€a€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention,€theŠ š@ Šcomplainant€submits,€inter€alia,€a€detailed€psychological€report€referring€to€the€existence€of€"chronicŠ ą0 Špost-traumatic€stress"€and€also€stating€that€"he€fears€for€his€physical€integrity€and€his€anxiety€levelŠ Š  Šis€very€high€š8š€His€anxiety€level€is€so€high€and€the€tension€so€great€that€he€cannot€constructively€useŠ Ą! Šhis€inner€resources€to€solve€day-to-day€problems".€The€complainant€also€indicates€that€the€CanadianŠ °"  Šauthorities€did€not€attach€any€importance€to€this€psychological€report,€stating€only€that€it€had€beenŠ  #š! Šsubmitted€late.€In€this€regard,€the€complainant€explains€that,€for€a€number€of€reasons,€which€areŠ $ą" Šprimarily€financial€and€psychological,€he€has€so€far€been€unable€to€undergo€such€a€psychologicalŠ €%Š # Ševaluation.€Š p&Ą!$ ŠĢ3.3€€The€complainant€also€submitted€a€copy€of€the€decision€by€San€Pedro€Sula€Criminal€Court€No.Š P( #& Š3€of€13€January€1989,€which€found€him€innocent€of€involvement€in€the€19€April€1988€attack.€TheŠ @)$' ŠCourt€acquitted€the€complainant€on€the€basis,€inter€alia,€of€the€statements€made€by€a€number€ofŠ 0*€%( Šwitnesses€who€corroborated€the€complainant's€claims.ņņ2/óó€Š  +p&) ŠĢ3.4€€The€complainant€indicates€that€he€has€some€information€about€the€members€of€the€military€whoŠ -P(+ Štortured€him,€particularly€a€certain€Major€Ō_ŌSnchezŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌMuozŌ_Ō,€and€maintains€that€it€is€a€well€known€factŠ š-@), Šthat€the€military€goes€to€any€lengths€to€remove€any€traces€of€its€crimes,€especially€by€making€theŠ ° Švictims€disappear.€Š  š ŠĢ3.5€€In€response€to€the€Canadian€authorities'€argument€that€he€lived€without€any€problem€in€HondurasŠ €Š Šfor€a€few€years€following€his€detention,€the€complainant€also€states€that€he€cannot€be€blamed€forŠ pĄ Šhaving€tried€to€stay€in€his€country.€Š ` ° ŠĢ3.6€€With€regard€to€the€situation€in€Honduras,€the€complainant€stresses€that,€although€a€democraticŠ @  Šregime€now€exists,€the€military€is€still€a€"sub-State".€As€proof€of€this€affirmation,€the€complainantŠ 0 € Šrefers€to€various€reports€by€Amnesty€International€and€Ō_ŌFIDHŌ_Ō€(International€Federation€of€HumanŠ  p  ŠRights).€In€its€1997€report,€Amnesty€International€indicates€that€at€least€five€former€members€of€theŠ `  ŠNational€Investigation€Department€were€killed€in€circumstances€suggesting€extrajudicial€execution;Š P  Šone€of€them€was€supposed€to€testify€about€a€murder€reportedly€committed€by€members€of€thatŠ š@  ŠDepartment€in€1994.€The€complainant€also€indicates€that€Honduras€is€one€of€the€only€countries€toŠ ą0  Šhave€been€censured€many€times€by€the€Inter-American€Court€of€Human€Rights€and€refers,€inŠ Š  Šparticular,€to€the€Ō_ŌVelsquezŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌRodrguezŌ_Ō€case,€which€involved€the€disappearance€of€a€student€and€inŠ Ą Šconnection€with€which€the€impunity€enjoyed€by€some€members€of€the€military€in€Honduras€wasŠ ° Šsharply€criticized.€Š  š ŠĢņņņ ņState€party's€observations€on€the€admissibility€of€the€complaintó óóóŠ €Š ŠĢ4.1€€The€State€party€transmitted€its€observations€on€the€admissibility€of€the€complaint€by€a€noteŠ `° ŠŌ_ŌverbaleŌ_Ō€dated€15€September€2000.€Š P  ŠĢ4.2€€The€State€party€maintains€that€the€complainant€did€not€exhaust€all€domestic€remedies€beforeŠ 0€ Šsubmitting€his€complaint€to€the€Committee.€More€specifically,€he€did€not€request€leave€to€apply€toŠ  p Šthe€Federal€Court€for€a€judicial€review€of€the€decision€not€to€grant€him€humanitarian€status.€Š ` ŠĢ4.3€€The€State€party€recalls€in€this€connection€that€all€decisions€taken€by€the€Canadian€authoritiesŠ š@ Šconcerning€immigration€are€subject€to€judicial€review.€The€complainant€has,€moreover,€availedŠ ą0 Šhimself€of€this€remedy€twice€before,€during€the€proceedings€which€he€initiated€to€obtain€refugeeŠ Š  Šstatus.€Š Ą! ŠĢ4.4€€The€State€party€also€submits€that€this€remedy€is€still€open€to€the€complainant€even€though€thereŠ  #š! Šis€normally€a€time€limit€of€15€days€for€filing€a€request.€The€law€in€fact€allows€for€this€deadline€to€beŠ $ą" Šextended€when€special€grounds€are€adduced€to€justify€the€delay.€It€should€also€be€noted€that,€if€thisŠ €%Š # Špossibility€of€seeking€a€remedy€had€been€used,€the€law€furthermore€allowed€for€any€decision€of€theŠ p&Ą!$ ŠFederal€Court€to€be€appealed€to€the€Federal€Court€of€Appeal€and€likewise€to€the€Supreme€Court€ofŠ `'°"% ŠCanada.€Š P( #& ŠĢ4.5€€In€support€of€its€arguments,€the€State€party€refers€to€the€decision€taken€by€the€Committee€in€theŠ 0*€%( ŠņņR.€K.€v.€Canadaóó€case€(CAT/C/19/D/42/1996),€where€it€had€deemed€that€the€complaint€should€beŠ  +p&) Šdeclared€inadmissible€on€the€ground€of€non-exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies€because€theŠ ,`'* Šcomplainant€had€not€made€an€application€for€a€judicial€review€challenging€the€rejection€of€theŠ -P(+ Šrequest€for€asylum€and€had€furthermore€not€filed€an€application€for€humanitarian€status.€In€the€ņņP.€S.Š š-@), Šv.€Canadaóó€case€(CAT/C/23/D/86/1997),€also€cited€by€the€State€party,€the€Committee€had€in€particularŠ ° Šdeemed€that€the€fact€that€the€complainant€had,€inter€alia,€failed€to€enter€an€application€for€a€judicialŠ  š Šreview€was€contrary€to€the€principle€of€the€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies.€The€State€party€refersŠ ą Šin€addition€to€the€Committee's€decision€in€the€ņņL.€O.€v.€Canadaóó€case€(CAT/C/24/D/95/1997)Š €Š Šconcerning€the€absence€of€a€request€for€humanitarian€status.€Š pĄ ŠĢ4.6€€Referring€lastly€to€the€case€law€of€the€European€Court€of€Human€Rights,€the€State€party€arguesŠ P   Šthat€a€judicial€review€is€an€effective€remedy€within€the€meaning€of€article€13€of€the€EuropeanŠ @  ŠConvention€for€the€Protection€of€Human€Rights€and€Fundamental€Freedoms€and€that,€even€in€casesŠ 0 € Šwhere€the€complainant€might€be€subjected€to€inhuman€or€degrading€treatment€if€returned€to€hisŠ  p  Šcountry,€he€must€observe€the€formalities€and€time€limits€of€the€domestic€procedures€before€turningŠ `  Što€an€international€body€(ņņŌ_ŌBahaddarŌ_Ō€v.€Netherlandsóó,€No.€145/1996/764/965,€19€February€1998).€Š P  ŠĢ4.7€€The€State€party€concludes€that,€for€these€various€reasons,€the€Committee€should€declare€theŠ ą0  Špresent€complaint€inadmissible€on€the€ground€of€non-exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies.€Š Š  ŠĢņņņ ņComments€by€the€complainantó óóóŠ ° ŠĢ5.1€€In€a€letter€dated€27€October€2000,€the€complainant€submitted€his€comments€regarding€the€StateŠ ą Šparty's€observations€on€the€admissibility€of€the€complaint.€Š €Š ŠĢ5.2€€The€complainant€maintains€first€of€all€that€he€availed€himself€of€the€opportunity€to€apply€for€aŠ `° Šjudicial€review€of€the€decision€by€which€he€was€denied€refugee€status,€that€being€the€last€remedy€inŠ P  Šall€of€the€proceedings€which€he€had€pursued,€and€had€addressed€the€very€substance€of€the€claimsŠ @ Šmade€in€support€of€his€request€for€asylum.€The€subsequent€appeals€and€remedies€had€concerned€onlyŠ 0€ Šmatters€of€procedure.€Š  p ŠĢ5.3€€The€complainant€also€states€that€his€application€for€a€judicial€review€of€the€decision€rejectingŠ P Šthe€Ō_ŌPDRCCŌ_Ō€application€was€based€on€the€same€arguments€as€that€which€could€have€been€madeŠ š@ Šagainst€the€decision€on€his€humanitarian€status€and€points€out€that€the€two€proceedings€wereŠ ą0 Šconcurrent.€He€therefore€considers€that€applying€for€a€judicial€review€of€the€decision€on€hisŠ Š  Šhumanitarian€status€would€have€made€little€sense€because€the€Federal€Court€would€certainly€not€haveŠ Ą! Šdecided€otherwise€than€in€the€other€proceeding.€Š °"  ŠĢ5.4€€The€procedure€to€include€a€person€in€the€"Post-Determination€Refugee€Claimants€in€Canada"Š $ą" Š(Ō_ŌPDRCCŌ_Ō)€class€and€the€request€for€humanitarian€status€are€not,€according€to€the€complainant,€validŠ €%Š # Šremedies€in€international€law€because€they€are€entirely€discretionary.€Likewise,€judicial€reviewsŠ p&Ą!$ Šmade€where€applicable€by€the€Federal€Court€are€also€not€valid€under€international€law€because€theyŠ `'°"% Šcannot€give€rise€to€a€final€decision€and€the€case€must€be€referred€back€to€the€administrativeŠ P( #& Šauthorities€for€a€new€decision.€Furthermore,€following€its€consistent€practice,€the€Federal€Court€dealsŠ @)$' Šnot€with€questions€of€fact,€which€are€to€be€determined€entirely€at€the€discretion€of€the€administrativeŠ 0*€%( Šauthorities,€but€only€with€the€observance€of€such€principles€as€must€guide€the€administrativeŠ  +p&) Šproceedings.€Š ,`'* ŠĢ5.5€€The€complainant€refers€in€this€connection€to€the€reasons€why€domestic€remedies€must€beŠ š-@), Šexhausted€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€He€submits€that€the€domestic€remedies€to€be€exhaustedŠ ° Šcannot€be€incapable€of€offering€any€chance€of€success.€This€applies,€according€to€the€complainant,Š  š Što€the€judicial€review€in€question,€since€the€practice€whereby€the€review€deals€only€with€matters€ofŠ ą Šprocedure€and€not€with€the€facts€or€the€law€is€particularly€well€established€in€the€Federal€Court€ofŠ €Š ŠCanada.€An€application€for€a€judicial€review€to€show€that€a€person€runs€a€real€risk€of€being€torturedŠ pĄ Šin€the€country€to€which€the€authorities€wish€to€return€him€therefore€has€no€chance€of€success.€Š ` ° ŠĢ5.6€€According€to€the€complainant,€the€remedies€to€be€exhausted€are€those€which€make€it€possibleŠ @  Što€establish,€where€appropriate,€the€violation€of€the€right€invoked.€Thus,€the€application€for€asylumŠ 0 € Šand€the€ensuing€application€for€a€judicial€review,€notwithstanding€the€doubt€as€to€its€effectiveness,Š  p  Šas€discussed€above,€are€remedies€that,€in€the€complainant's€view,€have€to€be€exhausted.€By€contrast,Š `  Šthe€complainant€maintains€that€the€application€for€humanitarian€status€and€any€ensuing€applicationŠ P  Šfor€a€judicial€review€are€not€remedies€which€must€be€exhausted€because,€even€if,€in€some€cases,€itŠ š@  Šis€justified€to€make€use€of€extraordinary€remedies,€this€cannot€be€the€rule€for€an€entirely€discretionaryŠ ą0  Šremedy€such€as€the€application€for€humanitarian€status.€The€complainant€refers€in€this€connectionŠ Š  Što€C.€Ō_ŌAmerasingheŌ_Ō€(ņņLocal€Remedies€in€International€Lawóó,€p.€63),€according€to€whom€it€is€notŠ Ą Šnecessary€to€make€use€of€an€extraordinary€remedy€if€it€is€only€discretionary€and€non-judicial,€as€inŠ ° Šthe€case€of€those€whose€purpose€is€to€obtain€a€Ō_ŌfavourŌ_Ō€and€not€to€claim€a€right.€Now,€it€has€beenŠ  š Šestablished,€and€is€not€contested€by€the€State€party,€that€the€purpose€of€the€application€forŠ ą Šhumanitarian€status€is€not€to€secure€a€right,€but,€rather,€to€obtain€a€Ō_ŌfavourŌ_Ō€from€the€Canadian€State;Š €Š Šthis€point€has,€moreover,€been€emphasized€on€many€occasions€by€the€Federal€Court.€Š pĄ ŠĢ5.7€€Applications€for€a€judicial€review€of€discretionary€decisions€like€those€following€a€request€forŠ P  Šhumanitarian€status€are€no€more€effective,€even€when€the€Federal€Court€examines€the€merits€of€theŠ @ Šcase.€The€complainant€illustrates€this€contention€with€reference€to€a€similar€case,€where€the€decisionŠ 0€ Šon€an€application€for€humanitarian€status€had€been€the€subject€of€a€judicial€review€in€which€theŠ  p ŠFederal€Court€had€found€that€the€person€concerned€was€indeed€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€tortureŠ ` Šor€inhuman€or€degrading€treatment.€Being€unable€to€take€a€final€decision€in€such€a€proceeding,Š P Šhowever,€the€Federal€Court€had€Ō_ŌhadŌ_Ō€to€refer€the€case€back€to€the€administrative€authority,€which€tookŠ š@ Ša€new€decision€that€was€contrary€to€the€Federal€Court's€findings€and€refused€to€grant€humanitarianŠ ą0 Šstatus.€The€complainant€considers€that€the€fiction€of€the€judicial€review€is€thereby€demonstrated€allŠ Š  Šthe€more€clearly.€Š Ą! ŠĢ5.8€€Deeming€that€he€has€shown€the€inadequacy€and€ineffectiveness€of€the€remedies€which€he€isŠ  #š! Šreproached€with€not€having€employed,€the€complainant€then€submits€to€the€Committee€his€contentionŠ $ą" Šthat€the€State€party€has€not€assumed€the€burden€of€proof€necessary€for€it€to€establish€that€effectiveŠ €%Š # Šdomestic€remedies€are€still€available.€He€refers€in€this€connection€to€the€case€law€of€theŠ p&Ą!$ ŠInter-American€Court€of€Human€Rights€in€the€ņņŌ_ŌVelsquezŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌRodrguezŌ_Ō€v.€Hondurasóó€case,€according€toŠ `'°"% Šwhich€it€is€for€the€State€which€contests€the€exhaustion€of€all€remedies€to€prove€that€there€areŠ P( #& Šremedies€still€to€be€exhausted€and€that€those€remedies€are€effective.€The€complainant,€thereforeŠ @)$' Šsuggests€that€the€Inter-American€Court€of€Human€Rights€has€transferred€the€burden€of€proof€of€theŠ 0*€%( Šexhaustion€of€all€remedies€from€the€complainant€to€the€State.€He€observes€that€this€is€also€the€caseŠ  +p&) Šlaw€applied€by€the€Human€Rights€Committee,€which€requests€the€State,€in€addition€to€giving€detailsŠ ,`'* Šof€the€remedies€available,€to€provide€evidence€that€there€is€a€reasonable€chance€of€those€remediesŠ -P(+ Šbeing€effective.€In€the€complainant's€view,€that€should€also€be€the€approach€of€the€Committee€againstŠ š-@), ŠŌ_ŌTorture.€Š ° ŠĢ5.9€€After€making€a€more€general€criticism€of€the€State€party's€regulations€concerning€refugees€andŠ ą Šof€the€procedures€relating€thereto,€the€complainant€submits€that€he€has€offered€proof€of€his€rights€andŠ €Š Šof€the€risks€facing€him€if€returned€to€Honduras.€Š pĄ ŠĢ5.10€€In€conclusion,€the€complainant€considers€that€the€rule€of€the€exhaustion€of€domestic€remediesŠ P   Šshould€be€interpreted€with€reference€to€the€objectives€of€the€Convention€against€Torture.€In€thisŠ @  Šconnection,€he€emphasizes€that€this€principle€is€furthermore€applied€by€the€European€Court€ofŠ 0 € ŠHuman€Rights,€which€has€expressly€stated€that€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights€shouldŠ  p  Šbe€interpreted€with€reference€to€its€ultimate€objective€of€ensuring€the€effective€protection€of€humanŠ `  Šrights.€Š P  ŠĢ5.11€€In€a€letter€dated€18€April€2001,€the€complainant€indicates€that€on€1€November€2000€he€finallyŠ ą0  Šdecided€to€submit€an€application€to€the€Federal€Court€for€a€judicial€review€of€the€decision€not€toŠ Š  Šgrant€him€humanitarian€status.€However,€the€court€rejected€the€application€for€a€judicial€review€onŠ Ą Š2€March€2001.€Therefore,€while€maintaining€the€arguments€he€set€forth€previously€concerning€theŠ ° Šprinciple€of€the€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies,€the€complainant€considers€that€the€argumentsŠ  š Šoriginally€put€forward€by€the€State€party€are€no€longer€an€obstacle€to€the€admissibility€of€hisŠ ą Šcomplaint.€Š €Š ŠĢņ ņņņThe€Committee's€decision€on€admissibilityóóó óŠ `° ŠĢ6.1€€At€its€twenty-sixth€session€from€30€April€to€18€May€2001,€the€Committee€considered€theŠ @ Šadmissibility€of€the€complaint.€It€thus€ascertained€that€the€same€matter€has€not€been,€and€is€not€being,Š 0€ Šexamined€under€another€procedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement€and€noted€that€theŠ  p Šcomplaint€was€not€an€abuse€of€the€right€to€file€a€complaint€and€is€not€incompatible€with€theŠ ` Šprovisions€of€the€Convention.€Š P ŠĢ6.2€€With€regard€to€the€admissibility€criterion€of€the€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies,€as€providedŠ ą0 Šfor€in€article€22,€paragraph€5€(b),€the€Committee€noted€that€the€proceedings€instituted€by€theŠ Š  Šcomplainant€had€gone€on€for€a€period€of€over€four€years€and€considered€that€any€further€extensionŠ Ą! Šof€that€period€would€in€any€case€have€been€unreasonable.€Consequently,€the€Committee€declared€theŠ °"  Šcomplaint€admissible.€Š  #š! ŠĢņņņ ņState€party's€observations€on€the€meritsó óóóŠ €%Š # ŠĢ7.1€€In€its€note€verbale€of€15€September€2000,€the€State€party€transmitted€its€observations€on€theŠ `'°"% Šmerits€of€the€complaint€together€with€those€on€admissibility.€Š P( #& ŠĢ7.2€€The€State€party€recalls,€first€of€all,€that€it€is€up€to€the€complainant€to€prove€that€he€runs€the€riskŠ 0*€%( Šof€being€tortured€if€he€is€returned€to€his€country.€Referring€to€the€jurisprudence€of€the€EuropeanŠ  +p&) ŠCourt€of€Human€Rights€and€the€work€entitled€ņņUnited€Nations€Convention€against€Torture:€AŠ ,`'* ŠHandbookóó,€the€State€party€also€recalls€that€an€act€of€torture€involves€severe€suffering,€since€intenseŠ -P(+ Špain€is€the€main€feature€that€distinguishes€torture€from€other€inhuman€treatment.€Referring€to€theŠ š-@), Šforward-looking€nature€of€article€3€of€the€Convention,€the€State€party€stresses€that€the€fact€that€theŠ ° Šperson€was€tortured€in€the€past€does€not€necessarily€mean€that€he€may€be€subjected€to€similarŠ  š Štreatment€in€future.€With€regard€to€the€Committee's€jurisprudence,€the€State€party€also€explains€thatŠ ą Šthat€there€must€be€a€foreseeable,€real,€present€and€personal€risk€of€torture,€thereby€implying,€interŠ €Š Šalia,€that€it€is€not€enough€for€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rightsŠ pĄ Što€exist€in€the€country€of€origin.€On€the€basis€of€several€of€the€Committee's€earlier€decisions,€theŠ ` ° ŠState€party€gives€a€non-exhaustive€list€of€relevant€indicators€for€the€purposes€of€the€implementationŠ P   Šof€article€3€and,€in€particular,€the€existence€of€independent€medical€and€other€evidence€in€support€ofŠ @  Šthe€complainant's€allegations,€possible€changes€in€the€country's€human€rights€situation,€the€existenceŠ 0 € Šof€political€activities€by€the€complainant,€proof€of€his€credibility€and€factual€errors€in€what€he€says.€Š  p  ŠĢ7.3€€In€the€present€case,€the€State€party€maintains€that€the€complainant€has€not€established€that€thereŠ P  Šwas€a€foreseeable,€real€and€personal€risk€that€he€would€be€subjected€to€torture€because€he€is€notŠ š@  Šcredible,€there€is€no€evidence€that€he€is€wanted€by€the€Honduran€authorities€and€he€has€notŠ ą0  Šestablished€that€there€is€a€pattern€of€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€Honduras.€Š Š  ŠĢ7.4€€The€State€party€contests€the€complainant's€credibility,€particularly€because€he€gave€differentŠ ° Šexplanations€of€the€reasons€why€he€was€in€the€place€where€the€explosion€occurred.€The€decision€toŠ  š Šrelease€him€stated€that€he€had€gone€there€to€make€some€telephone€calls,€whereas€he€told€the€CanadianŠ ą Šauthorities€that€he€had€gone€there€to€find€some€documents€for€a€university€examination,€and,Š €Š Šaccording€to€a€Honduran€newspaper,€he€went€into€the€building€because€he€had€seen€a€light€inside.Š pĄ ŠThe€complainant's€claims€that€the€amputation€of€his€arm€and€the€stomach€operation€he€underwentŠ `° Šwere€unnecessary€are€also€not€credible€because€the€above-mentioned€decision€indicates€that€he€wasŠ P  Šright€near€the€place€where€the€explosion€occurred€and€parts€of€a€hand€were€found€there.€TheŠ @ Šcomplainant€himself€stated€that€he€had€been€blinded€by€a€flash€of€light€and€that€his€eyes€and€earsŠ 0€ Šwere€bleeding,€that€he€felt€that€his€arm€had€been€injured€and€that€he€had€been€able€to€crawl€out€ontoŠ  p Ša€balcony€to€call€for€help.€The€State€party€therefore€considers€that,€in€view€of€these€elements,€it€isŠ ` Šmore€than€likely€that€the€amputation€of€his€arm€was€necessary,€as€was€the€stomach€operation€toŠ P Šremove€a€foreign€body.€The€complainant€also€contradicted€himself€about€his€marital€status,€havingŠ š@ Šstated€in€the€information€file€that€he€was€single€and€had€no€children,€whereas,€in€the€visa€applicationŠ ą0 Šhe€made€in€1995,€he€had€said€that€he€had€a€wife€and€two€children.€He€also€contradicted€himself€aboutŠ Š  Ša€job€he€held€from€1993€to€1995.€In€addition,€he€did€not€give€any€credible€explanations€of€theseŠ Ą! Šcontradictions€and€inconsistencies,€something€which€the€psychological€report€can€also€not€explain.€Š °"  ŠĢ7.5€€The€State€party€also€considers€that,€objectively,€the€complainant€has€never€been€an€activeŠ $ą" Šopponent€or€member€of€an€opposition€group,€that€there€is€no€evidence€that€he€is€wanted€by€theŠ €%Š # ŠHonduran€authorities,€since€he€was€able€to€obtain€an€exit€passport€in€1997€and€the€members€of€hisŠ p&Ą!$ Šfamily€have€never€had€any€problems€with€the€authorities,€apart€from€his€brother's€detention€for€fiveŠ `'°"% Šdays,€that€he€lived€in€his€country€without€any€problems€from€1993€to€1995€and€that€he€left€hisŠ P( #& Šcountry€four€times€and€returned€to€it€voluntarily€each€time.€He€also€did€not€apply€for€refugee€statusŠ @)$' Šin€Guatemala€or€Costa€Rica,€which€have€both€signed€the€Geneva€Convention€relating€to€the€StatusŠ 0*€%( Šof€Refugees.€Š  +p&) ŠĢ7.6€€The€State€party€maintains€that€there€is€little€documentary€evidence€to€support€the€complainant'sŠ -P(+ Šfear€resulting€from€his€denunciation€of€abuses€of€power€by€the€army€because€there€are€not€only€Ō_ŌveryŠ š-@), Šfew€disappearances€at€the€present€time€-€and€those€that€do€exist€primarily€involve€human€rightsŠ ° Šadvocates€and€criminals€-€but€several€members€of€the€military€have€also€been€prosecuted€for€abusesŠ  š Šof€power.€The€State€party€argues€that€Honduras€is€not€a€country€where€there€is€a€consistent€patternŠ ą Šof€gross€human€rights€violations€and€that€its€situation€has€changed€substantively€since€the€1980s.€InŠ €Š Šsupport€of€this€assertion,€the€State€party€emphasizes,€for€example,€that,€according€to€a€report€by€theŠ pĄ ŠUnited€Nations€Development€Ō_ŌProgrammeŌ_Ō,€the€number€of€cases€of€torture€in€Honduras€dropped€fromŠ ` ° Š156€in€1991€to€7€in€1996.€The€1999€report€by€the€Special€Rapporteur€of€the€Commission€on€HumanŠ P   ŠRights€on€torture€does€not€refer€to€any€case€of€torture€and,€for€the€period€prior€to€1999,€the€StateŠ @  Šparty€stresses€that€the€Government€of€Honduras€has€always€replied€to€the€Special€Rapporteur'sŠ 0 € Šquestions.€A€number€of€urgent€appeals€relating€to€executions€were€made€by€the€Special€RapporteurŠ  p  Šon€extrajudicial,€summary€or€arbitrary€executions€for€the€period€from€1997€to€1999.€The€reports€ofŠ `  Šthe€Working€Group€on€Arbitrary€Detention€for€1997,€1998€and€1999€do€not€refer€to€any€case€ofŠ P  Štorture€involving€Honduras.€The€reports€of€the€Working€Group€on€Enforced€or€InvoluntaryŠ š@  ŠDisappearances€show€that€most€cases€of€disappearances€took€place€between€1981€and€1984€and€theŠ ą0  Š1998€report€refers€to€only€one€case€of€a€disappearance€involving€a€Jesuit€priest.€As€far€as€the€otherŠ Š  Šdocumentary€sources€are€concerned,€the€State€party€indicates€that,€in€1999,€Amnesty€InternationalŠ Ą Šreferred€to€violations€of€the€human€rights€of€human€rights€advocates,€that€the€1999€Human€RightsŠ ° ŠWatch€report€does€not€deal€with€Honduras€and€that€the€United€States€State€Department€"CountryŠ  š ŠReports€on€Human€Rights€Practices€for€1999"€states€that€human€rights€were€generally€respected€inŠ ą ŠHonduras€during€the€period€under€review,€although€serious€problems€continue€to€exist€with€regardŠ €Š Što€some€allegations€of€extrajudicial€executions€by€members€of€the€security€forces.€Lastly,€with€regardŠ pĄ Što€the€Ō_ŌFIDHŌ_Ō€document€submitted€by€the€complainant,€the€State€party€stresses€that€it€refers€to€humanŠ `° Šrights€advocates,€something€which€the€complainant€cannot€claim€to€be.€In€conclusion,€the€State€partyŠ P  Šmaintains€that,€although€this€information€does€reflect€some€definite€concerns,€there€is€no€consistentŠ @ Špattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€Honduras€and€that€the€documentaryŠ 0€ Ševidence€does€not€support€the€allegation€of€the€danger€of€torture€made€by€the€complainant,€who€hasŠ  p Šnever€opposed€the€Government€and€never€been€part€of€an€organization€that€does.€Š ` ŠĢ7.7€€The€State€party€draws€the€Committee's€attention€to€the€fact€that€this€type€of€evaluation€isŠ š@ Šentrusted€at€the€internal€level€to€highly€specialized€and€experienced€bodies€and€that€the€latestŠ ą0 Ševaluation€is€subject€to€monitoring€by€the€Federal€Court€of€Canada.€Referring€to€the€Committee'sŠ Š  Šgeneral€observation€on€article€3,€as€well€as€the€Committee's€jurisprudence,€the€State€party€expressesŠ Ą! Šthe€view€that€it€is€not€up€to€the€Committee€to€substitute€its€own€evaluation€of€the€facts€for€that€of€theŠ °"  Šauthorities,€since€the€complainant's€case€does€not€reveal€any€blatant€errors,€abuse€of€procedure€or€anyŠ  #š! Šother€irregularity€and€the€standard€of€article€3€has€been€applied€by€the€Canadian€authorities€in€theŠ $ą" Ševaluation€of€the€present€case.€Š €%Š # ŠĢņ ņņņIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeóóó óŠ `'°"% ŠĢ8.1€€The€Committee€must€decide€whether€the€claimant's€return€to€Honduras€would€be€a€breach€of€theŠ @)$' ŠState€party's€obligation€under€article€3€of€the€Convention€not€to€expel€or€return€a€person€to€anotherŠ 0*€%( ŠState€where€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjectedŠ  +p&) Što€torture.€Š ,`'* ŠĢ8.2€€As€provided€in€article€3,€paragraph€1,€the€Committee€must€decide€whether€there€are€substantialŠ š-@), Šgrounds€for€believing€that€the€complainant€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€heŠ ° Šwere€returned€to€Honduras.€In€order€to€take€this€decision,€the€Committee€must€take€into€account€allŠ  š Šrelevant€considerations,€in€accordance€with€article€3,€paragraph€2,€including€the€existence€of€aŠ ą Šconsistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€However,€the€purpose€of€thisŠ €Š Šanalysis€is€to€determine€whether€the€person€concerned€would€personally€be€in€danger€of€beingŠ pĄ Šsubjected€to€torture€in€the€country€to€which€he€would€be€returned.€It€follows€that€the€existence€in€aŠ ` ° Šcountry€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€is€not€in€itselfŠ P   Ša€sufficient€reason€for€establishing€that€a€particular€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toŠ @  Štorture€if€he€were€returned€to€that€country.€There€must€be€other€reasons€to€suggest€that€the€personŠ 0 € Šconcerned€would€personally€be€in€danger,€but€the€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€flagrantŠ  p  Šviolations€of€human€rights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€be€subjected€to€torture€in€his€ownŠ `  Šparticular€situation.€Š P  ŠĢ8.3€€The€Committee€draws€attention€to€its€General€Comment€on€the€implementation€of€article€3,Š ą0  Šwhich€reads:€"Bearing€in€mind€that€the€State€party€and€the€Committee€are€obliged€to€assess€whetherŠ Š  Šthere€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€author€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toŠ Ą Štorture€were€he/she€to€be€expelled,€returned€or€extradited,€the€risk€of€torture€must€be€assessed€onŠ ° Šgrounds€that€go€beyond€mere€theory€or€suspicion.€However,€the€risk€does€not€have€to€meet€the€testŠ  š Šof€being€highly€probable"€(A/53/44,€annex€IX,€para.€6).€Š ą ŠĢ8.4€€In€the€present€case,€the€Committee€takes€note€of€the€State€party's€observations€that€the€claimant'sŠ pĄ Šstatements€about€the€risks€of€torture€are€not€credible€and€not€corroborated€by€objective€evidence.€Š `° ŠĢ8.5€€On€the€basis€of€the€information€submitted€to€it,€the€Committee€considers€that€the€complainantŠ @ Šhas€not€demonstrated€that€he€is€an€opponent€of€the€regime€who€is€wanted€for€terrorist€activities.€TheŠ 0€ ŠCommittee€notes€that€he€was€acquitted€of€responsibility€for€the€1988€explosion€and€that€he€has€notŠ  p Šbeen€accused€of€other€opposition€activities€since€then.€He€has€thus€not€shown€that€there€is€a€personalŠ ` Šrisk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€he€returns€to€Honduras.€Accordingly,€the€Committee€takes€theŠ P Šview€that€it€is€not€necessary€to€examine€the€general€human€rights€situation€in€Honduras€and€that€theŠ š@ Šclaimant€has€not€demonstrated€that€there€are€substantial€grounds,€in€accordance€with€article€3€of€theŠ ą0 ŠConvention,€for€believing€that€he€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€he€returned€toŠ Š  Šhis€country€of€origin.€Š Ą! ŠĢ9.€€Consequently,€the€Committee€against€Torture,€acting€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€theŠ  #š! ŠConvention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,Š $ą" Šconcludes€that€the€return€of€the€complainant€to€Honduras€would€not€constitute€a€breach€of€article€3Š €%Š # Šof€the€Convention.€Š p&Ą!$ ŠĢĢņņņ ņNotesó óóóŠ @)$' ŠĢņņ1óó/€€He€claims€that€he€was€not€released€on€the€day€of€the€decision€because€of€an€appeal€filed€by€theŠ  +p&) Šopposing€party.€Š ,`'* ŠĢņņ2óó/€€The€complainant€also€provided€a€statement€from€the€Reverend€Leo€Ō_ŌFradeŌ_Ō,€Anglican€Bishop€ofŠ š-@), ŠHonduras,€who,€having€taken€into€consideration€various€aspects€of€the€general€situation€in€HondurasŠ ° Šand€of€the€complainant's€personal€situation,€confirmed€the€author's€fears.€Š  š ŠÓĪÓ