ÿWPC§ Öá§TéËF€ÑrRs¹vy(® ÞÎä–}ÅGÈLºƒí NÃÖh̹ӓ ?¬Sé'Üù"&#½÷åƒÙr7™û]Ìø_Á˜§  =¨üÞ®QŸárövb= 1#íWHV/½,6Ò‹ngLРܣŸÑi;©p×á/‚Ÿõuêoo¬³æ9µ¢,޹¶l…0à›¾È>ë¤N@KñÈ'ºêç°;;j?Ý4A’hS±OB»…j‘Âãr+ëä¿2„ >Îá°2 ^o÷‚×­ì™@Â:htÛÕr¾HbÜ—Ò, ÜSóÌg(NæÚ*[öÕŠ[WŒfÛ|.«êéVËðútCÇ"X@¡N+|A>È ¥ù[ã 49Ïa;Ò~î_•‰£AË‘{ï€&>e¶u§5äëÙp1W\ûX7T¶º¬ÞÇÔܦUhy±‰Ó9nö$L„$x áu®WeÛ­ýü‡´°zoNAcG10¾Y‘‚Ýh®óÍL@žØO{~‡³;ôÖ[Ü•SÊ*Þ1zj,pˆ-P¾,²èP˜ŸöãqkO«ô7>üZv™‰,Áè½ ›û¢åÂxBŸtÕN2FÇÑ Ø:̼hÂØ#ÁÄUN… %Ó 0:Ù^ w4#7F mH_NgU>i˜HP LaserJet 4P,ü,,,,,ü0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ûœ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,Ô§†e, &bœ+L  k1ÀaŸ3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ ô\  `‹&Times New RomanÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ  ÓÔ‡¼ã4»XXÔò òDOMINICAN€REPUBLICó óÔ#†X­¨X»¼ã4I#ÔÐ ° ÐÓ  ÓÌÌò òÔ_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô€€A/40/40€(1985)ó óÐ œì ÐÌÌ382.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€the€Dominican€Republic€(Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/6/Add.10)Ð ` ° Ðat€its€577òòthóó,€578òòthóó,€581òòstóó€and€582òòndóó€meetings,€held€on€27€and€29€March€1985€(Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/SR.577,€578,Ð L œ Ð581€and€€582).Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ383.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party€who€expressed€hisÐ `  ÐGovernmentððs€regret€for€the€long€delay€in€submitting€the€report€and€assured€the€Committee€of€hisÐ üL  ÐGovernmentððs€readiness€to€co„operate.Ð è8  ÐÌ384.€€The€representative€stated€that€since€the€end€of€the€dictatorial€Ô_ÔrgimeÔ_Ô,€25€years€previously,€hisÐ À  Ðcountry€had€been€committed€to€democracy€and€the€rule€of€law.€€Since€1978,€when€the€Ô_ÔPartidoÔ_ÔÐ ¬ü  ÐÔ_ÔDemocrticoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRevolucionarioÔ_Ô€assumed€power,€the€protection€of€human€rights€had€formed€an€integralÐ ˜è Ðpart€of€his€countryððs€official€policy.€€The€Dominican€Republic€had€promulgated€a€general€amnestyÐ „Ô Ðlaw€and€promptly€ratified€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€and€its€OptionalÐ pÀ ÐProtocol€and€had€taken€a€number€of€measures€to€bring€legislation€into€line€with€the€provisions€of€theÐ \¬ ÐCovenant,€including€the€removal€of€restrictions€on€travel€to€certain€countries,€restoring€the€full€rightsÐ H˜ Ðof€certain€political€parties,€including€the€Communist€party,€and€establishing€a€presidential€office€forÐ 4„ Ðthe€promotion€and€protection€of€human€rights.€€As€a€further€token€of€its€attachment€to€human€rights,Ð  p Ðthe€Dominican€Republic€had€been€among€the€first€States,€in€February€1985,€to€sign€the€ConventionÐ  \ Ðagainst€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment.Ð øH ÐÌ385.€€Members€of€the€Committee€welcomed€the€additional€information€provided€by€theÐ Ð  Ðrepresentative€of€the€State€party€which,€in€their€view,€had€helped€to€supplement,€to€some€extent,€aÐ ¼  Ðreport€that€was€inadequate€and€dealt€almost€exclusively€with€constitutional€provisions€rather€thanÐ ¨ø Ðalso€addressing€relevant€laws€and€practices€designed€to€ensure€the€enjoyment€of€the€rights€set€out€inÐ ”ä Ðthe€Covenant.€€They€expressed€particular€interest€in€learning€more€about€how€the€changes€since€1978Ð € Ð Ðand€the€current€economic€and€debt€problems€had€affected€the€enjoyment€of€human€rights.Ð l!¼ ÐÌ386.€€Referring€to€article€1€of€the€Covenant,€members€sought€information€on€the€position€of€theÐ D#”! ÐDominican€Republic€regarding€the€crisis€in€Central€America,€the€practice€of€òòapartheidóó€in€SouthÐ 0$€" ÐAfrica€and€the€right€to€self„determination€of€the€peoples€of€Palestine,€Namibia,€DemocraticÐ %l # ÐKampuchea€and€Afghanistan.Ð &X!$ ÐÌ387.€€Regarding€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€members€asked€whether€the€provisions€of€the€CovenantÐ à'0#& Ðhad€direct€effect€in€the€Dominican€Republic€or€whether€further€legislation€was€needed€to€bring€themÐ Ì($' Ðinto€effect.€€If€the€former,€it€was€asked€whether€the€Covenantððs€provisions€could€be€directly€invokedÐ ¸)%( Ðbefore€the€courts.€€It€was€further€inquired€whether€a€system€existed€for€harmonizing€legislation€thatÐ ¤*ô%) Ðpre„dated€both€the€Constitution€and€the€Covenant.€€Questions€were€also€asked€about€the€publicityÐ +à&* Ðaccorded€to€the€Covenant,€whether€the€Covenant€was€easily€accessible€to€the€public,€whetherÐ |,Ì'+ Ðinstruction€on€human€rights€issues€was€provided€in€schools€and€universities€and€whether€the€generalÐ h-¸(, ÐÔ_Ôpublic€was€aware€that€the€report€was€considered€by€the€Committee.€€In€addition,€members€asked€whatÐ ° Ðthe€activities€to€celebrate€Human€Rights€Day€comprised€and€whether€activities€designed€to€make€theÐ œì Ðpopulation€aware€of€human€rights€problems€were€included.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ388.€€In€connection€with€article€3€of€the€Covenant,€one€member€requested€information€about€lawsÐ `° Ðand€regulations€ensuring€the€quality€of€rights€of€men€and€women€in€the€Dominican€Republic,€theÐ L œ Ðnumber€of€girls€attending€primary€school€and€university€and€the€number€of€women€doctors€andÐ 8 ˆ Ðlawyers.Ð $ t ÐÌ389.€€With€regard€to€article€4€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€what€powers€the€Government€had€in€aÐ ü L  Ðstate€of€emergency,€whether€a€state€of€emergency€had€ever€been€declared€and,€if€so,€whether€suchÐ è 8  Ða€declaration€had€been€in€conformity€with€the€provisions€of€article€4€of€the€Covenant.€€In€the€sameÐ Ô$  Ðconnection,€it€was€asked€whether€an€individual€detained€during€a€public€emergency€could€availÐ À  Ðhimself€of€a€writ€of€òòhabeas€corpusóó.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌ390.€€Regarding€article€6€of€the€Covenant,€members€expressed€concern€about€the€disappearance€ofÐ „Ô  Ðpersons€in€the€Dominican€Republic€and€asked€what€the€Government€had€done€to€investigate€suchÐ pÀ Ðcases,€including€several€specific€cases€to€which€members€of€the€Committee€referred.€€They€alsoÐ \¬ Ðinquired€about€certain€recent€incidents€where€the€use€of€excessive€force€by€police€had€led€to€deathÐ H˜ Ðand€injury€and€asked€whether€such€incidents€had€been€investigated€with€what€results,€and€whetherÐ 4„ Ðconditions€imposed€by€the€International€Monetary€Fund€had€caused€these€incidents.€€In€addition,Ð  p Ðmembers€asked€for€information€regarding€the€regulations€in€force€with€respect€to€the€use€of€firearmsÐ  \ Ðby€security€forces.Ð øH ÐÌ391.€€One€member€asked€for€additional€information€about€population€growth€rates€and€infantÐ Ð  Ðmortality€rates€and€whether€or€not€abortion€was€legalized.Ð ¼  ÐÌ392.€€With€regard€to€article€8€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€referred€to€reports€allegingÐ ”ä Ðthat€illegal€migrant€workers€from€Haiti€had€been€forcibly€transported€to€several€sugar€plantations€andÐ €Ð Ðkept€working€against€their€will.€€Further€information€was€requested€about€that€matter,€particularlyÐ l¼ Ðas€to€whether€the€Government€had€put€a€stop€to€any€such€treatment.Ð X ¨ ÐÌ393.€€Commenting€on€article€9€of€the€Covenant€and€the€reported€practice€in€the€Dominican€RepublicÐ 0"€  Ðof€arbitrary€arrest€and€preventive€detention,€members€asked€whether€illegal€practices€of€that€kind,Ð #l! Ðif€they€took€place,€had€been€halted€and€what€remedies€were€available€to€victims€of€such€practices€„Ð $X" Ðcould€they,€for€example,€directly€invoke€article€8,€section€2€(c),€of€the€Constitution€to€obtainÐ ô$D # Ðimmediate€discharge€from€custody€or€could€they€resort€to€òòÔ_ÔhabeesÔ_Ô€corpusóó?€€Members€also€askedÐ à%0!$ Ðwhether€such€persons€could€apply€for€compensation,€as€provided€in€article€9,€paragraph€5,€of€theÐ Ì&"% ÐCovenant.€€It€was€also€asked€what€progress€had€been€achieved€in€reducing€the€length€of€pre„trialÐ ¸'#& Ðdetention.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ394.€€Referring€to€article€10€of€the€Covenant,€members€asked€for€additional€information€about€stepsÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€Government€had€taken€to€ensure€that€the€conditions€of€and€rules€for€the€treatment€of€prisonersÐ h+¸&* Ðwere€in€conformity€with€international€standards,€whether€law€enforcement€authorities€had€receivedÐ T,¤'+ Ðadequate€guidance€concerning€the€United€Nations€Standard€Minimum€Rules€for€the€Treatment€ofÐ @-(, ÐPrisoners€and€whether€any€difficulties€had€been€encountered€in€implementing€the€Regulation€(No.Ð ° Ð7083)€governing€the€organization€and€operation€of€public€prisons.Ð œì ÐÌ395.€€In€connection€with€articles€12€and€13€of€the€Covenant€and€with€reference€to€the€constitutionalÐ tÄ Ðprinciple€regarding€freedom€of€movement€cited€in€the€report,€members€asked€for€additionalÐ `° Ðclarification€about€the€actual€extent€of€permissible€restrictions€on€the€freedom€of€movement.€Ð L œ ÐRegarding€the€question€of€nationality,€members€inquired€about€the€relevant€laws€governing€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðnationality€of€illegitimate€children€born€in€the€Dominican€Republic€to€accredited€diplomaticÐ $ t Ðrepresentatives€or€to€other€aliens€and€whether€any€bilateral€agreement€had€been€concluded€with€otherÐ  ` Ðcountries€on€the€question€of€duality€nationality.€€It€was€also€asked€whether€aliens€whose€expulsionÐ ü L  Ðfrom€the€country€had€been€ordered€could€appeal€such€decisions€under€any€established€procedure.€Ð è 8  ÐIn€connection€with€the€situation€of€Haitian€refugees€living€in€the€Dominican€Republic,€it€was€askedÐ Ô$  Ðwhether€the€Dominican€Government€had€made€representations€to€the€Government€of€HaitiÐ À  Ðconcerning€the€forcible€repatriation€of€refugees€by€Haitian€agents.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌ396.€€In€connection€with€article€14€of€the€Covenant,€members€asked€for€additional€details€concerningÐ „Ô  Ðthe€judiciary€system,€including€the€tenure,€dismissal€and€disciplining€of€members€of€the€judiciary;Ð pÀ Ðwhether€the€practice€of€election€of€judges€by€the€Senate€was€adequate€in€ensuring€judicialÐ \¬ Ðindependence;€whether€there€were€any€social€or€financial€restrictions€limiting€access€to€the€legalÐ H˜ Ðprofession;€how€the€court€system€was€organized€for€the€effective€protection€of€human€rights€and€whatÐ 4„ Ðcompetence€courts€had€in€respect€of€administrative,€social€and€labour€matters;€whether€a€legal€aidÐ  p Ðsystem€existed€to€assist€persons€who€could€not€afford€to€pay€legal€costs;€and€whether€any€judgesÐ  \ Ðappointed€during€the€era€of€the€dictatorship€were€still€serving.€€One€member€asked€whether€theÐ øH Ðestablishment€of€an€office€of€ombudsman€or€òòÔ_ÔdefensorÔ_Ô€del€€pueblo€óóhad€ever€been€considered€by€theÐ ä4 ÐGovernment€as€a€means€of€improving€the€administration€of€justice,€particularly€in€rural€areas€or€forÐ Ð  Ðforeign€workers.€€Another€member€noted€that€the€Committee€had€adopted€a€general€comment€dealingÐ ¼  Ðwith€the€scope€of€article€14€(general€comment€13€(21))€and€suggested€that€the€Government€considerÐ ¨ø Ðthat€general€comment€in€preparing€its€next€periodic€report.Ð ”ä ÐÌ397.€€With€reference€to€article€17€of€the€Covenant,€information€was€requested€on€the€actualÐ l¼ Ðapplication€of€the€constitutional€principle€of€the€inviolability€of€the€home.€€In€particular,€it€was€askedÐ X ¨ Ðwhat€the€statute€on€police€powers€provided€regarding€permissible€house€searches.Ð D!” ÐÌ398.€€In€connection€with€article€19€of€the€Covenant,€members€asked€whether€a€licence€or€other€formÐ #l! Ðof€government€approval€was€required€to€establish€a€newspaper,€whether€newspaper€closures€orderedÐ $X" Ðby€the€Government€could€be€challenged€in€the€courts€and,€if€so,€under€what€procedure,€whetherÐ ô$D # Ðbroadcasts€from€mobile€reporting€units€were€still€banned€and,€if€so,€why;€whether€any€radio€stationÐ à%0!$ Ðhad€been€closed€since€the€ratification€of€the€Covenant,€whether€the€entry€of€foreign€publications€intoÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€country€was€controlled€by€the€Government€and,€if€so,€under€what€legislative€authority.€€It€wasÐ ¸'#& Ðasked€what€remedies€were€available€to€those€affected€by€such€restrictions.€€It€was€also€asked€howÐ ¤(ô#' Ðarticle€1€of€Act€No.€4033,€which€apparently€severely€restricted€the€circulation€of€juvenileÐ )à$( Ðpublications,€could€be€reconciled€with€article€19€of€the€Covenant.€€In€addition,€one€member€inquiredÐ |*Ì%) Ðwhether€there€were€currently€any€political€detainees€in€the€country.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ399.€€In€connection€with€the€activities€of€the€National€Human€Rights€Committee,€members€inquiredÐ @-(, Ðas€to€the€Governmentððs€attitudes€towards€that€Committee€and€its€criticisms€and€asked€that€theÐ ° Ðreported€arrest€of€a€board€member€of€the€National€Human€Rights€Committee€be€investigated.Ð œì ÐÌ400.€€With€respect€to€article€21€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€whether€the€right€to€freedom€ofÐ tÄ Ðassembly€could€be€exercised€within€the€Dominican€Republic€without€undue€government€restrictionsÐ `° Ðor€interference.€€Specific€reference€was€made€to€the€reported€unexplained€prohibition€of€a€meetingÐ L œ Ðthat€was€to€have€been€held€under€the€auspices€of€the€National€Human€Rights€Committee€inÐ 8 ˆ ÐDecember€1984€to€celebrate€Human€Rights€Day.Ð $ t ÐÌ401.€€With€regard€to€article€22€of€the€Covenant,€members€requested€additional€clarificationÐ ü L  Ðconcerning€the€exclusion€from€coverage€under€the€Labour€Code€of€such€board€categories€of€theÐ è 8  Ðlabour€force€as€agricultural,€agro„industrial,€forestry€and€stock„raising€workers,€as€well€as€civilÐ Ô$  Ðservants€and€other€workers€employed€by€public€authorities.€€It€was€also€asked€whether€strikingÐ À  Ðworkers€enjoyed€legal€protection€from€dismissal€and,€if€so,€whether€they€could€effectively€availÐ ¬ü  Ðthemselves€of€such€protection€by€seeking€court€ordered€reinstatement€after€dismissal.Ð ˜è  ÐÌ402.€€Referring€to€article€24€of€the€Covenant,€information€was€requested€concerning€any€measuresÐ pÀ Ðtaken€by€the€Government€to€protect€the€rights€and€welfare€of€minors,€particularly€juvenile€workersÐ \¬ Ðof€foreign€parentage.€€Members€also€asked€about€the€age€limit€for€compulsory€education€and€aboutÐ H˜ Ðschool€enrolment€statistics.Ð 4„ ÐÌ403.€€In€connection€with€article€25€of€the€Covenant€and€with€reference€to€the€statement€in€the€reportÐ  \ Ðconcerning€the€need€for€conformity€between€the€tenets€of€political€parties€or€associations€andÐ øH Ðconstitutional€principles,€further€clarification€was€requested€as€to€the€possible€restrictions€on€politicalÐ ä4 Ðactivities€that€such€a€proviso€could€lead€to.Ð Ð  ÐÌ404.€€With€regard€to€article€27€of€the€Covenant,€one€member€asked€whether€there€were€any€ethnicÐ ¨ø Ðor€religious€minorities€in€the€Dominican€Republic.Ð ”ä ÐÌ405.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€expressed€appreciation€for€the€Committeeððs€constructiveÐ l¼ Ðattitude€in€considering€his€countryððs€initial€report€which,€he€acknowledged,€was€late€and€notÐ X ¨ Ðsufficiently€complete.€€He€then€proceeded€to€reply€to€questions€raised€by€the€Committee.Ð D!” ÐÌ406.€€With€regard€to€article€1€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€stated€that€his€Government€hadÐ #l! Ðdeclared€its€support€for€the€principle€of€self„determination€in€all€international€forums,€that€it€hadÐ $X" Ðconsistently€supported€the€struggle€of€the€Namibian€and€Afghan€peoples,€that€his€Government€alsoÐ ô$D # Ðsupported€the€right€of€the€Palestinian€people€to€exercise€the€right€of€self„determination€withoutÐ à%0!$ Ðinterference€and€coercion,€including€the€right€to€establish€a€sovereign€and€independent€State€inÐ Ì&"% ÐPalestinian€territory€and€that€it€considered€the€withdrawal€of€Israeli€troops€from€Palestinian€and€otherÐ ¸'#& Ðoccupied€Arab€territories€to€be€a€prerequisite€for€a€solution€to€the€problem.€€His€Government€alsoÐ ¤(ô#' Ðconsidered€òòapartheidóó€to€be€a€crime€against€humanity€and€an€affront€to€manððs€conscience.€€He€alsoÐ )à$( Ðreaffirmed€his€countryððs€dedication€to€the€principle€of€non„intervention,€which€constituted€one€of€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðkey€tenets€of€the€Constitution€of€the€Dominican€Republic.€€In€that€connection,€his€GovernmentððsÐ h+¸&* Ðposition€on€the€current€crisis€in€Central€America€was€that€it€must€be€peacefully€resolved€and€it€hadÐ T,¤'+ Ðtherefore€staunchly€supported€the€efforts€of€the€Ô_ÔContadoraÔ_Ô€Group€to€that€end.€€His€Government€wasÐ @-(, Ðfully€aware€that€the€situation€in€the€region€was€a€consequence€of€unjust€political€and€economicÐ ° Ðstructures.Ð œì ÐÌ407.€€Referring€to€questions€posed€under€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€stated€that€asÐ tÄ Ða€valid€international€treaty€which€had€been€published€in€a€nationally€circulated€newspaper€and€theÐ `° ÐòòÔ_ÔRegistreÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔOficialÔ_Ôóó€(official€gazette),€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€had€been€fully€incorporated€intoÐ L œ Ðdomestic€law€and€could€be€directly€invoked€in€the€courts.€€Like€other€international€treaties€theÐ 8 ˆ ÐCovenant€had€the€force€of€constitutional€law.Ð $ t ÐÌ408.€€With€regard€to€article€3€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€stated€that€under€Dominican€lawÐ ü L  Ðwomen€enjoyed€full€equality€with€men,€including€the€right€to€vote€and€to€be€elected€to€public€office.€Ð è 8  ÐThere€were€currently€women€in€such€important€offices€as€government€minister€and€provincialÐ Ô$  Ðgovernor.€€Abortions€were€prohibited€by€law,€but€the€Government€was€pursuing€a€policy€of€reducingÐ À  Ðthe€population€growth€rate.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌ409.€€Responding€to€the€question€raised€under€articles€4€and€9€of€the€Covenant€as€to€the€possibilityÐ „Ô  Ðof€resort€to€òòhabeas€corpusóó€by€detainees,€the€representative€said€that€any€person€deprived€of€hisÐ pÀ Ðfreedom€could€invoke€òòhabeas€corpusóó€before€a€competent€tribunal€to€determine€whether€the€detentionÐ \¬ Ðwas€lawful.Ð H˜ ÐÌ410.€€Responding€to€questions€raised€under€article€6€of€the€Covenant€concerning€the€question€ofÐ  p Ðunexplained€disappearances,€the€representative€said€that€his€Government€had€no€specific€policyÐ  \ Ðcovering€such€cases,€which€were€considered€to€be€sporadic,€isolated€incidents€having€no€politicalÐ øH Ðovertones.€€With€respect€to€one€of€the€specific€cases€of€disappearance€that€had€been€cited€„€that€ofÐ ä4 Ðthe€Haitian€refugee€Luis€Samuel€Roche€„€he€noted€that€the€alleged€disappearance€had€occurred€underÐ Ð  Ðthe€previous€Government€and€that€a€thorough€investigation€had€turned€up€no€record€of€his€everÐ ¼  Ðhaving€been€held€in€the€prison€that€had€been€named€in€the€allegation€or€of€his€ever€having€beenÐ ¨ø Ðdetained€by€Dominican€police€or€immigration€authorities.Ð ”ä ÐÌ411.€€As€to€the€questions€posed€by€members€concerning€the€alleged€use€of€excessive€force€by€theÐ l¼ Ðpolice€in€quelling€public€protests,€he€stated€that€law€enforcement€officers€had€received€specialÐ X ¨ Ðtraining€so€as€to€avoid€the€use€of€excessive€force€in€coping€with€such€protests.€€He€pointed€out€thatÐ D!” Ðthe€protests€had€been€directed€against€a€serious€economic€situation€which€had€been€precipitated€byÐ 0"€  Ðhis€Governmentððs€negotiations€with€the€International€Monetary€Fund,€and€he€strongly€supported€aÐ #l! Ðsuggestion€for€a€study€of€the€adverse€effects€which€the€conditions€imposed€by€the€InternationalÐ $X" ÐMonetary€Fund€had€on€the€enjoyment€of€human€rights.€€He€acknowledged,€however,€that€excessiveÐ ô$D # Ðforce€might€have€been€used€during€the€isolated€incident€that€had€occurred€in€1984,€at€a€time€whenÐ à%0!$ Ðtension€was€very€high.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ412.€€With€regard€to€birth€rates€and€infant€mortality€rates,€he€stated€that,€according€to€the€mostÐ ¤(ô#' Ðrecently€available€data,€the€birth€rate€in€1980€was€3.5€per€cent€and€the€infant€mortality€rate€in€1979Ð )à$( Ðwas€33.2€per€thousand.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ413.€€With€regard€to€articles€8€and€12€of€the€Covenant€and€the€allegations€concerning€the€treatmentÐ T,¤'+ Ðof€illegal€migrants€from€Haiti€as€forced€labourers€on€sugar€plantations,€the€representativeÐ @-(, Ðcategorically€denied€that€the€situation€of€such€migrants€was€as€depicted€in€the€reports€to€whichÐ ° Ðmembers€of€the€Committee€had€made€reference.€€In€fact,€illegal€Haitian€immigrants€were€notÐ œì Ðpersecuted€by€the€authorities€and€lived€openly€in€Dominican€society,€some€of€them€even€marryingÐ ˆØ ÐDominican€nationals.Ð tÄ ÐÌ414.€€As€to€the€broader€question€concerning€the€treatment€of€migrant€workers,€particularly€Haitians,Ð L œ Ðhe€stated€that,€in€accordance€with€international€labour€conventions,€funds€were€set€aside€to€ensureÐ 8 ˆ Ðthat€basic€requirements€for€medical€care,€transport,€food€and€the€fulfilment€of€contracts€were€met.€Ð $ t ÐA€recent€ILO€commission€of€inquiry€had€found€that€Haitian€workers€had€been€voluntarily€recruitedÐ  ` Ðand€could€reside€wherever€they€wished€under€the€temporary€residence€permits€with€which€they€hadÐ ü L  Ðentered€the€Dominican€Republic.€€Such€workers€were€not€subjected€to€forced€labour€and€enjoyedÐ è 8  Ðfreedom€of€movement.€€In€view€of€the€requirements€of€the€sugar€harvest€they€did€not€work€fixedÐ Ô$  Ðhours,€but€could€not€be€obliged€to€work€more€than€six€or€seven€hours€a€day.€€A€general€effort€wasÐ À  Ðunder€way,€subject€to€the€availability€of€funds,€to€improve€housing€conditions€and€the€GovernmentÐ ¬ü  Ðdid€all€it€could€to€abide€by€various€ILO€conventions€concerning€migrant€workers.Ð ˜è  ÐÌ415.€€Responding€to€one€of€the€questions€posed€by€members€of€the€Committee€under€article€9€of€theÐ pÀ ÐCovenant,€the€representative€stated€that€he€knew€of€no€provision€for€granting€financial€compensationÐ \¬ Ðto€a€person€who€had€been€unlawfully€arrested€or€detained,€but€that€it€was€possible€for€such€a€personÐ H˜ Ðto€seek€moral€redress€(see€also€the€answer€provided€under€para.€409€above€concerning€resort€byÐ 4„ Ðdetainees€to€the€remedy€of€òòhabeas€corpusóó).Ð  p ÐÌ416.€€With€reference€to€article€10€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€explained€that€the€pursuit€ofÐ øH Ðrehabilitation,€to€the€extent€that€the€scarcity€of€resources€allowed,€was€an€important€objective€in€allÐ ä4 Ðcases€of€imprisonment.€€He€also€noted€that€a€Prison€Reform€Commission,€of€which€the€countryððsÐ Ð  ÐFirst€Lady,€an€ardent€human€right€advocate,€was€a€member,€had€been€set€up€to€study€ways€ofÐ ¼  Ðimproving€prison€conditions.Ð ¨ø ÐÌ417.€€With€regard€to€articles€12€and€13€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€stated€that€illegitimateÐ €Ð Ðchildren€of€aliens,€if€born€in€the€Dominican€Republic€and€facing€the€prospect€of€being€stateless,€wereÐ l¼ Ðgranted€Dominican€nationality.€€As€to€the€question€of€dual€nationality,€no€bilateral€agreements€hadÐ X ¨ Ðbeen€concluded€granting€dual€nationality€as€such.€€However,€an€agreement€had€been€concluded€withÐ D!” ÐSpain€under€which€Dominican€nationals€enjoyed€the€same€civil,€economic,€social€and€cultural€rightsÐ 0"€  Ðas€Spanish€nationals.€€With€respect€to€the€question€of€Haitian€exiles,€the€representative€stated€thatÐ #l! Ðhis€country€welcomed€them€and€did€nothing€to€hamper€their€freedom€or€to€restrict€their€rights.€€NoÐ $X" Ðmember€of€a€foreign€security€service€could€act€freely€in€the€Dominican€Republic€since€that€wouldÐ ô$D # Ðbe€a€gross€violation€of€Dominican€sovereignty.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ418.€€With€respect€to€article€13€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€stated€that€foreigners€were€wellÐ ¸'#& Ðreceived€in€the€Dominican€Republic,€enjoyed€full€rights€and€could€only€be€expelled€for€serious€cause.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ419.€€Replying€to€questions€posed€in€connection€with€article€14€of€the€Covenant,€the€representativeÐ |*Ì%) Ðof€the€State€party€provided€the€following€details€concerning€the€judicial€structure€in€the€DominicanÐ h+¸&* ÐRepublic:€the€highest€tribunal€was€the€Supreme€Court,€which€reviewed€both€questions€of€fact€andÐ T,¤'+ Ðquestions€of€the€law.€€The€courts€of€appeal€reviewed€criminal€cases;€justices€of€the€peace€wereÐ @-(, Ðconcerned€with€petty€offences.€€The€courts€of€first€instance€were€subdivided€into€penal,€civil€andÐ ° Ðcommercial€tribunals.€€The€land€courts€dealt€with€all€matters€pertaining€to€the€ownership€of€land,€andÐ œì Ðthe€labour€courts€took€up€labour„related€cases€after€the€parties€concerned€had€exhausted€theÐ ˆØ Ðconciliation€remedies€available€in€the€Ministry€of€Labour.€€There€was€also€a€State€Audit€Office€whichÐ tÄ Ðreported€annually€on€the€Stateððs€accounts.Ð `° ÐÌ420.€€In€further€responding€to€questions€posed€by€members€of€the€Committee€under€article€14,€heÐ 8 ˆ Ðnoted€that€the€legislature€was€considering€a€bill€providing€for€the€appointment€of€judges€by€theÐ $ t ÐSupreme€Court,€that€most€judges€belonged€to€the€new€generation€that€had€grown€up€following€theÐ  ` Ðdictatorship€and€that€there€were€no€judges€sitting€who€had€served€under€the€previous€Ô_ÔrgimeÔ_Ô,€thatÐ ü L  Ðthere€was€both€a€legal€aid€system€and€a€system€of€public€defenders€in€the€Dominican€Republic€andÐ è 8  Ðthat€all€persons€had€access€to€justice€and€to€the€courts.Ð Ô$  ÐÌ421.€€With€reference€to€article€17€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€stated€that€the€inviolability€ofÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€home€was€safeguarded€under€the€law.Ð ˜è  ÐÌ422.€€With€regard€to€article€19€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€noted,€òòinter€aliaóó,€that€there€wasÐ pÀ Ðno€censorship€of€the€media€in€the€Dominican€Republic,€that€there€were€10€nationally€circulatedÐ \¬ Ðnewspapers,€100€television€stations€and€more€than€200€radio€stations€in€the€country,€that€the€mediaÐ H˜ Ðcould€report€on€all€domestic€and€international€matters€without€restriction€provided€that€public€order,Ð 4„ Ðnational€security€and€propriety€were€not€jeopardized,€that€broadcasting€from€mobile€units€had€beenÐ  p Ðdiscontinued€as€a€preventive€measure€after€the€broadcasting€of€information€from€the€scene€of€theÐ  \ Ðevents€of€April€1984€had€resulted€in€increased€unrest€and€that€there€were€no€special€requirements€forÐ øH Ðthe€establishment€of€newspapers€other€than€those€normally€required€for€commercial€enterprises.€€InÐ ä4 Ðaddition,€he€stressed€that€there€had€been€no€political€prisoners€in€his€country€for€many€years€„€a€factÐ Ð  Ðthat€was€acknowledged€by€Dominican€opposition€parties€and€national€human€rights€bodies.€€TheÐ ¼  Ðrepresentative€also€stated€that€he€had€no€information€concerning€the€reported€detention€of€a€leaderÐ ¨ø Ðof€Dominican€Human€Rights€Committee€and€that€the€question€would€be€addressed€in€the€next€report.Ð ”ä ÐÌ423.€€With€regard€to€article€22€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€explained€that€the€Labour€Code,Ð l¼ Ðwhich€dated€back€to€the€time€of€the€dictatorship,€had€been€supplemented€by€a€considerable€body€ofÐ X ¨ Ðlabour€legislation€and€adapted€to€contemporary€labour€realities€and€that€the€right€to€strike€was€neitherÐ D!” Ðprohibited€nor€restricted€except€in€the€case€of€public€employees.€€He€added€that€strikers€who€hadÐ 0"€  Ðbeen€dismissed€from€their€job€could€apply€to€the€courts€for€redress.Ð #l! ÐÌ424.€€In€connection€with€article€24€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€noted€that€a€NationalÐ ô$D # ÐChildrenððs€Council€had€been€established€to€formulate€appropriate€policies€with€regard€to€all€aspectsÐ à%0!$ Ðof€child€welfare,€that€primary€education€was€free€and€compulsory€and€that€a€high€proportion€of€theÐ Ì&"% Ðpopulation€was€pursuing€some€form€of€education€as€a€result€of€a€literacy€campaign€launched€by€theÐ ¸'#& ÐGovernment€in€1978.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ425.€€Replying€to€the€question€raised€under€article€27€of€the€Covenant€concerning€the€existence€ofÐ |*Ì%) Ðany€ethnic€or€religious€minorities€in€the€Dominican€Republic,€the€representative€stated€that€thereÐ h+¸&* Ðwere€no€such€minorities€in€the€country.Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð426.€€Finally,€the€representative€said€that€his€country€was€eager€to€provide€a€supplementary€reportÐ ° Ðand€to€meet€the€Committeeððs€requirements€in€its€second€period€report.Ð œì ÐÌ427.€€Members€of€the€Committee€commended€the€State€party€for€its€considerable€progress,€since€theÐ tÄ Ðratification€of€the€Covenant,€in€protecting€and€implementing€human€rights.€€The€CommitteeÐ `° Ðwelcomed€the€co„operation€being€extended€by€the€State€party€and€expressed€special€appreciation€forÐ L œ Ðthe€earnest€endeavour€of€the€representative€of€the€Dominican€Republic€to€provide€answers€to€as€manyÐ 8 ˆ Ðof€the€Committeeððs€questions€as€possible€and€for€the€offer€to€submit€a€supplementary€report.Ð $ t ÐÌ428.€€The€Committee€decided€to€request€the€State€party€to€submit€its€second€periodic€report,€whichÐ ü L  Ðwould€have€been€due€in€April€1984,€within€one€year€of€the€date€of€consideration€of€the€current€report,Ð è 8  Ðand€to€include€in€the€second€periodic€report€the€supplementary€information€requested€duringÐ Ô$  Ðconsideration€of€the€initial€report.€€It€was€the€Committeeððs€expectation€that,€in€addition€toÐ À  Ðconforming€to€the€guidelines€concerning€the€form€and€content€of€periodic€reports,€the€new€reportÐ ¬ü  Ðwould€contain€information€that€would€normally€have€been€provided€in€the€initial€report,€amplify,Ð ˜è  Ðwhere€necessary,€the€oral€responses€supplied€by€the€State€partyððs€representative€in€the€course€of€theÐ „Ô  Ðconsideration€of€the€initial€report€and€provide€answers€to€the€outstanding€questions.Ð pÀ ÐÌ429.€€The€representative€of€the€Dominican€Republic€thanked€the€Committee€for€its€decision€andÐ H˜ Ðassured€it€of€his€Governmentððs€continued€readiness€to€co„operate.Ð  4„ Ðò òÔ_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô€€A/45/40€Ô_Ô(1990)ó óÔ_ÔÐ ° ÐÌÌ355.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€periodic€report€of€the€Dominican€RepublicÐ tÄ Ð(Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/32/Add.16)€at€its€967òòthóó€to€970òòthóó€meetings,€on€29€and€30€March€1990€(Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/SR.967„Ð `° ÐSR.970).Ð L œ ÐÌ356.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party,€who€said€that€internationalÐ $ t Ðtreaties€and€conventions,€including€the€Covenant€and€its€Optional€Protocol,€were€incorporated€inÐ  ` Ðdomestic€legislation.€€Accordingly,€any€gaps€that€might€exist€in€legislation€with€respect€toÐ ü L  Ðrecognition€of€human€rights€were€covered.Ð è 8  ÐÌòòConstitutional€and€legal€framework€within€which€the€Covenant€is€implementedóóÐ À  ÐÌ357.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€the€status€of€theÐ ˜è  ÐCovenant€was€relative€to€the€Constitution€and€to€domestic€law€and€whether€the€courts€had€authorityÐ „Ô  Ðto€adjudicate€any€possible€conflicts;€whether€the€Covenant€had€ever€been€directly€invoked€before€theÐ pÀ Ðcourts€and,€if€so,€with€what€results;€what€factors€and€difficulties€affecting€the€implementation€of€theÐ \¬ ÐCovenant,€if€any,€had€been€encountered;€whether€article€10€of€the€Constitution€had€ever€been€usedÐ H˜ Ðto€justify€imposing€duties€that€may€have€the€effect€of€derogating€from€certain€rights;€what€activitiesÐ 4„ Ðrelating€to€the€promotion€of€greater€public€awareness€of€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and€theÐ  p ÐOptional€Protocol€had€been€undertaken;€whether€human€rights€were€taught€as€part€of€the€regularÐ  \ Ðcurriculum;€and€whether€the€national€human€rights€Ô_ÔcommitteeÔ_Ô€in€the€Dominican€Republic€was€stillÐ øH Ðactive.€€Information€was€also€requested€regarding€the€activities€of€other€non„governmentalÐ ä4 Ðorganizations€concerned€with€human€rights€and€regarding€the€outcome€of€a€case€submitted€under€theÐ Ð  ÐOptional€Protocol€in€respect€of€which€the€Committee€had€conveyed€its€views€but€had€not€receivedÐ ¼  Ða€response€from€the€Government€of€the€Dominican€Republic.Ð ¨ø ÐÌ358.€€In€reply€to€the€questions€raised€by€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€the€StateÐ €Ð Ðparty€said€that€the€Covenant,€upon€its€ratification,€had€automatically€become€part€of€domestic€law.€Ð l¼ ÐNo€conflicts€had€arisen€between€domestic€legislation€and€the€Covenant,€which€could€be€invokedÐ X ¨ Ðbefore€the€courts€by€any€person.€€This€had€already€happened€in€a€few€cases.€€The€Constitution€wasÐ D!” Ðsupreme€in€the€hierarchy€of€law€and€any€other€law,€including€international€law,€ranked€below€it.€Ð 0"€  ÐSince€the€Covenant€formed€part€of€domestic€legislation€there€was€widespread€awareness€in€theÐ #l! ÐDominican€Republic,€among€both€the€public€and€the€authorities,€of€the€need€to€respect€human€rights.€Ð $X" ÐThe€observance€of€such€rights€was€monitored€not€only€by€the€national€human€rights€Ô_ÔcommitteeÔ_Ô€butÐ ô$D # Ðalso€by€the€press€and€the€media.€€Dominicans€were€fully€aware€of€their€human€rights€and€of€theÐ à%0!$ Ðimportance€of€the€Covenant,€and€information€regarding€the€latter€was€disseminated€periodically€byÐ Ì&"% Ðnon„governmental€organizations€for€the€benefit€of€the€entire€population.€€The€authorities€had€notÐ ¸'#& Ðcommunicated€with€the€Committee€after€it€had€issued€its€views€on€the€individual€complaint€that€hadÐ ¤(ô#' Ðbeen€submitted€under€the€Optional€Protocol€because€they€had€understood€that€the€person€involvedÐ )à$( Ðhad€been€planning€to€inform€the€Committee€directly€of€the€fact€that€a€satisfactory€settlement€had€beenÐ |*Ì%) Ðreached.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌòòState€of€emergencyóó€Ð @-(, ÐÔ_Ô‡Ì359.€€With€regard€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€safeguards€andÐ œì Ðremedies€were€available€to€the€individual€during€a€state€of€emergency,€particularly€in€case€of€theÐ ˆØ Ðsuspension€of€òòhabeas€corpusóó;€what€rights,€if€any,€could€be€derogated€from€during€a€state€ofÐ tÄ Ðemergency;€and€whether€any€such€state€of€emergency€had€been€invoked€following€the€disturbancesÐ `° Ðin€1984.Ð L œ ÐÌ360.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€all€individual€rights€were€safeguardedÐ $ t Ðduring€a€state€of€emergency€and€only€rights€pertaining€to€transit,€correspondence€and€labour€couldÐ  ` Ðbe€restricted.€€The€writ€of€òòhabeas€corpusóó€could€be€invoked€at€all€times.€€No€situation€necessitatingÐ ü L  Ðthe€declaration€of€a€state€of€emergency€had€occurred€in€the€country€since€1965.€€No€rights€had€beenÐ è 8  Ðsuspended€during€the€1984€disturbances.Ð Ô$  ÐÌòòNon„discrimination€and€equality€of€the€sexesóóÐ ¬ü  ÐÌ361.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€which€legalÐ „Ô  Ðprovisions,€other€than€article€100€of€the€Constitution,€provided€guarantees€conforming€to€theÐ pÀ Ðprovisions€of€articles€2€(1)€and€26€of€the€Covenant;€to€what€extent€remaining€inequalities€betweenÐ \¬ Ðthe€sexes€were€addressed€by€the€draft€bill€pending€before€the€legislature€and€what€its€current€statusÐ H˜ Ðwas;€whether€married€women€enjoyed€full€civil€capacity;€in€what€respect€the€rights€of€aliens€wereÐ 4„ Ðrestricted€as€compared€with€those€of€citizens;€whether€there€were€any€statutory€provisionsÐ  p Ðguaranteeing€protection€against€discrimination€to€aliens;€and€what€the€proportion€of€the€sexes€wasÐ  \ Ðin€schools€and€universities.Ð øH ÐÌ362.€€In€reply€to€the€questions€raised€by€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€the€StateÐ Ð  Ðparty€said€that€under€Dominican€legislation€there€was€no€discrimination€of€any€kind€and€everyoneÐ ¼  Ðwas€considered€equal€before€the€law.€€The€law€covered€all€individuals€legally€in€the€country€and€courtÐ ¨ø Ðcases€could€be€decided€in€favour€of€foreigners.€€All€women,€including€married€women,€had€the€sameÐ ”ä Ðrights€and€enjoyed€full€civil€capacity.€€However,€the€community€property€rgime€and€òòpatria€protestasóó,Ð €Ð Ðwhich€were€discriminatory,€were€being€changed.€€Access€to€higher€education€was€unrestricted€andÐ l¼ Ðwomen€represented€more€than€50€per€cent€of€the€enrolment€in€liberal€studies€in€the€universities.€€TheÐ X ¨ ÐGovernment€was€interested€in€increasing€the€participation€of€women€and€was€in€the€process€of€doingÐ D!” Ðso.Ð 0"€  ÐÌòòRight€to€lifeóóÐ $X" ÐÌ363.€€In€connection€with€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€rules€andÐ à%0!$ Ðregulations€governed€the€use€of€firearms€by€the€national€police€and€security€forces;€whether€there€hadÐ Ì&"% Ðbeen€any€violations€of€such€rules€and€regulations€and,€if€so,€what€measures€had€been€taken€to€preventÐ ¸'#& Ðtheir€recurrence€„€in€particular,€whether€deaths€through€the€illegal€use€of€firearms€had€beenÐ ¤(ô#' Ðinvestigated€and€the€policemen€involved€prosecuted€and€punished;€how€many€violators€had€beenÐ )à$( Ðprosecuted€and€sentenced;€and€whether€any€individuals€had€died€while€in€police€custody€and,€if€so,Ð |*Ì%) Ðwhat€the€procedure€was€for€investigating€such€deaths.€€Members€also€asked€what€the€countryððs€infantÐ h+¸&* Ðmortality€rate€was;€how€the€mortality€rate€of€minority€groups€compared€to€that€of€the€rest€of€theÐ T,¤'+ Ðpopulation;€and€what€measures€had€been€taken€to€improve€health€Ô_Ôcare.Ð @-(, ЇÌ364.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€Party€said€that€under€article€8€of€the€Constitution€theÐ œì Ðinviolability€of€life€was€fundamental€to€the€accomplishment€of€the€principal€aims€of€the€State€andÐ ˆØ Ðthat€the€possession€of€firearms€was€regulated€under€articles€115€and€116€of€the€Penal€Code.€Ð tÄ ÐPolicemen€underwent€a€four„year€training€period,€were€very€civic€minded€and€enjoyed€the€confidenceÐ `° Ðof€the€population.€€Excesses€by€the€police€were€punishable€by€dismissal€or€fines€or€imprisonment€butÐ L œ Ðwere€not€frequent€since€they€occurred€mostly€in€the€context€of€clashes€between€the€police€and€armedÐ 8 ˆ Ðcriminals.€€Apparent€violations€were€investigated€by€a€commission€appointed€for€that€purpose€and,Ð $ t Ðwhen€appropriate,€the€official€involved€was€prosected.€€Many€cases€had€been€brought€before€theÐ  ` Ðcourts€and€some€police€officials€had€been€imprisoned€for€abuse€of€power.€€The€was€no€death€penaltyÐ ü L  Ðin€the€Dominican€Republic€and€deaths€in€prison€were€not€at€all€common.€€Prisoners€enjoyedÐ è 8  Ðprotection€against€abuse€and€had€access€to€appropriate€recourse€procedures.€€The€rate€of€infantÐ Ô$  Ðmortality€in€the€Dominican€Republic€was€high€and€was€a€matter€of€concern€to€the€Government.€€AÐ À  Ðpublic€information€and€vaccination€campaign€was€under€way€to€protect€the€lives€of€young€childrenÐ ¬ü  Ðand€to€reduce€infant€mortality.€€The€vaccination€campaign€had€already€eliminated€many€childhoodÐ ˜è  Ðdiseases.Ð „Ô  ÐÌòòTreatment€of€prisoners€and€other€detaineesóóÐ \¬ ÐÌ365.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€controls€hadÐ 4„ Ðbeen€instituted€to€ensure€that€persons€arrested€or€detained€were€not€subjected€to€torture€or€to€cruel,Ð  p Ðinhuman€or€degrading€treatment;€what€arrangements€existed€for€the€supervision€of€places€ofÐ  \ Ðdetention€and€what€the€procedures€were€for€receiving€and€investigating€complaints;€whether€theÐ øH ÐUnited€Nations€Standard€Minimum€Rules€for€the€Treatment€of€Prisoners€were€complied€with€andÐ ä4 Ðrelevant€regulations€and€directives€made€known€to€prisoners;€what€the€distinction€was€betweenÐ Ð  Ðuntried€prisoners€and€prisoners€under€preventive€detention;€whether€there€were€any€legal€provisionsÐ ¼  Ðrequiring€the€segregation€of€juvenile€prisoners€from€adults;€whether€certain€cells€in€which€inhumanÐ ¨ø Ðconditions€had€existed€were€still€in€use;€whether€there€had€been€any€actual€cases€of€cruel,€inhumanÐ ”ä Ðor€degrading€treatment€of€detainees,€including€Haitian€workers€in€particular,€and€what€measures€hadÐ €Ð Ðbeen€taken€by€the€Government€to€prevent€or€to€punish€such€treatment;€and€what€measures€had€beenÐ l¼ Ðor€could€be€taken€to€alleviate€the€grave€overcrowding€in€prisons,€particularly€in€respect€of€the€largeÐ X ¨ Ðnumber€of€persons€in€preventive€detention.€€Members€also€wished€to€receive€clarification€of€theÐ D!” Ðdistinctions€among€penitentiaries,€prisons,€establishments€for€prisoners€sentenced€to€hard€labour€andÐ 0"€  Ðð ðspecial€institutionsðð,€and€information€concerning€detention€in€institutions€other€than€prisons€and€forÐ #l! Ðreasons€other€than€crimes.Ð $X" ÐÌ366.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€the€treatment€of€prisoners€and€detaineesÐ à%0!$ Ðwas€regulated€under€Act€No.€284,€article€5€of€which€prohibited€torture€or€inhuman€treatment.€Ð Ì&"% ÐPrisoners€under€preventive€detention€were€those€who€had€been€charged€on€the€basis€of€evidence€butÐ ¸'#& Ðnot€yet€tried€or€sentenced.€€Normally,€persons€in€that€situation€would€be€released€on€bail€but€certainÐ ¤(ô#' Ðoffenders,€particularly€persons€charged€with€drug„related€crimes,€were€kept€in€detention.€Ð )à$( ÐUnfortunately,€the€number€of€such€persons€was€large,€but€efforts€were€being€made€to€reduce€theirÐ |*Ì%) Ðnumber€as€well€as€to€relieve€overcrowding€in€prisons€through€the€construction€of€more€detentionÐ h+¸&* Ðfacilities.€€This€would€make€it€possible€to€keep€different€categories€of€prisoners€separated€and€toÐ T,¤'+ Ðcomply€more€fully€with€the€United€Nations€Standard€Minimum€Rules.Ð @-(, ЇÌ367.€€There€were€special€courts€and€special€prisons€for€minors€under€age€18€but€some€minors€couldÐ œì Ðalso€be€found€in€regular€prisons.€€A€penitentiary€Commission€set€up€by€the€Roman€CatholicÐ ˆØ ÐArchdiocese€was€working€in€the€prisons€in€addition€to€a€number€of€private€organizations.€€LawyersððÐ tÄ Ðassociations€were€also€striving€to€improve€the€workings€of€the€prison€system€and€to€help€in€theÐ `° Ðrehabilitation€of€prisoners.€€The€so„called€ð ðViet€Nam€cellsðð€had€all€been€dismantled€and€were€nowÐ L œ Ðfortunately€a€thing€of€the€past.€€There€was€a€very€large€number€of€illegal€Haitian€workers€in€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðcountry€who€were€often€subject€to€arbitrary€treatment€by€Government€officials€and€by€plantationÐ $ t Ðowners.€€This€was€a€matter€of€serious€concern€to€the€Government.Ð  ` ÐÌòòLiberty€and€security€of€the€personóóÐ è 8  ÐÌ368.€€With€regard€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€how€soon€after€arrest€theÐ À  Ðconcerned€individualððs€family€was€notified€and€a€lawyer€contacted;€what€the€maximum€period€of€pre„Ð ¬ü  Ðtrail€detention€was;€and€whether€the€penalty€of€ð ðdemotionðð€provided€for€in€article€114€of€the€PenalÐ ˜è  ÐCode€for€ð ðordering€or€committing€arbitrary€acts€prejudicial€to€individual€liberty€or€the€political€rightsÐ „Ô  Ðof€individualsðð€was€a€sufficient€punishment€for€such€offences.€€Clarification€was€also€requested€ofÐ pÀ Ðthe€stipulation€in€that€article€that€a€junior€officer€who€committed€an€illegal€act€on€the€order€of€aÐ \¬ Ðsuperior€officer€would€not€be€subject€to€punishment,€and€of€the€ð ðsummary€procedureðð€establishedÐ H˜ Ðunder€the€Habeas€Corpus€Act.Ð 4„ ÐÌ369.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€the€families€of€detainees€were€informedÐ  \ Ðimmediately€and€in€case€of€need€the€State€provided€free€defence€counsel.€€The€maximum€period€ofÐ øH Ðpre„trial€detention€stipulated€by€law€was€five€days€but€that€time„limit€was€not€always€observedÐ ä4 Ðbecause€the€courts€were€overburdened.€€The€penalty€of€ð ðdemotionðð€was€in€fact€the€penalty€ofÐ Ð  ÐòòÔ_Ôdegradacið;ðnÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔcvicaÔ_Ôóó€stipulated€in€article€114€of€the€Penal€Code,€which€called€for€stripping€theÐ ¼  Ðoffending€official€of€his€post€and€official€capacity€and€thus€making€him€subject€to€trial€in€the€ordinaryÐ ¨ø Ðcourts.€€When€a€junior€officer€acted€unlawfully€under€orders€from€a€supervisor€it€was€the€superiorÐ ”ä Ðwho€was€held€responsible€and€subject€to€punishment.€€This€provision€dated€from€the€era€of€theÐ €Ð ÐNapoleonic€Code€and€the€Government€was€gradually€reforming€the€entire€Penal€Code.€€The€summaryÐ l¼ Ðprocedure€under€the€Habeas€Corpus€Act€provided€for€the€right€of€an€individual€to€complain€to€theÐ X ¨ ÐPublic€Prosecutorððs€Office€of€unjust€imprisonment€and€obliged€judges€to€hear€the€case€even€withoutÐ D!” Ðan€initiative€from€the€latter.Ð 0"€  ÐÌòòRight€to€a€fair€trialóóÐ $X" ÐÌ370.€€Concerning€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€how€the€independence€andÐ à%0!$ Ðimpartiality€of€the€judiciary€was€guaranteed€and€whether€the€selection€of€judges€by€the€Senate€wasÐ Ì&"% Ðconsistent€with€the€principle€of€such€independence.€€It€was€pointed€out€in€that€connection€that€theÐ ¸'#& Ðindependence€of€the€judiciary€implied€that€judges€should€be€independent€of€both€the€executive€andÐ ¤(ô#' Ðlegislative€branches€of€government€and€that€the€classic€way€of€ensuring€an€independent€judiciary€wasÐ )à$( Ðby€applying€such€measures€as€security€of€tenure,€unvarying€emoluments€and€mandatory€retirement.€Ð |*Ì%) ÐInformation€was€also€requested€concerning€regulations€governing€tenure,€dismissal€and€discipliningÐ h+¸&* Ðof€members€of€the€judiciary€and€the€availability€of€free€legal€assistance€to€criminal€defendants.€€InÐ T,¤'+ Ðaddition,€members€asked€whether€sentences€in€criminal€cases€were€made€public,€as€provided€inÐ @-(, ÐÔ_Ôarticle€14,€paragraph€1€of€the€Covenant;€whether€Haitians€who€did€not€speak€Spanish€were€providedÐ ° Ðwith€interpreters€when€they€were€involved€in€court€proceedings;€and€whether€the€draft€bill€that€wouldÐ œì Ðgive€authority€over€the€appointment€of€judges€to€the€Supreme€Court€had€been€enacted.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ371.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€the€procedures€for€the€election€orÐ `° Ðdismissal€of€judges€were€set€out€in€Title€VI€of€the€Constitution.€€State€prosecutors€were€appointedÐ L œ Ðby€the€executive€branch.€€Judges€were€appointed€by€the€Senate€and€their€terms€of€office€wereÐ 8 ˆ Ðcoterminous€with€that€of€the€legislators.€€While€a€newly€elected€Senate€sometimes€extended€theÐ $ t Ðtenure€of€some€judges€it€usually€appointed€new€ones.€€In€making€such€appointments€the€Senate€didÐ  ` Ðnot€follow€a€particular€political€line€and€took€into€account€the€views€and€recommendations€of€the€barÐ ü L  Ðassociation€as€to€the€qualifications€of€candidates€for€judicial€appointment.€€However,€there€had€beenÐ è 8  Ðquite€a€number€of€cases€of€judges€acting€under€undue€influence€from€senators€and€some€judges€hadÐ Ô$  Ðbeen€disciplined€by€the€Supreme€Court€for€that€reason.€€Efforts€were€being€made€to€change€theÐ À  Ðcurrent€system€by€entrusting€responsibility€for€the€selection€of€judges€to€a€national€council€but€theÐ ¬ü  Ðamendment€of€the€Constitution€in€that€regard€was€a€very€delicate€matter.€€The€power€to€disciplineÐ ˜è  Ðall€judges€was€vested€in€the€Supreme€Court€and€judges€of€the€Supreme€Court€itself€were€also€subjectÐ „Ô  Ðto€the€disciplinary€authority€of€that€Court.€€Sentences€were€public€but€were€not€published.€€AnyÐ pÀ Ðindividual€could€go€to€the€court€and€receive€a€copy€of€a€sentence€and€journalists€could€write€aboutÐ \¬ Ðany€sentence€they€found€interesting.€€Criminal€defendants€without€means€were€provided€by€the€StateÐ H˜ Ðwith€the€services€of€lawyers€and€interpreters€free€of€charge.Ð 4„ ÐÌòòFreedom€of€movement€and€expulsion€of€aliensóóÐ  \ ÐÌ372.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€receive€clarification€of€theÐ ä4 Ðpenalty€of€ð ðlocal€expulsionðð€(òòdestierroóó)€and€requested€information€concerning€legal€provisionsÐ Ð  Ðgoverning€the€expulsions€of€aliens€as€well€as€relevant€statistics€indicating€on€an€annual€basis€theÐ ¼  Ðnumber€of€expulsions€and€the€reasons€therefor.€€They€also€asked€whether€an€appeal€against€anÐ ¨ø Ðexpulsion€order€had€suspensive€effect;€whether€laws€that€could€restrict€freedom€of€movement,€if€any,Ð ”ä Ðwere€compatible€with€article€12€of€the€Covenant;€what€the€Government€was€doing€to€prevent€theÐ €Ð Ðforcible€retention€of€Haitian€workers€who€wished€to€leave€the€country€and,€particularly,€whatÐ l¼ Ðinstructions€had€been€given€to€the€Dominican€security€forces€who€were€said€to€be€responsible€for€thatÐ X ¨ Ðunacceptable€practice.€€In€that€same€connection,€further€details€were€requested€concerning€allegationsÐ D!” Ðin€an€ILO€report€that€Haitians€who€had€crossed€illegally€into€the€Dominican€Republic€wereÐ 0"€  Ðtransported€to€the€sugarcane€plantations€by€government€vehicles€with€military€escort€and€that€thoseÐ #l! ÐHaitians€who€possessed€identification€documents€were€often€relieved€of€them€by€the€military.Ð $X" ÐÌ373.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€explained€that€although€the€penalty€of€localÐ à%0!$ Ðexpulsion€was€provided€for€under€the€Dominican€Penal€Code€it€was€an€anachronism€and€was,€in€fact,Ð Ì&"% Ðnever€applied.€€Procedures€for€the€indictment€and€conviction€of€aliens€who€broke€the€law€wereÐ ¸'#& Ðcontained€in€legislation€relating€to€immigration.€€Conviction€for€an€offence€could€lead€to€expulsionÐ ¤(ô#' Ðbut€expulsion€orders€were€subject€to€appeal€except€in€the€case€of€drug€traffickers.€€However,€alienÐ )à$( Ðdrug€traffickers,€as€indeed€all€aliens,€had€full€rights€to€a€fair€and€public€trial€with€full€guarantees,Ð |*Ì%) Ðincluding€the€right€of€òòhabeas€corpusóó.€€The€constant€flow€of€Haitians€who€crossed€the€borders€to€workÐ h+¸&* Ðin€the€cane€fields€enjoyed€all€legal€safeguards.€€They€did€not€work€under€conditions€of€servitude€orÐ T,¤'+ Ðslavery€and€were€entitled€to€the€same€freedom€of€movement€as€anyone€else€living€in€the€DominicanÐ @-(, ÐRepublic.€€Haitian€immigrants€were€at€times€transported€from€the€border€to€their€places€of€work€byÐ ° Ðthe€Dominican€police€but€the€Government€had€no€policy€permitting€forced€labour€nor€any€desire€toÐ œì Ðpromote€such€activity.€€It€was€possible€that€certain€abuses€òòvis„a„visóó€Haitian€workers€had€occurred€butÐ ˆØ Ðthey€had€not€been€officially€sanctioned.€€Measures€to€restrict€freedom€of€movement€could€be€takenÐ tÄ Ðby€the€Government€in€the€event€of€a€threat€to€national€security€or€a€natural€disaster.Ð `° ÐÌòòRight€to€privacyóóÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌ374.€€With€regard€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€how€constitutionalÐ  ` Ðguarantees€relating€to€privacy€were€ensured€in€law€and€practice;€whether€there€were€any€conditionsÐ ü L  Ðunder€which€the€secrecy€of€telegraphic,€telephonic€and€cable€communications€could€be€violated;€andÐ è 8  Ðhow€the€use€of€electronic€listening€devices€was€regulated.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€StateÐ Ô$  Ðparty€explained€that€the€appropriate€authorities€were€authorized€to€enter€a€personððs€home€in€casesÐ À  Ðwhere€there€was€evidence€that€the€occupants€were€harbouring€a€criminal€or€hiding€weapons.€€The€useÐ ¬ü  Ðof€electronic€eavesdropping€devices€was€not€regulated€since€the€Dominican€Republic€did€not€possessÐ ˜è  Ðsuch€devices.€€The€secrecy€of€communications€was€inviolable€under€all€circumstances.Ð „Ô  ÐÌòòFreedom€of€conscience,€religion€and€expression;€prohibition€of€propaganda€for€war€and€incitementÐ \¬ Ðto€national,€racial€or€religious€hatredóóÐ H˜ ÐÌ375.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€the€grounds€wereÐ  p Ðfor€placing€restrictions€on€freedom€of€conscience,€worship€and€expression;€how€the€imposition€ofÐ  \ Ðsuch€restrictions€had€been€dealt€with€by€the€courts;€how€the€term€ð ðsubversive€propagandaðð€wasÐ øH Ðdefined;€whether€the€advantages€enjoyed€by€the€Catholic€Church€were€also€extended€to€otherÐ ä4 Ðreligious€groups€and€to€atheists;€and€what€influence€the€Catholic€Church€had€on€freedom€of€religion.Ð Ð  ÐÌ376.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€the€Dominican€Republic€permitted€fullÐ ¨ø Ðfreedom€of€conscience,€religion€and€expression€and€access€by€all€persons€to€the€media.€€RestrictionsÐ ”ä Ðon€such€freedoms€could€be€authorized€only€in€cases€of€threats€to€public€order€or€national€security.€Ð €Ð ÐSubversion€was€defined€in€the€Penal€Code€as€actions€designed€to€incite€people€to€take€up€armsÐ l¼ Ðagainst€one€another.€€Certain€legal€restrictions€relating€to€subversion€dated€back€to€1966,€when€theÐ X ¨ Ðcountry€had€just€emerged€from€civil€war.€€In€fact,€the€authorities€had€no€desire€to€restrict€theÐ D!” Ðexpression€of€opinion€and€no€one€had€been€prosected€for€engaging€in€subversive€propaganda.€Ð 0"€  ÐCandidates€for€political€office€criticized€the€Government€freely€and€there€was€no€censorship.€Ð #l! ÐAgnosticism€was€not€prohibited€and€there€were€no€restrictions€on€religions€other€than€Catholicism.€Ð $X" ÐThe€Catholic€Church€enjoyed€considerable€moral€influence€but€had€little€weight.Ð ô$D # ÐÌòòFreedom€of€assembly€and€associationóóÐ Ì&"% ÐÌ377.€€Concerning€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€receive€information€on€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðnumber,€membership€and€organization€of€trade€unions;€laws€and€practices€relating€to€theÐ )à$( Ðestablishment€of€political€parties;€the€basis€for€denying€agro„industrial,€agricultural€and€other€workersÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€right€to€form€trade€unions;€the€status€of€the€draft€bill€to€protect€trade€union€members€fromÐ h+¸&* Ðdismissal;€and€the€planned€revision€of€the€Labour€Code,€particularly€in€relation€to€the€right€of€civilÐ T,¤'+ Ðservants€to€strike€and€the€right€of€agricultural€workers€to€participate€in€trade€union€activities.€Ô_ÔÐ @-(, ÐReferring€to€the€establishment€in€1988€of€a€special€commission€to€review€the€situation€of€agriculturalÐ ° Ðworkers€including,€in€particular,€Haitian€agricultural€workers,€members€of€the€Committee€wishedÐ œì Ðto€know€whether€that€commission€had€already€issued€its€recommendations€and,€if€so,€how€theÐ ˆØ ÐGovernment€intended€to€implement€them.Ð tÄ ÐÌ378.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€workers€were€free€to€co„operate€and€toÐ L œ Ðdefend€their€interests.€€Strikes€were€permitted€under€the€Constitution€and€did€take€place.€€Currently,Ð 8 ˆ Ðcertain€civil€servants,€including€judges,€teachers€and€doctors,€were€on€strike€despite€the€lack€ofÐ $ t Ðprovision€in€the€Labour€Code€for€strikes€by€civil€servants.€€That€strike€was€being€tolerated€by€theÐ  ` ÐGovernment,€òòde€factoóó€and€the€Secretariat€of€Labour€was€studying€the€possibility€of€extending€theÐ ü L  Ðright€to€strike€to€civil€servants.€€A€working€group€was€engaged€in€the€task€of€elaborating€anÐ è 8  Ðamendment€to€include€agricultural€workers€in€the€Labour€Code€so€as€to€allow€them€to€participate€inÐ Ô$  Ðtrade€union€activities.€€The€establishment€of€political€parties€was€subject€to€approval€by€the€CentralÐ À  ÐElections€Board.€€To€be€eligible€for€registration,€a€political€party€had€to€be€able€to€demonstrateÐ ¬ü  Ðsupport€from€five€per€cent€of€the€electorate.Ð ˜è  ÐÌòòProtection€of€the€family€and€childrenóóÐ pÀ ÐÌ379.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€receive€informationÐ H˜ Ðregarding€laws€relating€to€the€equality€of€spouses€and€providing€for€the€protection€of€the€propertyÐ 4„ Ðrights€of€married€women,€as€well€as€the€law€and€practice€relating€to€the€employment€of€minors.€Ð  p ÐMembers€also€wished€to€know€what€the€differences€were,€if€any,€in€the€status€and€rights€of€childrenÐ  \ Ðborn€in€and€out€of€wedlock€and€whether€it€was€true€that€Dominican€nationality€had€been€refused€toÐ øH Ðthe€children€of€undocumented€Haitians.Ð ä4 ÐÌ380.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€explained€that€where€couples€had€chosen€to€liveÐ ¼  Ðunder€a€community€property€Ô_ÔrgimeÔ_Ô,€the€property€was€administered€by€the€husband.€€However,€aÐ ¨ø Ðchange€was€currently€under€study€that€would€provide€the€wife€with€equal€rights€in€that€respect.€Ð ”ä ÐUnder€present€laws€relating€to€inheritance,€illegitimate€children€who€had€been€recognized€by€theirÐ €Ð Ðfather€inherited€one„half€of€the€amount€that€legitimate€children€inherited€and€those€not€recognizedÐ l¼ Ðhad€no€rights€to€inheritance€at€all.€€A€bill€was€under€consideration€which€would€provide€forÐ X ¨ Ðrecognition€of€the€inheritance€rights€of€illegitimate€children.€€The€employment€of€minors€under€18Ð D!” Ðyears€of€age€was€prohibited€by€law€but,€unfortunately,€in€fact€it€was€common€to€see€minors€at€workÐ 0"€  Ðat€various€jobs€except€for€the€major€industries,€where€the€law€was€strictly€enforced.€€It€was€not€theÐ #l! Ðofficial€practice€to€refuse€to€register€the€children€of€Haitian€parents€but€isolated€cases€whereÐ $X" Ðindividual€officials€had€done€so€could€not€be€excluded.Ð ô$D # ÐÌòòRight€to€participate€in€public€affairsóóÐ Ì&"% ÐÌ381.€€In€connection€with€that€issue,€€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€how€equal€accessÐ ¤(ô#' Ðto€public€service€was€guaranteed;€what€means€were€used€to€enforce€the€obligation€to€vote€and€whatÐ )à$( Ðthe€abstention€rate€had€been€at€the€last€elections;€why€members€of€the€armed€forces€and€the€policeÐ |*Ì%) Ðwere€deprived€of€the€right€to€vote;€and€why€convicted€criminals€lost€the€right€to€vote.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ382.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€the€only€requirement€for€participationÐ @-(, Ðin€the€public€service€was€qualification€for€the€job€in€question.€€Elective€office€was€open€to€anyoneÐ ° Ðwho€could€attract€the€necessary€votes.€€No€penalties€were€imposed€on€the€30€to€40€per€cent€of€theÐ œì Ðelectorate€that€had€abstained€in€the€latest€election.€€A€person€serving€a€criminal€sentence€only€lostÐ ˆØ Ðthe€right€to€vote€during€his€incarceration.€€Members€of€the€armed€forces€were€denied€the€right€to€voteÐ tÄ Ðin€view€of€the€armyððs€excessive€involvement€in€politics€in€the€past€and€the€need€to€preserve€theÐ `° Ðarmyððs€political€neutrality.Ð L œ ÐÌòòRights€of€persons€belonging€to€minoritiesóóÐ $ t ÐÌ383.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€receive€informationÐ ü L  Ðregarding€the€size€of€any€ethnic,€religious€or€linguistic€minorities€living€in€the€Dominican€RepublicÐ è 8  Ðand€concerning€any€measures€taken€actively€to€promote€the€enjoyment€by€them€of€their€rights€underÐ Ô$  Ðarticle€27€of€the€Covenant.Ð À  ÐÌ384.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€while€Dominicans€had€many€and€diverseÐ ˜è  Ðethnic,€linguistic€and€religious€origins€no€special€legislation€promoting€minority€rights€had€beenÐ „Ô  Ðnecessary€since€minorities€were€integrated€into€society€and€their€rights€were€protected€in€the€sameÐ pÀ Ðway€as€those€of€the€majority€of€Dominican€citizens.Ð \¬ ÐÌòòGeneral€observationsóóÐ 4„ ÐÌ385.€€Members€of€the€Committee€thanked€the€representatives€of€the€State€party€for€their€efforts€toÐ  \ Ðanswer€the€Committeeððs€questions€but€stressed€that€much€more€information€was€needed€concerningÐ øH Ðthe€human€rights€situation€in€the€Dominican€Republic.€€They€expressed€their€disappointment€becauseÐ ä4 Ðneither€of€the€two€reports€that€had€been€submitted€to€date€had€complied€with€the€CommitteeððsÐ Ð  Ðguidelines,€having€been€too€general€and€lacking€the€specifics€that€could€serve€as€a€basis€for€a€detailedÐ ¼  Ðconsideration€of€the€various€issues€and€for€the€kind€of€dialogue€from€which€the€State€party€couldÐ ¨ø Ðmost€usefully€benefit.€€Accordingly,€members€urged€the€State€party€to€provide,€in€its€third€periodicÐ ”ä Ðreport,€more€specific€information,€including€relevant€statistics€as€well€as€social€and€politicalÐ €Ð Ðinformation€and€explanations€of€how€Dominican€laws€were€actually€implemented,€so€that€theÐ l¼ ÐCommittee€could€obtain€a€clear€picture€of€the€actual€facts€relating€to€the€observance€of€the€provisionsÐ X ¨ Ðof€the€Covenant.Ð D!” ÐÌ386.€€Special€concern€was€expressed€by€members€regarding€certain€aspects€of€the€human€rightsÐ #l! Ðsituation€in€the€Dominican€Republic€that€appeared€to€be€at€possible€variance€with€provisions€of€theÐ $X" ÐCovenant,€including€the€loose€wording€of€many€constitutional€and€legal€provisions€relating€to€theÐ ô$D # Ðrestriction€of€certain€individual€rights,€which€seemed€to€leave€too€much€room€for€interpretation€byÐ à%0!$ Ðthe€authorities;€the€situation€and€treatment€of€the€Haitian€workers€in€the€country,€which€appeared€toÐ Ì&"% Ðinvolve€major€violations€of€the€Covenant€in€a€number€of€respects;€inadequate€guarantees€of€theÐ ¸'#& Ðindependence€of€the€judiciary;€insufficient€protection€of€the€right€of€association€of€workers,Ð ¤(ô#' Ðparticularly€agricultural€workers,€and€of€their€right€to€protection€from€anti„union€discrimination€andÐ )à$( Ðundue€interference€from€employers;€problems€relating€to€the€duration€of€preventive€detention€andÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€conditions€of€imprisonment;€and€discrimination€in€the€treatment€of€children€born€out€of€wedlock.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ387.€€In€concluding€the€consideration€of€the€second€periodic€report€of€the€Dominican€Republic,€theÐ @-(, ÐChairman€expressed€the€hope€that€the€State€partyððs€next€report€would€be€in€conformity€with€theÐ ° Ðprescribed€guidelines.€€He€also€requested€the€State€party€to€inform€the€Committee€in€writing€of€theÐ œì Ðmeasures€taken€to€settle€the€complaint€that€had€been€submitted€under€the€Optional€Protocol€and€inÐ ˆØ Ðrespect€of€which€the€Committee€had€submitted€its€views.Ð  tÄ Ðò òÔ_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô€€A/48/40€Ô_Ô(1993)ó óÔ_ÔÐ ° ÐÌÌ428.€€The€Committee€considered€the€third€periodic€report€of€the€Dominican€RepublicÐ tÄ Ð(Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/70/Add.3)€at€its€1213òòthóó€to€1215òòthóó€meetings€held€on€25€and€26€March€1993Ð `° Ð(Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/SR.1213-1215).€(For€the€composition€of€the€delegation,€see€annex€XI..)€Ð L œ ÐÌ429.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party,€who€drew€attention€to€aÐ $ t Ðnumber€of€developments€in€the€human€rights€situation€in€her€country€since€the€third€periodic€reportÐ  ` Ðhad€been€prepared.€€For€example,€Haitians€employed€as€sugar€cane€cutters€had€been€furnished€withÐ ü L  Ðtemporary€residence€papers€and€were€now€permitted€to€keep€those€documents€in€their€possession.€Ð è 8  ÐChanges€had€also€been€made€in€the€electoral€system€with€a€view€to€developing€greater€transparency.€Ð Ô$  ÐThere€was€no€systematic€violation€of€human€rights€in€the€Dominican€Republic,€although,€as€in€allÐ À  Ðcountries,€isolated€instances€might€occur.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌòòConstitutional€and€legal€framework€within€which€the€Covenant€is€being€implemented,€state€ofÐ „Ô  Ðemergency,€non-discrimination€and€prohibition€of€forced€labouróóÐ pÀ ÐÌ430.€€With€regard€to€those€issues,€the€Committee€wished€to€know€if€there€had€been,€during€the€periodÐ H˜ Ðunder€review,€cases€in€which€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€had€been€directly€invoked€in€the€courtsÐ 4„ Ðor€mentioned€in€court€decisions;€the€extent€to€which€the€provisions€of€article€37,€paragraphs€7€andÐ  p Ð8,€of€the€Constitution€concerning€possible€restriction€of€rights€recognized€in€the€Covenant€in€timeÐ  \ Ðof€state€of€siege€or€national€emergency€conformed€with€the€provisions€of€article€4,€paragraph€2,€ofÐ øH Ðthe€Covenant;€the€application€of€the€principle€of€reciprocity€regarding€the€enjoyment€by€aliens€of€theÐ ä4 Ðrights€set€forth€in€the€Covenant;€in€what€respects,€other€than€in€the€exercise€of€political€rights,€wereÐ Ð  Ðthe€rights€of€aliens€restricted€as€compared€with€those€enjoyed€by€Dominican€citizens;€whether€theÐ ¼  Ðsituation€of€Haitian€workers€had€changed€in€practice€since€the€adoption€of€Decree€No.€417/90;Ð ¨ø Ðwhether€specific€measures€had€been€taken€in€order€to€avoid€abuses€of€Haitian€workers€during€theirÐ ”ä Ðtransfer€and€during€their€stay€in€the€sugar€cane€plantations;€whether€there€had€been€any€investigationÐ €Ð Ðof€the€allegations€of€forced€labour€by€Haitian€workers€in€such€plantations€and€of€the€seizure€of€theirÐ l¼ Ðidentity€documents;€and€whether€follow-up€action€had€been€taken€as€a€result€of€the€Committee'sÐ X ¨ Ðviews€in€respect€of€Communication€No.€193/1985€(Pierre€Ô_ÔGiryÔ_Ô€vs.€Dominican€Republic).€€FurtherÐ D!” Ðinformation€was€also€requested€on€the€application€of€the€principle€of€reciprocity€in€the€matter€of€theÐ 0"€  Ðtreatment€of€aliens.Ð #l! ÐÌ431.€€In€addition,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€was€the€exact€status€of€theÐ ô$D # ÐCovenant€in€national€law;€whether€the€Covenant€and€the€third€periodic€report€had€been€published€inÐ à%0!$ Ðthe€Dominican€Republic;€the€extent€to€which€the€deportation€of€aliens,€and€their€detention€for€theÐ Ì&"% Ðpurposes€of€deportation,€was€in€conformity€with€article€13€of€the€Covenant;€whether€a€citizen€orÐ ¸'#& Ðnon-citizen€could€be€exiled€without€grounds€simply€by€order€of€the€Government;€whether€there€hadÐ ¤(ô#' Ðbeen€any€change€in€the€allegedly€slave-like€working€conditions€of€Haitian€workers€in€the€sugar€caneÐ )à$( Ðindustry€and€what€steps€had€been€taken€to€monitor€that€situation;€and€what€agencies€had€beenÐ |*Ì%) Ðestablished€to€act€on€behalf€of€individual€workers€in€cases€of€disputes€with€employers.€Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ432.€€Further€information€was€also€requested€on€the€role€of€the€State€Sugar€Council€in€recruitingÐ @-(, ÐÔ_Ôforeign€workers€and€the€use€of€armed€security€guards€for€that€purpose;€the€right€of€families€toÐ ° Ðaccompany€workers€to€sugar€cane€plantations;€the€use€of€vouchers€instead€of€the€national€currencyÐ œì Ðas€wages;€the€right€of€plantation€workers€to€organize€and€to€engage€in€collective€bargaining;€theÐ ˆØ Ðnationality€of€those€affected€by€the€recent€deportation€Decree€No.€233-91€and€the€exactÐ tÄ Ðcircumstances€of€that€deportation;€and€on€any€steps€taken€by€the€Office€of€the€Procurator-GeneralÐ `° Ðof€the€Republic€to€investigate€human€rights€abuses,€especially€in€the€context€of€the€repatriation€ofÐ L œ Ðforeign€workers.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ433.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that,€to€be€incorporated€into€domestic€lawÐ  ` Ðfollowing€ratification,€instruments€had€to€be€promulgated€by€the€Government€in€the€official€gazette.€Ð ü L  ÐThat€had€been€the€case€for€the€Covenant,€which€now€formed€part€of€domestic€legislation.€€Under€theÐ è 8  ÐConstitution,€international€instruments€took€precedence€over€domestic€legislation€in€the€event€ofÐ Ô$  Ðconflict.€€The€provisions€of€the€Covenant€could€be€invoked€in€the€courts,€although€their€GovernmentÐ À  Ðhad€no€knowledge€of€any€cases€in€which€court€judgements€had€been€based€specifically€on€thoseÐ ¬ü  Ðprovisions.€€The€establishment€of€a€human€rights€centre€was€being€planned€both€to€investigate€humanÐ ˜è  Ðrights€abuses€and€to€promote€awareness€of€human€rights€instruments.€€Additionally,Ð „Ô  Ðnon-governmental€organizations€and€local€human€rights€committees€had€absolute€freedom€to€conductÐ pÀ Ðtheir€activities,€including€the€transmission€of€reports€of€alleged€human€rights€abuses€to€theÐ \¬ ÐGovernment,€which€the€Government€attempted€to€investigate.Ð H˜ ÐÌ434.€€The€flow€of€Haitian€nationals€to€the€Dominican€Republic€was€largely€due€to€the€political€andÐ  p Ðeconomic€problems€in€Haiti.€€The€Dominican€Republic€was€the€most€easily€accessible€State€and€itÐ  \ Ðhad€accepted€the€Haitians€and€given€them€refugee€status€in€conformity€with€the€Convention€on€theÐ øH ÐStatus€of€Refugees.€€Of€the€estimated€500,000€Haitian€nationals€who€lived€in€the€DominicanÐ ä4 ÐRepublic,€only€a€small€portion€worked€in€the€sugar€cane€fields.€€The€rest€had€employment€similar€toÐ Ð  Ðthat€of€Dominicans.€€While€there€was€no€denying€that€illegal€workers€were€vulnerable€to€exploitation,Ð ¼  Ðslavery€was€not€practised€in€the€Dominican€Republic.€€Furthermore,€there€was€no€proof€that€HaitiansÐ ¨ø Ðhad€been€recruited€by€Dominicans€in€Haiti;€they€had€come€to€the€Dominican€Republic€of€their€ownÐ ”ä Ðfree€will€in€search€of€a€better€life.€€Their€abuse€by€unscrupulous€employers€did€not€stem€from€anyÐ €Ð Ðgovernment€policy.Ð l¼ ÐÌ435.€€While€the€working€and€living€conditions€of€sugar€cane€cutters€were€undeniably€poor,€there€hadÐ D!” Ðbeen€a€significant€improvement€since€1991€resulting€from€cooperation€between€the€Government€andÐ 0"€  Ðthe€International€Labour€Organization.€€With€respect€to€child€labour,€for€example,€statistics€of€theÐ #l! Ðlabour€ministry€now€showed€that€fewer€than€10€per€cent€of€workers€in€the€sugar€cane€industry€wereÐ $X" Ðminors.€€Wages€too€had€improved€and€workers€were€no€longer€paid€in€coupons€but€in€cash€under€theÐ ô$D # Ðsupervision€of€Labour€Department€Inspectors.€€Eleven€such€inspectors€continuously€visited€sugarÐ à%0!$ Ðmills€and€cane€fields€throughout€the€country€to€verify€that€proper€labour€practices€were€followed.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ436.€€With€regard€to€the€principle€of€reciprocity,€it€was€true€that€the€Civil€Code€provided€for€aliensÐ ¤(ô#' Ðto€be€granted€civil€rights€on€such€a€basis.€€However,€the€Civil€Code€predated€the€Covenant€and€hadÐ )à$( Ðnot€yet€been€amended€accordingly,€as€perhaps€it€ought€to€be.€€In€any€case,€now€that€the€Covenant€wasÐ |*Ì%) Ðpart€of€the€domestic€legal€order,€aliens€enjoyed€the€same€civil€and€political€rights€as€DominicanÐ h+¸&* Ðcitizens.€€Under€article€9€of€the€Constitution,€however,€foreigners€were€forbidden€from€participatingÐ T,¤'+ Ðin€political€activities.€€That€raised€a€contradiction€with€articles€82€and€84€of€the€Civil€Code€allowingÐ @-(, Ðforeigners€to€be€part€of€municipal€governments,€which,€in€fact,€meant€that€they€had€to€belong€to€aÐ ° Ðpolitical€party.Ð œì ÐÌ437.€€The€provisions€of€the€Penal€Code€concerning€expulsion€of€aliens€were€mainly€intended€to€dealÐ tÄ Ðwith€cases€where€the€internal€and€external€security€of€the€State€were€threatened.€€In€practice,€thoseÐ `° Ðprovisions€had€not€been€used€for€many€years€and€should€perhaps€be€amended.€€A€new€law€onÐ L œ Ðimmigration€that€contained€no€provisions€on€the€subject€of€expulsion€was€currently€being€drawn€upÐ 8 ˆ Ðwith€the€help€of€advisers€from€international€organizations,€including€the€International€OrganizationÐ $ t Ðfor€Migration.€€The€expulsion€of€Haitian€citizens€under€the€age€of€16€pursuant€to€Decree€No.€233-91Ð  ` Ðhad€been€a€response€to€complaints€concerning€the€employment€of€minors€in€the€agricultural€sector.€Ð ü L  ÐThe€Government€had€investigated€those€complaints€and€found€that€the€minors€in€question€had€beenÐ è 8  Ðrecruited€in€their€own€country€by€Haitian€nationals,€who€had€lured€them€to€the€Dominican€RepublicÐ Ô$  Ðwith€promises€of€high€earnings.€€In€many€cases,€they€had€no€family€or€relatives€in€the€DominicanÐ À  ÐRepublic.€€In€the€light€of€the€situation€prevailing€in€Haiti,€the€measure€had€been€suspended.€€TheÐ ¬ü  Ðdelegation€would€convey€the€Committee's€concern€to€the€Dominican€Government€so€that€steps€couldÐ ˜è  Ðbe€taken€to€deal€with€the€situation.Ð „Ô  ÐÌ438.€€With€regard€to€Communication€No.€193/1985,€which€was€contained€in€the€report€of€theÐ \¬ ÐCommittee€to€the€General€Assembly€in€1990€(A/45/40,€vol.€II),€the€Minister€for€Foreign€Affairs€hadÐ H˜ Ðreceived€no€documentation€on€that€case€and€suggested€that€the€Committee€adopt€newÐ 4„ Ðrecommendations.€€Since€the€Government€strictly€observed€any€deadlines€established€by€theÐ  p ÐCommittee,€its€failure€to€respond€was€due,€no€doubt,€to€a€lack€of€communication.Ð  \ ÐÌòòRight€to€life,€liberty€and€security€of€person,€treatment€of€prisoners€and€other€persons€deprived€ofÐ ä4 Ðliberty€and€right€to€a€fair€trialóóÐ Ð  ÐÌ439.€€With€respect€to€those€issues,€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€the€rules€and€regulationsÐ ¨ø Ðwere€governing€the€use€of€firearms€by€the€police€and€security€forces;€whether€there€had€been€anyÐ ”ä Ðviolations€of€these€rules€and€regulations€and,€if€so,€what€measures€had€been€taken€to€prevent€theirÐ €Ð Ðrecurrence;€what€measures€had€been€taken€by€the€authorities€to€ensure€strict€observance€of€article€7Ð l¼ Ðof€the€Covenant;€whether€confessions€or€testimony€obtained€under€duress€were€admissible€beforeÐ X ¨ Ðthe€courts;€whether€the€risk€of€being€punished€by€suspension€from€duty€without€pay€for€up€to€30€daysÐ D!” Ðwas€sufficient€to€deter€officials€from€resorting€to€torture;€what€the€powers€of€the€Directorate€GeneralÐ 0"€  Ðof€Prisons€were€in€the€matter€of€supervision€of€penal€establishments;€whether€there€were€anyÐ #l! Ðindependent€bodies€empowered€to€visit€places€of€detention€and€to€receive€complaints;€whether€anyÐ $X" Ðconsideration€was€being€given€to€amending€the€rules€on€the€prevention€of€liberty€to€guarantee€thatÐ ô$D # Ða€person's€family€is€informed€as€soon€as€possible€after€arrest;€and€what€had€been€the€outcome€of€theÐ à%0!$ Ðstudy€aiming€to€entrust€the€appointment€of€judges€to€a€judicial€council€independent€of€the€executiveÐ Ì&"% Ðand€legislative€powers.€€Further€information€was€requested€on€problems€and€difficulties€in€observingÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€limitation€of€the€48-hour€period€of€police€custody€and€in€allowing€a€lawyer€to€see€his€clientÐ ¤(ô#' Ðduring€this€period;€and€on€the€possibility€of€accused€persons€obtaining€free€legal€assistance€and€theÐ )à$( Ðassistance€of€an€interpreter,€with€particular€reference€to€Haitian€workers€who€do€not€speak€Spanish.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ440.€€Members€of€the€Committee€also€wished€to€know€whether€any€of€the€known€cases€ofÐ T,¤'+ Ðextrajudicial€killings,€torture,€and€ill-treatment€of€detainees€had€actually€been€investigated€and,€if€so,Ð @-(, Ðhow€many€and€to€what€effect;€whether€it€was€true€that€the€Penal€Code€exempted€any€public€officialÐ ° Ðfrom€punishment€for€torture€if€the€official€was€acting€on€orders€from€a€superior;€and€to€what€extentÐ œì Ðthe€48-hour€time-limit€for€arraignment€was€respected€given€the€fact€that€70€per€cent€of€the€prisonÐ ˆØ Ðpopulation€in€the€Dominican€Republic€was€being€held€pending€trial,€whether€minors€were€beingÐ tÄ Ðdetained€in€prisons€together€with€adults;€and€what€provisions€existed€to€ensure€that€judicial€ordersÐ `° Ðwere€complied€with.€€Further€information€was€also€requested€regarding€health€and€sanitaryÐ L œ Ðconditions€in€prisons,€which€were€reported€to€be€extremely€poor.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ441.€€Replying€to€the€questions,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€the€use€of€firearms€wasÐ  ` Ðgoverned€by€Act€No.€36,€under€which€members€of€the€armed€forces,€the€police€and€someÐ ü L  Ðhigh-ranking€civil€servants€were€authorized€to€carry€firearms.€€Civilians€could€also€obtain€a€permitÐ è 8  Ðfor€firearms,€although€efforts€have€been€stepped€up€to€tighten€the€rules€and€to€disarm€civiliansÐ Ô$  Ðfollowing€recent€violations€and€some€unfortunate€incidents.Ð À  ÐÌ442.€€Both€the€Penal€Code€and€the€Constitution€prohibited€torture€and€confessions€obtained€underÐ ˜è  Ðduress€were€not€admissible€before€the€courts.€€Allegations€of€torture€in€prisons€were€investigated€andÐ „Ô  Ðthose€found€to€be€responsible€were€tried€and€punished.€€The€practice€of€torture€was€not€envisagedÐ pÀ Ðby€Dominican€legislation.€€While€excesses€were€occasionally€committed,€those€responsible€wereÐ \¬ Ðbrought€to€justice,€and€the€practice€was€tending€to€disappear€as€a€result€of€constant€vigilance.€€InÐ H˜ Ðsome€cases,€minors€had€been€inadvertently€incarcerated€with€adults€but€the€errors€had€beenÐ 4„ Ðdiscovered€and€corrected.€€The€Directorate€General€of€Prisons€had€been€established€under€Act€No.Ð  p Ð224€of€1984€to€exercise€greater€oversight€and€to€ensure€that€the€Standard€Minimum€Rules€for€theÐ  \ ÐTreatment€of€Prisoners€were€observed.€€Many€non-governmental€organizations€also€evaluated€andÐ øH Ðmonitored€the€conditions€of€prisoners.€€A€commission€on€prison€reform€made€up€of€prominentÐ ä4 Ðpersonalities€had€noted€the€shortcomings€of€the€prison€system€and,€as€a€result,€new€prisons€had€beenÐ Ð  Ðconstructed€to€meet€modern€prison€standards.Ð ¼  ÐÌ443.€€A€preliminary€draft€on€the€establishment€of€a€Judicial€Council€had€been€submitted€to€theÐ ”ä Ðlegislature.€Under€the€proposed€plan,€the€Council€would€appoint€judges€through€a€commissionÐ €Ð Ðcomprised€of€the€President€of€the€Senate€and€Deputies.€€That€would€allow€judges€greaterÐ l¼ Ðindependence€in€the€exercise€of€their€duties€and€should€lead€to€a€more€independent€judiciary.€€TheÐ X ¨ Ðplan€to€establish€the€Council€had€received€broad€support€from€all€the€political€parties€that€wereÐ D!” Ðplanning€to€participate€in€the€forthcoming€elections.Ð 0"€  ÐÌòòFreedom€of€movement€and€expulsion€of€aliens;€freedom€of€religion,€assembly€and€association;Ð $X" Ðequality€of€sexes€and€protection€of€the€family;€right€to€take€part€in€the€conduct€of€public€affairs;€andÐ ô$D # Ðrights€of€persons€belonging€to€minoritiesóóÐ à%0!$ ÐÌ444.€€With€regard€to€those€issues,€the€Committee€wished€to€know€whether€appeals€against€expulsionÐ ¸'#& Ðorders€had€suspensive€effect;€how€many€expulsions€had€occurred€each€year€and€the€grounds€on€whichÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthey€were€ordered;€whether€the€Government€had€plans€to€take€any€measures€with€respect€to€religiousÐ )à$( Ðsects€mentioned€in€paragraphs€89€to€90€of€the€report;€what€the€situation€was€in€practice€with€regardÐ |*Ì%) Ðto€equality€of€men€and€women€at€work€and€in€respect€of€participation€in€the€conduct€of€public€affairs;Ð h+¸&* Ðwhy€the€proposed€new€Labour€Code€did€not€recognize€the€right€to€strike€of€civil€servants;€the€extentÐ T,¤'+ Ðto€which€the€provisions€denying€to€members€of€the€police€and€the€armed€forces€the€right€to€vote€andÐ @-(, Ðto€be€elected€conformed€with€article€25€of€the€Covenant;€and€the€extent€to€which€article€27€of€theÐ ° ÐCovenant€was€being€implemented€in€the€light€of€the€assertion€that€there€were€no€ethnic,€religious€orÐ œì Ðlinguistic€minorities€in€the€Dominican€Republic.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ445.€€Members€of€the€Committee€also€wished€to€know€the€extent€to€which€punishment€by€exile€wasÐ `° Ðin€conformity€with€article€12€of€the€Covenant;€whether€there€were€special€courts€for€aliens€in€theÐ L œ ÐDominican€Republic€and,€if€so,€whether€the€judgements€of€those€courts€could€be€appealed€to€theÐ 8 ˆ ÐSupreme€Court;€to€what€extent€a€father's€right€to€custody€over€a€natural€child€conformed€with€articleÐ $ t Ð24€of€the€Covenant;€what€kind€of€offences€gave€rise€to€restriction€on€freedom€of€movement,€asÐ  ` Ðprovided€for€under€article€8,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Constitution,€and€what€such€restrictions€entailed;Ð ü L  Ðto€what€extent€article€8,€paragraph€6,€of€the€Constitution€prohibiting€the€expression€of€thoughtsÐ è 8  Ð"prejudicial€to€the€dignity€and€morality€of€individuals,€to€public€policy€or€to€propriety"€conformedÐ Ô$  Ðto€article€19€of€the€Covenant;€what€steps€were€being€taken€to€ensure€that€relevant€legislation€wasÐ À  Ðcompatible€with€article€24€of€the€Covenant;€whether€a€special€law€on€working€conditions€in€theÐ ¬ü  Ðexport€processing€zones€enabled€trade€unions€to€operate€freely;€whether€religions€other€thanÐ ˜è  ÐCatholicism,€which€was€specifically€protected€under€articles€261€and€262€of€the€Penal€Code,€receivedÐ „Ô  Ðequal€protection€under€the€law;€and€whether€the€decision€to€prohibit€certain€radio€broadcasts€inÐ pÀ ÐCreole€had€established€that€such€broadcasts€would€be€subversive€or€a€threat€to€public€order.Ð \¬ ÐÌ446.€€Further€information€was€also€requested€regarding€the€conversion€of€a€deportation€order€intoÐ 4„ Ða€prison€sentence€of€up€to€two€years,€as€provided€for€under€article€13,€paragraph€11€(f)€of€theÐ  p ÐMigration€Act;€the€situation€of€religious€and€linguistic€minorities€in€the€Dominican€Republic;€andÐ  \ Ðon€progress€achieved€in€implementing€the€draft€law€on€eliminating€discrimination€in€civil,Ð øH Ðcommercial,€penal€and€agrarian€matters.Ð ä4 ÐÌ447.€€In€reply,€the€representatives€of€the€State€party€said€that€the€Dominican€Republic€had€adoptedÐ ¼  Ða€new€labour€code€in€June€1992€which€clearly€established€freedom€of€association.€€That€new€codeÐ ¨ø Ðwas€now€being€enforced€with€the€approval€of€the€International€Labour€Organization,€which€hadÐ ”ä Ðwarmly€received€the€last€report€submitted€to€it€by€the€Dominican€Republic.€€With€regard€toÐ €Ð Ðdiscrimination€against€women,€the€representative€underlined€the€important€role€played€by€womenÐ l¼ Ðin€the€life€of€the€country.€€There€were€women€ministers€and€women€made€up€over€60€per€cent€of€theÐ X ¨ Ðstaff€of€banks,€the€public€administration€and€the€judiciary.Ð D!” ÐÌ448.€€Although€Roman€Catholicism€was€the€State€religion,€freedom€of€worship€was€guaranteed€byÐ #l! Ðthe€Constitution€for€all€religions.€€The€authorities€could€intervene€only€when€the€activities€of€aÐ $X" Ðparticular€sect€or€religion€threatened€the€integrity€of€the€State.€€Religious€sects€were€banned€only€forÐ ô$D # Ðinsulting€other€religions.€There€was€no€special€legislation€concerning€ethnic€minorities€because€thereÐ à%0!$ Ðwere€really€no€such€minorities€in€the€Dominican€Republic.€€Haitians€were€the€largest€group€of€foreignÐ Ì&"% Ðnationals€and€they€enjoyed€the€same€rights€as€Dominicans.€€With€respect€to€the€suspension€of€radioÐ ¸'#& Ðbroadcasts€in€Creole,€the€radio€station€in€question€had€been€broadcasting€news€and€information€toÐ ¤(ô#' ÐHaitians€regarding€the€political€upheaval€in€Haiti€and€it€had€been€deemed€to€be€intervening€in€thatÐ )à$( Ðcountry's€internal€affairs.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌòòConcluding€observations€by€individual€membersóóÐ T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð449.€€Members€of€the€Committee€expressed€their€concern€over€the€status€of€the€Covenant€inÐ ° ÐDominican€law.€€What€was€needed€was€not€just€an€official€promulgation€of€the€Covenant€but€broadÐ œì Ðdissemination€of€its€provisions€by€the€Government.€€Not€only€did€the€country's€legal€system€notÐ ˆØ Ðguarantee€all€the€rights€embodied€in€the€Covenant,€but€in€many€cases€it€was€in€open€contradictionÐ tÄ Ðwith€the€Covenant;€thus,€the€Government€had€to€make€a€basic€effort€to€bring€a€large€body€ofÐ `° Ðdomestic€legislation€into€line€with€international€human€rights€instruments.€€In€this€regard,€it€wasÐ L œ Ðnoted€that€the€pace€of€promotion€of€human€rights€in€the€Dominican€Republic€had€slowedÐ 8 ˆ Ðconsiderably€since€the€State€party's€ratification€of€the€Covenant€15€years€ago.€€There€needed€to€beÐ $ t Ðgreater€awareness€of€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant,€particularly€among€judges,€police€personnel,Ð  ` Ðthe€armed€forces€and€prison€employees.Ð ü L  ÐÌ450.€€The€situation€of€Haitian€workers€remained€a€matter€of€pressing€concern€and€little€action€hadÐ Ô$  Ðbeen€taken€to€remedy€the€situation.€€In€this€connection,€members€of€the€Committee€expressedÐ À  Ðconcern€over€the€State€party's€compliance€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€concerning€forcedÐ ¬ü  Ðlabour.€€Freedom€of€association€was€not€guaranteed€and€trade€unionists€had€been€persecuted.€€InÐ ˜è  Ðparticular,€the€expulsion€of€Haitian€workers€was€unjustified€and€inhumane,€particularly€in€the€caseÐ „Ô  Ðof€those€aliens€under€16€or€over€60€years€of€age.€€The€Committee€had€been€told€that€PresidentialÐ pÀ ÐDecree€No.€233-91,€which€was€in€flagrant€violation€of€a€number€of€rights€embodied€in€the€Covenant,Ð \¬ Ðhad€been€suspended€only,€not€abrogated.€€It€was€feared€that€the€Government€could€still€make€use€ofÐ H˜ Ðthat€legislation€if€it€so€wished.Ð 4„ ÐÌ451.€€Members€of€the€Committee€expressed€their€concern€over€the€protection€of€the€rights€ofÐ  \ Ðdetainees.€The€police€did€not€always€respect€the€right€to€life,€the€practice€of€torture€was€uncontrolled,Ð øH Ðill-treatment€of€detainees€was€a€widespread€practice,€and€the€Government€frequently€did€notÐ ä4 Ðinvestigate€complaints,€despite€its€obligation€to€do€so.€€Additionally,€the€penalties€for€police€andÐ Ð  Ðarmed€forces€personnel€found€guilty€of€using€torture€were€inadequate.€€The€police€did€not€obey€courtÐ ¼  Ðorders€to€release€suspects€and€preventive€detention€extended€well€beyond€the€48-hour€periodÐ ¨ø Ðmandated€by€law.€€In€addition,€prosecutors€could€appeal€writs€of€habeas€corpus.€Ð ”ä ÐÌ452.€€Members€of€the€Committee€expressed€their€concern€over€reported€firearms€abuses€by€membersÐ l¼ Ðof€the€military€and€the€police,€particularly€with€regard€to€the€excessive€use€of€force€by€the€police,Ð X ¨ Ðincluding€extrajudicial€killings,€torture€and€the€ill-treatment€of€detainees.€€It€was€to€be€hoped€that€theÐ D!” ÐGovernment€would,€as€it€had€promised,€provide€training€in€human€rights€to€its€police€and€militaryÐ 0"€  Ðpersonnel.€€The€inadequacy€of€the€current€system€for€appointing€members€of€the€judiciary€wasÐ #l! Ðemphasized,€as€was€the€need€for€an€independent€judiciary.€€In€its€absence,€individuals€would€continueÐ $X" Ðto€be€denied€recourse€when€their€rights€were€violated.€€Furthermore,€the€Dominican€Republic€neededÐ ô$D # Ðto€establish€a€truly€independent€agency€for€the€investigation€of€complaints€regarding€human€rightsÐ à%0!$ Ðabuses.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ453.€€While€welcoming€the€indications€provided€by€the€State€party€of€its€willingness€to€cooperateÐ ¤(ô#' Ðmore€fully€with€the€Committee€in€the€future,€members€of€the€Committee€emphasized€their€regret€thatÐ )à$( Ðboth€the€report€and€the€delegation€had€not€been€able€to€address€the€Committee's€concerns.€€RegardingÐ |*Ì%) ÐCommunication€No.€193/1985,€there€was€no€need€for€the€Committee€to€make€furtherÐ h+¸&* Ðrecommendations€with€respect€to€it;€rather,€it€was€incumbent€upon€the€State€party€to€take€allÐ T,¤'+ Ðmeasures€required€to€avoid€a€violation€of€the€Covenant.€€With€respect€to€article€27€of€the€Ô_ÔCovenant,Ð @-(, Ðit€was€noted€that€freedom€of€religion€was€not€guaranteed€and€minority€religions€were€subject€toÐ ° Ðdiscrimination.€€The€prohibition€of€Creole-language€broadcasts€was€not€in€conformity€with€theÐ œì Ðprovisions€of€the€Covenant.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ454.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€her€Government€would€take€note€of€theÐ `° ÐCommittee's€recommendations.€€Although€the€Dominican€Republic€had€not€been€able€to€complyÐ L œ Ðconsistently€with€all€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant,€it€had€no€intention€of€violating€the€CovenantÐ 8 ˆ Ðin€a€systematic€manner.Ð $ t ÐÌ455.€€In€concluding€the€consideration€of€the€second€periodic€report€of€the€Dominican€Republic,€theÐ ü L  ÐChairman€of€the€Committee€thanked€the€delegation€for€having€engaged€in€a€constructive€dialogueÐ è 8  Ðwith€the€Committee.Ð Ô$  ÐÌ456.€€At€its€1232òòndóó€meeting€(forty-seventh€session),€held€on€8€April€1993,€the€Committee€adoptedÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€following€comments.Ð ˜è  ÐÌòòIntroductionóóÐ pÀ ÐÌ457.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€third€periodic€report€of€the€Dominican€Republic€and€theÐ H˜ Ðopportunity€to€continue€its€dialogue€with€the€State€party.€€The€Committee€notes,€however,€that€theÐ 4„ Ðinformation€provided€in€the€report€was€in€many€respects€incomplete€and€did€not€take€into€accountÐ  p Ðthe€dialogue€that€had€taken€place€during€the€Committee's€consideration€of€the€previous€report.€€TheÐ  \ ÐCommittee€would€also€have€appreciated€a€more€candid€appraisal€by€the€State€party€of€existingÐ øH Ðlegislative€deficiencies€as€well€as€factors€and€difficulties€encountered€in€the€application€of€theÐ ä4 ÐCovenant.€€The€third€periodic€report€added€little€to€what€had€been€reported€earlier€in€that€respect€andÐ Ð  Ðis€deemed€by€the€Committee€to€be€insufficient.€€The€Committee,€however,€expresses€its€appreciationÐ ¼  Ðto€the€delegation€for€the€report€as€well€as€for€the€additional€information€it€provided€in€response€toÐ ¨ø Ðquestions€raised€by€members€of€the€Committee.€€However,€many€questions€were€not€addressed€andÐ ”ä Ðmuch€of€the€information€which€was€provided€was€not€sufficiently€detailed.Ð €Ð ÐÌòòFactors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€application€of€the€CovenantóóÐ X ¨ ÐÌ458.€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€Dominican€Republic€has€received€large€numbers€of€refugees€andÐ 0"€  Ðforeign€workers.€It€also€notes€that€the€State€party€has€had€to€overcome€a€legacy€of€authoritarianism.€Ð #l! ÐThese€and€other€circumstances€may€to€a€certain€extent€explain€why€many€of€the€provisions€of€theÐ $X" ÐCovenant€still€have€not€been€incorporated€into€the€legal€order€of€the€Republic.Ð ô$D # ÐÌòòPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóÐ Ì&"% ÐÌ459.€€The€Committee€notes€with€regret€that,€in€general,€there€has€been€a€lack€of€progress€in€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðapplication€of€the€Covenant€since€the€consideration€of€the€State€party's€second€periodic€report.€€InÐ )à$( Ðparticular,€there€remains€a€significant€body€of€legislation€which€still€is€not€in€conformity€with€theÐ |*Ì%) ÐCovenant€despite€the€fact€that€more€than€15€years€have€elapsed€since€the€accession€of€the€DominicanÐ h+¸&* ÐRepublic€to€the€Covenant.€€A€number€of€rights€contained€in€the€Covenant€are€not€guaranteed€in€theÐ T,¤'+ Ðpresent€legal€framework€and€other€rights€are€being€invalidated€by€domestic€legal€provisions€that€areÐ @-(, Ðincompatible€with€the€Covenant.€€The€Committee€also€regrets€that€it€has€not€been€informed€in€anÐ ° Ðunequivocal€way€about€the€Covenant's€òòde€jureóó€and€de€facto€status€within€the€legal€system€of€theÐ œì ÐDominican€Republic.€€In€addition,€the€grounds€for€declaring€a€state€of€emergency€are€too€broad,€andÐ ˆØ Ðthe€range€of€rights€that€may€be€derogated€from€is€too€wide€to€be€in€conformity€with€article€4€of€theÐ tÄ ÐCovenant.€€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€over€the€lack€of€adequate€knowledge€of€the€provisionsÐ `° Ðof€the€Covenant€by€the€legal€profession,€judicial€officials€and€the€public€at€large.€Furthermore,€theÐ L œ ÐCommittee€notes€that€there€is€no€governmental€authority€specifically€responsible€for€ensuring€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðobservance€of€human€rights€standards.€In€that€connection,€the€Committee€notes€that€there€has€notÐ $ t Ðbeen€sufficient€follow-up€to€its€views€adopted€under€the€Optional€Protocol€but€welcomes€the€promiseÐ  ` Ðof€the€State€party€for€closer€cooperation€in€this€regard€in€the€future.Ð ü L  ÐÌ460.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€concern€over€the€lack€of€protection€afforded€to€Haitians€livingÐ Ô$  Ðor€working€in€the€country€from€such€serious€human€rights€abuses€as€forced€labour€and€cruel,€inhumanÐ À  Ðor€degrading€treatment.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€concern€over€the€fact€that€the€protection€of€theÐ ¬ü  Ðfundamental€human€rights€of€foreigners€is€subject€to€reciprocity.€€The€Committee€also€expresses€itsÐ ˜è  Ðconcern€over€the€degrading€living€and€working€conditions€of€Haitian€labourers€and€the€toleratedÐ „Ô  Ðpractices€that€effectively€restrict€their€freedom€of€movement.€€Although€some€progress€has€beenÐ pÀ Ðmade€in€improving€their€living€and€working€conditions,€particularly€with€regard€to€child€labour,€theseÐ \¬ Ðremain€at€an€unacceptably€low€level.€€Furthermore,€while€many€Haitian€workers€have€been€preventedÐ H˜ Ðfrom€leaving€their€place€of€work,€there€have€also€been€incidents€of€mass€expulsions€from€the€country.€Ð 4„ ÐIn€this€regard,€the€Committee€considers€that€Presidential€Decree€No.€233-91,€which€resulted€in€theÐ  p Ðmass€deportation€of€Haitian€workers€under€16€and€over€60€years€of€age,€represents€a€serious€violationÐ  \ Ðof€several€articles€of€the€Covenant.Ð øH ÐÌ461.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€concern€over€the€low€level€of€legal€protection€and€effectiveÐ Ð  Ðremedies€available€to€the€public€concerning€arbitrary€arrest€and€lengthy€pre-trial€detention.€€TheÐ ¼  ÐCommittee€notes€with€concern€the€large€number€of€detainees€awaiting€trial,€which€is€particularlyÐ ¨ø Ðworrisome€in€view€of€the€high€number€of€cases€of€alleged€police€abuse€during€detention€and€reportsÐ ”ä Ðof€unhealthy€prison€conditions.€€The€Committee€also€underlines€that€punishment€by€exile€is€notÐ €Ð Ðcompatible€with€the€Covenant.€€Moreover,€the€powers€and€independence€of€the€judiciary€do€notÐ l¼ Ðappear€to€be€sufficiently€protected.€€A€judicial€order€for€release€should€be€implemented€withoutÐ X ¨ Ðquestion.Ð D!” ÐÌ462.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€concern€over€the€inadequate€protection€of€the€rights€of€ethnic,Ð #l! Ðreligious€and€linguistic€minorities€in€the€Dominican€Republic.€€In€this€regard,€the€Committee€notesÐ $X" Ðthat€the€prohibition€of€broadcasting€in€a€language€other€than€Spanish€is€not€in€conformity€with€articleÐ ô$D # Ð19€of€the€Covenant.€€The€right€of€peaceful€assembly€is€apparently€not€adequately€respected€by€theÐ à%0!$ Ðpolice.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌòòRecommendationsóóÐ ¤(ô#' ÐÌ463.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€should€undertake€a€major€initiative€aimed€atÐ |*Ì%) Ðharmonizing€its€domestic€legislation€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€€In€this€regard,€theÐ h+¸&* ÐConstitution€and€the€relevant€civil€and€penal€codes€should€be€reviewed€in€order€to€bring€the€law€andÐ T,¤'+ Ðits€application€into€line€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€€The€State€party€should€also€considerÐ @-(, Ðthe€establishment€of€offices€and€mechanisms€to€monitor€the€application€of€human€rights€standardsÐ ° Ðand€promote€and€protect€human€rights.€This€could€include€the€designation€of€an€independent€officeÐ œì Ðto€receive€complaints€and,€where€necessary,€undertake€investigations€into€abuses.€€More€publicityÐ ˆØ Ðshould€be€given€to€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and€the€Optional€Protocol€in€order€to€ensure€thatÐ tÄ Ðthe€legal€profession,€the€judiciary€and€the€general€public€are€more€aware€of€their€contents.Ð `° ÐÌ464.€€The€situation€concerning€the€living€and€working€conditions€of€Haitian€labourers€should€beÐ 8 ˆ Ðaddressed€as€a€matter€of€priority.€€The€State€party€should€ensure€the€implementation€of€lawsÐ $ t Ðconcerning€labour€standards,€including€adequate€monitoring€of€working€conditions.€€In€this€regard,Ð  ` Ðthe€Committee€emphasizes€the€necessity€of€strengthening€the€capacity€of€the€labour€inspectorate€toÐ ü L  Ðeffectively€monitor€the€working€conditions€of€Haitian€labourers,€with€a€view€to€ending€theirÐ è 8  Ðslave-like€exploitation.€€Child€labourers€in€particular€require€a€higher€level€of€protection€and€theÐ Ô$  Ðrelevant€international€standards€should€be€vigorously€applied.€€There€should€also€be€more€activeÐ À  Ðenforcement,€particularly€in€the€"export€zones",€of€the€exercise€of€trade€union€rights€in€conformityÐ ¬ü  Ðwith€article€22€of€the€Covenant.€€Additionally,€Presidential€Decree€No.€233-91€should€be€abolishedÐ ˜è  Ðrather€than€merely€suspended.Ð „Ô  ÐÌ465.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€measures€should€be€undertaken€immediately€to€reduce€theÐ \¬ Ðbacklog€of€persons€in€detention€awaiting€trial€and€that€the€number€of€exceptions€to€the€48-hour€ruleÐ H˜ Ðshould€be€significantly€reduced.€€Much€more€severe€sanctions€are€needed€to€effectively€discourageÐ 4„ Ðtorture€and€other€abuses€by€prison€and€law€enforcement€officials.€€Steps€should€also€be€taken€toÐ  p Ðtighten€the€regulations€governing€the€use€of€firearms€by€police.€€Training€courses€in€internationalÐ  \ Ðhuman€rights€standards€should€be€provided€for€police€and€prison€officials.Ð øH ÐÌ466.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€further€steps€for€the€elimination€ofÐ Ð  Ðdiscrimination€concerning€ethnic,€religious€and€linguistic€minorities€and€recommends€that€theÐ ¼  Ðrelevant€legislation€be€reviewed€in€order€to€ensure€its€conformity€with€the€Covenant.Ð  ¨ø Ðò òÔ‡ X­¨XXX­¨ÔÔUSUK.,ÔÔ_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô€A/56/40€Ô_Ô(2001)Ô_ÔÐ ° Ðó óÌ78.€€òòDominican€RepublicóóÐ ˆØ ÐÌ(1)€€The€Committee€examined€the€fourth€periodic€report€of€the€Dominican€RepublicÐ `° Ð(Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/DOM/99/3)€at€its€1906th€and€1907th€meetings,€held€on€23€March€2001,€and€at€its1921stÐ L œ Ðmeeting€(seventy-first€session),€held€on€3€April€2001,€adopted€the€following€observations.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌÔ& Ø ÔòòIntroductionóóÐ  ` ÐÔ'Ø œÔÌ(2)€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€fourth€periodic€report€of€the€Dominican€Republic€and€theÐ è 8  Ðopportunity€to€continue€to€study€the€situation€of€human€rights€with€the€State€party€through€aÐ Ô$  Ðdelegation€made€up€of€officials€from€various€sectors€of€the€Government.€€Nevertheless,€it€notes€withÐ À  Ðconcern€that€the€information€provided€in€the€report€is€in€many€respects€incomplete,€that€importantÐ ¬ü  Ðrecommendations€made€during€the€consideration€of€the€previous€report€have€not€been€taken€intoÐ ˜è  Ðaccount,€and€that€Committee€guidelines€were€not€followed€in€its€elaboration.€€The€Committee€wouldÐ „Ô  Ðhave€welcomed€a€more€in„depth€evaluation€by€the€State€party€of€the€existing€legislative€deficienciesÐ pÀ Ðand€the€factors€and€difficulties€encountered€in€implementation€of€the€Covenant.€€However,€theÐ \¬ ÐCommittee€expresses€its€gratitude€to€the€delegation€for€the€updated€additional€information€which€itÐ H˜ Ðprovided€in€reply€to€the€questions€posed€by€members.Ð 4„ ÐÌòòPositive€aspectsóóÐ  \ ÐÌ(3)€€The€Committee€is€pleased€that€its€recommendation€to€revise€the€Constitution€of€the€DominicanÐ ä4 ÐRepublic€has€been€accepted€and€that€a€new€text€was€ratified€and€promulgated€on14August€1994.€Ð Ð  ÐThe€Committee€notes€that€the€new€Constitution€omits€clauses€which€were€incompatible€with€theÐ ¼  ÐCovenant,€for€example€the€penalty€of€internal€exile€and€reciprocity€for€protection€of€the€human€rightsÐ ¨ø Ðof€aliens.Ð ”ä ÐÌ(4)€€It€is€also€gratified€to€learn€of€the€repeal€of€Decree„Law€No.€233-91,€which€had€led€to€massÐ l¼ Ðdeportations€of€Haitian€workers€under€16€and€over€60€years€of€age,€seriously€violating€several€articlesÐ X ¨ Ðof€the€Covenant,€as€noted€in€the€concluding€observations€on€the€previous€report.Ð D!” ÐÌ(5)€€The€Committee€also€notes€with€satisfaction€both€the€establishment€in€the€Constitution€of€theÐ #l! ÐNational€Board€of€the€Judiciary,€which€is€responsible€for€appointing€the€members€of€the€SupremeÐ $X" ÐCourt,€and€the€legal€establishment€of€the€Office€of€Ombudsman.Ð ô$D # ÐÌÔ& Ø ÔòòPrincipal€causes€of€concern€and€recommendationsóóÐ Ì&"% ÐÔ'ØÌ&¥ÔÌ(6)€€The€Committee€points€out€that€article€3€of€the€current€Constitution€recognizes€and€applies€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðnorms€of€international€law€which€have€been€adopted€by€the€State€party€and€that,€since€these€includeÐ )à$( Ðthe€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€the€Covenant€has€constitutional€standing.€Ð |*Ì%) ÐHowever,€it€notes€with€regret€that,€in€general,€there€has€been€a€lack€of€progress€in€the€implementationÐ h+¸&* Ðof€the€Covenant€since€the€consideration€of€the€third€periodic€report.€€In€particular,€a€significant€bodyÐ T,¤'+ Ðof€legislation€is€still€incompatible€with€the€Covenant,€despite€the€fact€that€the€latter€has€higherÐ @-(, Ðstanding€and€that€over€21€years€have€elapsed€since€the€DominicanRepublic€acceded€to€it.Ð ° ÐÌ(7)€€The€Committee€regrets€the€fact€that€it€has€not€been€informed€unequivocally€about€the€applicationÐ ˆØ Ðof€the€Covenant€within€the€Dominican€Republic€or€about€action€in€response€to€its€decisions€underÐ tÄ Ðthe€Optional€Protocol,€and€regrets€in€particular€the€lack€of€clarity€in€the€response€given€toÐ `° Ðcommunication€449/1991€(òòÔ_ÔMojicaÔ_Ô€v.€Dominican€Republicóó).Ð L œ ÐÌThe€State€party€should€provide€that€information€(art.€2)€to€the€Committee.Ð $ t ÐÌ(8)€€The€Committee€notes€with€great€concern€the€information€from€the€delegation€that229peopleÐ ü L  Ðsuffered€violent€deaths€at€the€hands€of€the€police€force€in€2000,€and€that€according€to€other€sourcesÐ è 8  Ðthe€figure€could€be€higher€still.€€It€has€taken€note€with€equal€concern€of€the€reports€of€extrajudicialÐ Ô$  Ðexecutions€of€prisoners€in€the€custody€of€the€State€party€in€its€prisons€and€of€deaths€at€the€hands€ofÐ À  Ðthe€National€Police,€the€Armed€Forces€and€the€National€Drug€Control€Office€owing€to€the€excessiveÐ ¬ü  Ðuse€of€force€and€the€apparent€impunity€that€they€enjoy.Ð ˜è  ÐÌThe€State€party€should€take€urgent€steps€to€ensure€respect€for€article€6€of€the€Covenant,€to€have€thoseÐ pÀ Ðresponsible€for€violations€of€the€right€to€life€guaranteed€thereunder€prosecuted€and€punished,€and€toÐ \¬ Ðmake€redress.Ð H˜ ÐÌ(9)€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€that,€despite€being€prohibited€by€the€Constitution€(art.8.1),Ð  p Ðtorture€is€widespread,€occurring€in€prisons€and€elsewhere,€that€not€all€its€forms€are€classified€asÐ  \ Ðcrimes€under€the€law€and€that€no€independent€body€exists€to€investigate€the€many€complaints€ofÐ øH Ðtorture€and€cruel,€inhuman€or€degrading€treatment.€€Reports€that€acts€of€torture€have€not€beenÐ ä4 Ðinvestigated,€that€the€perpetrators€of€those€acts€have€in€the€majority€of€cases€not€been€brought€to€trialÐ Ð  Ðand€that€victims€and€their€families€have€not€been€compensated€are€also€cause€for€concern.Ð ¼  ÐÌThe€State€party€should€take€prompt€action€to€comply€fully€with€article€7€of€the€Covenant€and€to€haveÐ ”ä Ðviolations€thereof€investigated€so€that€the€culprits€may€be€tried€and€punished€by€ordinary€courts€andÐ €Ð Ðredress€provided.Ð l¼ ÐÌ(10)€€The€Committee€deplores€the€fact€that€the€National€Police€has€its€own€judicial€body,€separateÐ D!” Ðfrom€that€established€by€the€Constitution,€to€try€crimes€and€offences€by€its€members;€this€isÐ 0"€  Ðincompatible€with€the€principle€of€equality€before€the€law€protected€by€articles€14€and€2,€paragraphÐ #l! Ð3,€of€the€Covenant.€€The€Committee€also€observes€that,€although€the€police€is€a€civilian€body€legallyÐ $X" Ðsubordinate€to€the€Department€of€the€Interior€and€Police,€in€practice€it€is€subject€to€military€authorityÐ ô$D # Ðand€discipline,€to€the€extent€that€the€chief€of€police€is€a€general€of€the€armed€forces€on€active€duty.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌThe€State€party€should€ensure€that€the€jurisdiction€of€the€police€tribunals€is€restricted€to€internalÐ ¸'#& Ðdisciplinary€matters€and€that€their€powers€to€try€police€officers€accused€of€common€crimes€areÐ ¤(ô#' Ðtransferred€to€the€ordinary€civilian€courts.Ð )à$( ÐÌ(11)€€Despite€the€creation€of€more€courts,€the€Committee€notes€that€the€high€percentage€of€prisonersÐ h+¸&* Ðin€pre-trial€detention€observed€in€the€third€report€has€increased.€€This€means€that€many€peopleÐ T,¤'+ Ðaccused€of€crimes€remain€in€detention€waiting€for€their€trials€to€end,€which€is€counter€to€article€9,Ð @-(, ÐÔ_Ôparagraph€3,€and€article€14,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant.Ð ° ÐÌThe€State€party€should€reform€the€law€immediately€to€make€pre-trial€detention€the€exception€ratherÐ ˆØ Ðthan€the€rule,€used€only€when€strictly€necessary.€€It€should€also€provide€statistics€on€the€number€ofÐ tÄ Ðpeople€in€pre-trial€detention€and€the€size€of€the€prison€population.Ð `° ÐÌ(12)€€The€power€to€hold€prisoners€incommunicado€continues€to€provoke€deep€concern.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌThe€State€party€should€revise€the€law€to€ensure€that€detention€incommunicado€does€not€violateÐ  ` Ðarticles€7,€9€and€10€of€the€Covenant.Ð ü L  ÐÌ(13)€€The€Committee€is€seriously€concerned€at€the€statement€in€paragraph€78€of€the€report€thatÐ Ô$  Ðapplications€for€habeas€corpus€are€heard€weeks€or€months€after€receipt.€€This€is€incompatible€withÐ À  Ðarticle€9€of€the€Covenant.€€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌThe€State€party€should€take€prompt€action€to€enable€the€courts€to€rule€on€the€legality€of€detentionsÐ „Ô  Ðas€quickly€as€possible.Ð pÀ ÐÌ(14)€€The€Committee€has€noted€with€serious€concern€that,€far€from€improving€as€a€result€of€theÐ H˜ Ðconstruction€of€new€facilities€and€the€renovation€of€older€ones,€the€situation€in€prisons€and€otherÐ 4„ Ðplaces€of€detention€has€worsened€owing€to€the€increase€in€the€number€of€prisoners,€enormousÐ  p Ðovercrowding,€deplorable€sanitary€conditions,€failure€to€separate€juveniles€from€adults€and€men€fromÐ  \ Ðwomen€and€the€existence€of€solitary€confinement€cells€without€light,€windows€or€ventilation.Ð øH ÐÌThe€State€party€should€establish€institutional€mechanisms€to€supervise€prison€conditions€with€a€viewÐ Ð  Ðto€complying€with€article€10€of€the€Covenant€and€to€investigate€prisonersðð€complaints.€€The€prisonÐ ¼  Ðrenovation€programme€that€has€been€announced€should€go€ahead€as€soonas€possible.Ð ¨ø ÐÌ(15)€€The€Committee€is€concerned€to€learn€that€prisons€are€guarded€by€the€police€and€the€armyÐ €Ð Ðbecause€there€is€no€prison€guard€service,€although€training€courses€to€that€end€have€started.Ð l¼ ÐÌTo€comply€with€article€10€of€the€Covenant,€the€State€party€needs€to€establish€as€soon€as€possible€aÐ D!” Ðspecialized€prison€guard€service€independent€of€the€police€investigation€services€and€the€armedÐ 0"€  Ðforces€that€meets€the€United€Nations€standard€minimum€rules€on€the€treatment€of€prisoners€and€isÐ #l! Ðgiven€instruction€in€human€rights.Ð $X" ÐÌ(16)€€The€Committee€is€gravely€concerned€at€the€continuing€reports€of€mass€expulsions€of€ethnicÐ à%0!$ ÐHaitians,€even€when€such€persons€are€nationals€of€the€Dominican€Republic.€€It€holds€mass€expulsionsÐ Ì&"% Ðof€non-nationals€to€be€in€breach€of€the€Covenant€since€no€account€is€taken€of€the€situation€ofÐ ¸'#& Ðindividuals€for€whom€the€Dominican€Republic€is€their€own€country€in€the€light€of€article€12,Ð ¤(ô#' Ðparagraph€4,€nor€of€cases€where€expulsion€may€be€contrary€to€article€7€given€the€risk€of€subsequentÐ )à$( Ðcruel,€inhuman€or€degrading€treatment,€nor€yet€of€cases€where€the€legality€of€an€individualððs€presenceÐ |*Ì%) Ðin€the€country€is€in€dispute€and€must€be€settled€in€proceedings€that€satisfy€the€requirements€of€articleÐ h+¸&* Ð13.Ð T,¤'+ ÐÔ_ÔÐ @-(, ÐThe€State€party€should€guarantee€the€right€of€every€Dominican€national€not€to€be€expelled€from€theÐ ° Ðcountry€and€ensure€that€all€persons€facing€deportation€proceedings€are€covered€by€the€safeguardsÐ œì Ðestablished€in€the€Covenant.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ(17)€€The€Committee€expresses€its€concern€over€the€failure€to€protect€Haitians€living€or€working€inÐ `° Ðthe€Dominican€Republic€from€serious€human€rights€abuses€such€as€forced€labour€andcruel,€inhumanÐ L œ Ðor€degrading€treatment.€€It€also€expresses€concern€over€the€living€and€working€conditions€of€HaitianÐ 8 ˆ Ðworkers€and€the€tolerated€practices€that€restrict€their€freedom€of€movement.Ð $ t ÐÌThe€State€party€should€give€priority€to€addressing€the€issue€of€the€working€and€living€conditions€ofÐ ü L  ÐHaitian€workers,€and€ensure€that€those€workers€can€take€advantage€of€the€rights€and€safeguards€laidÐ è 8  Ðdown€in€articles€8,€17€and€22€of€the€Covenant.Ð Ô$  ÐÌ(18)€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€abuse€of€the€legal€notion€of€ð ðtransient€aliensðð.€€AccordingÐ ¬ü  Ðto€information€in€its€possession,€such€persons€may€be€born€in€the€Dominican€Republic€to€parentsÐ ˜è  Ðwho€were€also€born€there€but€are€still€not€considered€to€be€nationals€of€the€DominicanRepublic.Ð „Ô  ÐÌThe€State€party€should€regulate€the€situation€of€everyone€living€in€the€country€and€grant€the€rightsÐ \¬ Ðrecognized€by€article€12€of€the€Covenant.Ð H˜ ÐÌ(19)€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€greater€level€of€participation€of€women€in€political€life€butÐ  p Ðcannot€fail€to€express€its€concern€over€a€number€of€issues€where€the€rights€of€women€are€not€properlyÐ  \ Ðrespected,€especially€their€rights€to€legal€equality,€equal€opportunities€in€the€workplace,€their€stillÐ øH Ðlimited€participation€in€public€and€private€life,€and€levels€of€domestic€violence.€€Since€it€was€notÐ ä4 Ðgiven€sufficient€information,€the€Committee€has€not€been€able€to€make€a€thorough€assessment€of€theÐ Ð  Ðsituation€of€women€in€Dominican€society€but€it€acknowledges€that€the€establishment€and€work€ofÐ ¼  Ðthe€Department€for€the€Advancement€of€Women€is€a€positive€development€for€combating€theÐ ¨ø Ðdomestic€violence,€rape€and€sexual€abuse€to€which€many€women€are€subjected.€€It€has€also€beenÐ ”ä Ðunable,€for€want€of€information€to€assess€the€extent€of€trafficking€in€women.Ð €Ð ÐÌThe€State€party€should€provide€such€information€to€the€Committee€as€soon€as€possible€so€that€itsÐ X ¨ Ðcompliance€with€articles€3,€25€and€26€of€the€Covenant€can€be€properly€evaluated€and€should€respectÐ D!” Ðand€guarantee€all€the€rights€of€women.€€To€that€end,€it€should€provide€the€necessary€support€to€theÐ 0"€  ÐDepartment€for€the€Advancement€of€Women€to€enable€it€to€achieve€its€goals.Ð #l! ÐÌ(20)€€The€Committee€expresses€concern€over€the€lack€of€information€on€the€protection€of€the€rightsÐ ô$D # Ðof€ethnic,€religious€and€linguistic€minorities€in€the€Dominican€Republic.€€The€delegationððsÐ à%0!$ Ðexplanation€that€minorities€are€so€integrated€into€the€countryððs€culture€that€they€cannot€be€consideredÐ Ì&"% Ðas€such€is€not€sufficient.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌThe€State€party€should€provide€the€Committee€with€information€on€its€application€of€article€27€of€theÐ )à$( ÐCovenant.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ(21)€€The€Committee€takes€note€of€the€fact€that€the€law€makes€no€provision€for€the€status€ofÐ T,¤'+ Ðconscientious€objector€to€military€service,€which€may€legitimately€be€claimed€under€article€18€of€theÐ @-(, ÐCovenant.Ð ° ÐÌThe€State€party€should€ensure€that€persons€liable€for€military€service€may€claim€the€status€ofÐ ˆØ Ðconscientious€objector€and€perform€alternative€service€without€discrimination.Ð tÄ ÐÌ(22)€€The€Committee€takes€note€of€the€existence€of€a€crime€of€ð ðÔ_ÔdesacatoÔ_Ôðð€(disrespect€of€authority),Ð L œ Ðwhich€it€deems€contrary€to€article€19€of€the€Covenant.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌThe€State€party€should€take€steps€to€abolish€that€crime.Ð  ` ÐÌ(23)€€The€State€party€should€widely€disseminate€the€text€of€its€fourth€periodic€report€and€theseÐ è 8  Ðconcluding€observations.Ð Ô$  ÐÌ(24)€€The€State€party€should,€pursuant€to€rule€70,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Committeeððs€rules€of€procedure,Ð ¬ü  Ðsend€information€within€one€year€on€action€it€has€taken€in€the€light€of€the€CommitteeððsÐ ˜è  Ðrecommendations€on€disappearances€and€extrajudicial€executions€(para.€(8)€above),€torture€and€theÐ „Ô  Ðuse€of€excessive€force€by€the€police€and€security€forces€(para.€(9)),€police€detention€and€detentionÐ pÀ Ðpending€judgement€(paras.€(11),€(12)€and€(13)),€prisons€(paras.€(14)€and(15))€and€the€status€ofÐ \¬ ÐHaitians€(paras.€(16),€(17)€and€(18)).€€The€Committee€hopes€that€information€in€response€to€theÐ H˜ Ðremainder€of€its€recommendations€will€be€incorporated€into€the€fifth€periodic€report€due€forÐ 4„ Ðsubmission€by€1€April€2005.Ð  p ÐÔ#†X­¨XX X­¨è™#ÔÔUK.,US.,šÔ