’WPC³ ‹"2(ļeŗ³č99¹śuo2€qIź =`mUĶ-*%}śīĄžŪš4? lõ5Egē\je’ō“”śˆŸłōȋ߶Yłr¼e­˜Ø Ÿ3Œmųy<ƒłƒĶ7 ēŌÄ }Ź®hu°B„0Ó}ʕ,£‚Ė)ɧÆa½Ųwå·c†Ī°P„Õ˜$ŠG~?`[±……;d² ø¦ wŒUĀTR`&Qä+Ilb”tv'³Ģ+żČ5%Śh-Œę³ZĪ;ō¹•9„Ŗ į[@?KŲ #¢6öQĢ{EĻT>¢W‹ķzI!‰īß³Ä]? ®˜ ßÖÓ(ÕŽSµ©ŗŠńVK”Ö(1ƒ-®mō¶x‘D„^.åµŚ?—€öķC1Ā’9i1Ś“”Rb:Yš2Œ7źXØrŠ2äńŸ”W$[:=cq3—ōz™^;F9z£ é ):Ā(·y†…›ų—•× Žš Ģ®¦xw‚Š8š=9Ā’„KÖj“ó“żąq|ž²&¤«z)4‡€ųŠ`>Ź;!ƜŌK$l†éĘ]µ•“’z¼af¤źŅ“€†nĒųK²:wĒMƍžŠu–%„| ·%Øxŗ³šżŽ #Į¶UNw %Å 0:Ė^ w4)8 m:`QN±˜HP LaserJet 4P,ü,,,,,ü0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,Ō¢‰e, &bœ+¤ŒŸ3|x ’U‹’ĄĄĄ refoulementBustamante depoliticizingŻ ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌÓ  ÓŌ€¼ģ,»XXŌņ ņECUADORŠ ° ŠÓ  ÓĢĢŌ€X£€X»¼ģ,ŌCAT€A/46/46€(1991)Š ģ< ŠĢĢó ó118.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Ecuador€(CAT/C/7/Add.7)€at€its€61ņņstóó€meeting,Š °  Šheld€on€14€November€1990€(CAT/C/SR.61).Š œ ģ ŠĢ119.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party,€who€stressed€that€humanŠ t Ä  Šrights€education,€training€and€information€for€law€enforcement€officials€and€members€of€the€militaryŠ `°  Šwere€being€provided€by€the€Ecuadorian€Government€and€various€national€institutions€to€combatŠ Lœ  Štorture€and€to€ensure€that€human€rights€were€properly€perceived€as€being€essential€to€the€maintenanceŠ 8ˆ  Šof€social€stability.€€He€drew€particular€attention€to€the€establishment€in€his€country,€with€theŠ $t  Šparticipation€of€the€Catholic€Church€and€the€Latin€American€Association€for€Human€Rights,€of€aŠ `  Šhigh„level,€inter„agency€commission€to€monitor€police€procedures€and€investigate€complaints€ofŠ üL Šhuman€rights€violations.€€A€Special€Commission€of€Inquiry,€composed€of€lawmakers€from€allŠ č8 Špolitical€parties€represented€in€Congress€and€which€had€broad€investigatory,€administrative€andŠ Ō$ Šeducational€functions€in€connection€with€complaints€of€human€rights€violations,€had€also€beenŠ Ą Šestablished.Š ¬ü ŠĢ120.€€Members€of€the€Committee€welcomed€the€efforts€being€made€in€Ecuador€to€promote€humanŠ „Ō Šrights€and,€more€specifically,€to€eliminate€the€practice€of€torture.€€However,€they€regretted€that€theŠ pĄ Šreport€provided€insufficient€information€on€the€measures€Ecuador€had€actually€taken€to€give€effectŠ \¬ Što€its€undertakings€under€the€Convention.€€Moreover,€the€report€did€not€comply€with€the€generalŠ H˜ Šguidelines€established€by€the€Committee€for€the€preparation€of€initial€reports€of€States€parties€andŠ 4„ Šdid€not€provide€the€text€of€national€legislative€provisions€relevant€to€the€implementation€of€theŠ  p ŠConvention.Š  \ ŠĢ121.€€With€regard€to€the€general€legal€framework€in€which€the€Convention€was€implemented€inŠ ä4 ŠEcuador,€members€of€the€Committee€observed€that€clear€and€comprehensive€information€wasŠ Š  Šnecessary€on€how€international€instruments€were€incorporated€into€Ecuadorian€law€and€on€whetherŠ ¼!  ŠEcuadorian€legislation€contained€provisions€of€wider€application€than€those€contained€in€theŠ Ø"ų  ŠConvention.€€In€addition,€detailed€information€was€necessary€on€the€structure€of€the€judiciary€inŠ ”#ä! ŠEcuador,€the€procedures€existing€in€the€country€permitting€applications€for€redress,€the€functioningŠ €$Š" Šand€impact€of€the€Tribunal€of€Constitutional€Guarantees,€the€organization€and€scope€of€educationalŠ l%¼ # Šand€information€activities€relating€to€the€fight€against€torture€and€on€the€mandate€and€functioning€ofŠ X&Ø!$ Šthe€Special€Commission€of€Inquiry.€€Members€of€the€Committee€also€wished€to€know€whether€theŠ D'”"% Šprovisions€of€the€Convention€could€be€applied€directly;€whether€remedies€or€rehabilitationŠ 0(€#& Šprogrammes€existed,€and€what€the€actual€situation€was€with€regard€to€the€practical€implementationŠ )l$' Šof€the€Convention€and€in€respect€of€the€difficulties€affecting€the€fulfilment€of€Ecuadorššs€obligationsŠ *X%( Šthereunder.Š ō*D&) ŠĢ122.€€In€that€connection,€members€of€the€Committee€noted€that€they€had€received€information€onŠ Ģ,(+ Šallegations€of€torture€in€Ecuador€from€various€non„Ō_ŌgovermentalŌ_Ō€organizations€and€requested€detailedŠ ø-), ŠŌ_Ōinformation€especially€on€events€that€had€occurred€in€January€and€March€1990,€in€connection€withŠ ° Šwhich€a€prison€governor€had€publicly€denounced€the€Criminal€Investigation€Department€for€torturingŠ œģ Šprisoners.€€They€also€asked€what€remedial€action€had€been€taken€by€the€Ecuadorian€Government€toŠ ˆŲ Šimprove€the€situation.Š tÄ ŠĢ123.€€Referring€to€specific€articles€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€knowŠ L œ Šwhether€the€definition€of€torture€contained€in€article€1€of€the€Convention€was€fully€covered€inŠ 8 ˆ ŠEcuadorian€law€and€whether€acts€of€torture€were€identified€and€dealt€with€in€Ecuadorššs€Penal€CodeŠ $ t Šand€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure,€as€required€by€article€4€of€the€Convention.Š  ` ŠĢ124.€€In€connection€with€article€2€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€stated€that€theŠ č 8  Šadoption€by€States€parties€of€measures€to€prevent€acts€of€torture€were€extremely€important.€Š Ō$  ŠQuestions€relating€to€authority€to€arrest,€the€duration€of€pre„trial€detention,€the€rules€governingŠ Ą  Šincommunicado€detention,€the€guarantee€of€medical€examinations€and,€in€general,€issues€of€aŠ ¬ü  Špractical,€procedural€and€functional€nature€should€therefore€have€been€reported€on€in€far€greaterŠ ˜č  Šdetail.€€The€relationship€in€such€matters€between€the€authority€of€police€officers€and€that€ofŠ „Ō  Šmagistrates€or€judges€also€needed€to€be€clarified.Š pĄ ŠĢ125.€€Clarification€was€also€requested€as€to€whether€the€Aliens€Act€and€the€Regulations€on€AliensŠ H˜ Šsatisfied€the€requirements€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€and€whether€the€provisions€of€title€I,€articleŠ 4„ Š5,€of€the€Ecuadorian€Penal€Code€and€article€3€of€the€Ecuadorian€Code€of€Criminal€ProcedureŠ  p Šsatisfied€the€requirements€of€article€5€of€the€Convention.Š  \ ŠĢ126.€€In€addition,€members€of€the€Committee€observed€that€more€detailed€information€with€regardŠ ä4 Što€articles€6€to€15€of€the€Convention€was€necessary€to€understand€how€their€provisions€were€actuallyŠ Š  Šimplemented.€€They€stressed€the€need€to€receive,€in€particular,€factual€information€on€importantŠ ¼  Šissues€such€as€specific€cases€of€torture;€their€frequency;€the€kind€of€officials€involved;€the€numberŠ Øų Šof€complaints€made,€investigations€undertaken€and€sentences€handed€down,€with€examples;€casesŠ ”ä Šin€which€compensation€had€been€paid€and€the€amount€thereof;€as€well€as€information€on€theŠ €Š Šimplementation€of€the€principles€of€non„refoulement€and€universal€jurisdiction.Š l¼ ŠĢņņConcluding€ObservationsóóŠ D!” ŠĢ127.€€In€conclusion,€and€in€view€of€the€large€number€of€questions€raised,€the€Committee,€pursuantŠ #l! Što€rule€67,€paragraph€2,€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€requested€the€Government€of€Ecuador€to€submitŠ $X" Što€the€Committee€an€additional€report€containing€the€information€requested€in€accordance€with€theŠ ō$D # Šrequirements€of€the€Convention€and€the€Committeeššs€general€guidelines.€€It€also€invited€theŠ ą%0!$ ŠGovernment€of€Ecuador€to€submit€its€additional€report€by€the€end€of€February€1991€in€time€for€it€toŠ Ģ&"% Šbe€considered€at€the€sixth€session€of€the€Committee€in€April€1991.Š ø'#& ŠĢ128.€€The€representative€of€Ecuador€finally€stated€that€he€had€taken€note€of€the€comments€made€byŠ )ą$( Šthe€Committee€on€his€countryššs€initial€report€and€that€his€Government€would€be€able€to€supply€anŠ |*Ģ%) Šadditional€report€in€accordance€with€the€Committeeššs€guidelines€in€time€for€the€Committeeššs€sixthŠ h+ø&* Šsession.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ  @-(, Šņ ņCAT€A/47/44€Ō_Ō(1992)ó óŌ_ŌŠ ° ŠĢĢ60.€€The€Committee€considered€the€additional€report€of€Ecuador€(CAT/C/7/Add.11€and€13)€at€its€89ņņthóóŠ tÄ Šand€90ņņthóó€meetings,€on€12€November€1991€(CAT/C/SR.89€and€90).Š `° ŠĢ61.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party€who€Ō_ŌfocusedŌ_Ō€on€recent€eventsŠ 8 ˆ Šin€the€country.€€Mention€was€made€in€particular€of€the€establishment€by€decree€on€13€July€1990€ofŠ $ t Šan€international€commission€to€look€into€the€matter€of€the€disappearance€on€8€January€1988€of€theŠ  ` ŠŌ_ŌRestrepoŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌArizmendeŌ_Ō€brothers,€aged€17€and€14.€€The€Commission€had€submitted€a€report€on€2Š ü L  ŠSeptember€1991€to€the€President€of€Ecuador€which€had€concluded,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€that€the€brothers€hadŠ č 8  Šdisappeared€while€in€the€hands€of€members€of€the€National€Police,€that€there€had€been€negligenceŠ Ō$  Šin€police€investigations€and€deliberate€attempts€by€members€of€the€police€to€cover€up€offences€relatedŠ Ą  Što€the€case;€and€that€the€brothers€were€no€longer€alive.€€The€Commission€recommended€that€legalŠ ¬ü  Šproceedings€should€be€instituted€against€persons€suspected€of€having€committed€offences€inŠ ˜č  Šconnection€with€the€case€and€that€the€family€of€the€victims€should€receive€compensation.€€In€addition,Š „Ō  Šit€recommended€that€necessary€measures€should€be€adopted€to€prevent€similar€cases€from€occurringŠ pĄ Šin€future€as€well€as€to€guarantee€an€investigation€of€other€cases€of€disappearance€and€torture€and€thatŠ \¬ Šthe€Ecuadorian€authorities€should€continue€to€cooperate€fully€with€the€competent€United€NationsŠ H˜ Šhuman€rights€bodies.Š 4„ ŠĢ62.€€The€international€commissionššs€report€had€also€shown€that€in€the€Criminal€Investigation€ServiceŠ  \ Š(SIC),€torture,€arbitrary€arrests€and€the€use€of€cruel,€inhuman€and€degrading€treatment€had€beenŠ ųH Šroutine€practices.€€On€2€September€1991,€the€President€had€adopted€a€number€of€measures€whichŠ ä4 Šincluded€the€abolition€of€the€SIC€and€the€allocation€of€important€financial€resources€to€the€JudicialŠ Š  ŠPolice€for€equipment,€recruitment€and€training€purposes.€€Under€Decree€No.€2694,€the€mandate€ofŠ ¼  Šthe€international€commission€had€been€broadened€so€that€it€could€hear€complaints€and€receivedŠ Øų Šinformation€concerning€human€rights€cases.€€Since€September€1991,€the€Commission€had€receivedŠ ”ä Š31€complaints,€of€which€three€related€to€accusations€of€torture.€€The€Government€had€also€establishedŠ €Š Šthe€Office€of€Under„Secretary€for€Justice,€whose€task€was€to€ensure€that€complaints€of€human€rightsŠ l¼ Šabuses€and€constitutional€guarantees€were€taken€into€account.Š X Ø ŠĢ63.€€Additionally,€agreements€had€been€concluded€with€non„governmental€organizations€such€as€theŠ 0"€  ŠEcuadorian€Red€Cross€and€the€Latin€American€Association€for€Human€Rights€providing€forŠ #l! Šmonitoring€the€procedures€followed€in€criminal€investigation€centres€by€groups€of€experts€with€aŠ $X" Šview€to€safeguarding€the€physical€and€mental€condition€of€persons€under€investigation;€provisionsŠ ō$D # Šhad€been€made€to€ensure€that€individuals€had€access€to€an€ombudsman€paid€by€the€State;€and€theŠ ą%0!$ Šinvestigatory€commissioners€from€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior€had€been€replaced€by€justice€of€theŠ Ģ&"% Špeace.Š ø'#& ŠĢ64.€Members€of€the€Committee€welcomed€the€oral€introduction€by€the€representative€of€the€reportingŠ )ą$( ŠState€and€the€additional€report€submitted€by€the€Government€of€Ecuador.€€Clarification€was,Š |*Ģ%) Šhowever,€sought€as€to€whether€the€Supreme€Court€considered€that€the€provisions€of€internationalŠ h+ø&* Štreaties€were€directly€applicable€to€Ecuadorian€domestic€law€and€whether€a€legislative€textŠ T,¤'+ Šestablishing€the€independence€of€the€judiciary€existed€in€Ecuador.€€Members€also€wished€to€knowŠ @-(, Šhow€the€competence€of€the€various€bodies€in€charge€of€investigations€was€defined;€how€habeasŠ ° Šcorpus€worked€in€practice€and€whether€it€applied€to€detentions€ordered€by€a€judge;€whether€legalŠ œģ Špractice€had€established€a€distinction€between€ņņŌ_ŌamparoŌ_Ōóó€and€habeas€corpus;€how€the€future€institutionŠ ˆŲ Šof€ombudsman€would€operate;€and€whether€any€offences€were€still€liable€to€the€death€penalty.€€InŠ tÄ Šaddition,€more€information€was€requested€regarding€the€provision€of€legal€aid,€the€powers€andŠ `° Šworking€methods€of€the€Ad€Hoc€Human€Rights€Committee€of€the€National€Congress€in€verifyingŠ L œ Šreports€of€human€rights€violations,€and€concerning€the€appointment€of€magistrates.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ65.€€Members€of€the€Committee€welcomed€the€disbanding€of€the€SIC€but€wished€to€know€whereŠ  ` Šformer€members€of€the€service€were€currently€employed€and€whether€the€Judicial€Police€replacingŠ ü L  Šthe€SIC€were€under€the€supervision€of€the€courts.€€They€noted€that€the€rationalization€of€torture€wasŠ č 8  Šunacceptable€and€that€the€use€of€extreme€methods€by€public€officials€could€never€be€justified.€Š Ō$  ŠTorture€should€be€prohibited€whatever€the€stage€of€development€of€a€country€and€whatever€the€natureŠ Ą  Šof€the€offence€being€investigated.€€Members€also€requested€details€concerning€the€action€that€wasŠ ¬ü  Šbeing€taken€by€Ecuador€in€respect€of€certain€alleged€instances€of€torture€that€had€been€reported€byŠ ˜č  Šnon„governmental€organizations€or€which€were€being€considered€by€the€Special€Rapporteur€of€theŠ „Ō  ŠCommission€on€Human€Rights€on€questions€relating€to€torture.Š pĄ ŠĢ66.€€With€regard€to€specific€articles€of€the€Covenant,€members€of€the€Committee€asked€whether,€inŠ H˜ Šthe€absence€of€an€explicit€legislative€definition€of€torture€and€bearing€in€mind€the€requirement€inŠ 4„ Šarticle€4€of€the€Convention€that€acts€of€torture€had€to€be€specific€offences€under€criminal€law€if€theyŠ  p Šwere€to€be€punishable,€the€provisions€of€the€Penal€Code€covered€all€the€situations€of€torture€referredŠ  \ Što€in€article€1€of€the€Convention.€Š ųH ŠĢ67.€€With€regard€to€article€2€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€pointed€to€theŠ Š  Šincompatibility€of€article€214€of€the€Penal€Code,€concerning€the€exemption€from€criminal€liabilityŠ ¼  Šof€a€subordinate€for€illegal€acts€under€certain€circumstances,€with€article€2,€paragraph€3,€of€theŠ Øų ŠConvention.€Noting€that€the€Supreme€Court€had€issued€an€opinion€in€favour€of€amending€article€214,Š ”ä Šthey€wished€to€know€what€steps€were€being€taken€by€the€Government€or€the€National€Congress€toŠ €Š Šdo€so.Š l¼ ŠĢ68.€€In€relation€to€article€3€of€the€Convention,€members€wished€to€know€how€that€article€was€givenŠ D!” Šeffect€in€Ecuadorian€legislation€and€whether€there€had€been€any€actual€cases€in€which€ņņrefoulementóó,Š 0"€  Šexpulsion€or€extradition€had€been€refused€on€the€grounds€that€the€person€concerned€was€in€dangerŠ #l! Šof€being€subjected€to€torture€in€his€own€country.€Š $X" ŠĢ69.€€With€regard€to€article€4,€information€was€sought€as€to€the€number€of€cases€of€persons€convictedŠ ą%0!$ Šof€torture,€the€penalties€they€had€been€given,€whether€any€members€of€the€SIC€had€been€prosecutedŠ Ģ&"% Šor€were€currently€facing€charges,€and€whether€it€was€necessary€to€try€members€of€the€police€and€theŠ ø'#& Šarmed€forces€by€special€courts€also€in€the€case€of€offences€of€torture.€Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢ70.€€Concerning€article€5€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€sought€further€clarificationŠ |*Ģ%) Šas€to€the€application€of€its€provisions,€including€details€of€any€offences€committed€abroad€where€bothŠ h+ø&* Šthe€perpetrator€and€the€victim€had€been€foreigners.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, Š71.€€With€regard€to€article€6€of€the€Convention,€it€was€stated€that€from€the€information€provided€itŠ ° Šappeared€that€the€legislation€of€Ecuador€did€not€fully€comply€with€the€articleššs€requirements.Š œģ ŠĢ72.€€Concerning€article€9€of€the€Convention,€it€was€noted€that€Contracting€States€to€the€BustamanteŠ tÄ ŠCode€of€Private€International€Law€had€an€option€to€agree€or€accept€certain€forms€of€communicationŠ `° Šof€criminal€matters€whereas,€under€the€Convention,€States€parties€were€obliged€to€assist€one€anotherŠ L œ Šin€connection€with€criminal€proceedings.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ73.€€With€respect€to€article€10€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€noted€that€the€variousŠ  ` Šeducational€measures€regarding€the€prohibition€against€torture€did€not€seem€to€apply€to€medicalŠ ü L  Špersonnel€and€suggested€that€the€number€of€training€and€education€programmes€should€be€increased.€Š č 8  ŠThey€recalled,€in€this€regard,€that€assistance€could€be€sought€from€the€Centre€for€Human€Rights€forŠ Ō$  Šthat€purpose.Š Ą  ŠĢ74.€€In€connection€with€article€11,€further€details€were€requested€as€to€the€rules€governingŠ ˜č  Šinterrogations,€in€particular€those€relating€to€access€of€the€arrested€person€to€a€physician€and€aŠ „Ō  Šlawyer,€and€detention€in€solitary€confinement.€It€was€also€asked€how€the€right€of€a€person€heldŠ pĄ Šincommunicado€to€communicate€with€his€lawyer,€provided€for€in€article€130,€paragraph€2,€of€theŠ \¬ ŠPenal€Code,€was€applied€in€practice;€whether€the€period€of€pre„trial€detention,€which€was€limited€toŠ H˜ Š24€hours,€was€counted€from€the€time€of€the€detaineeššs€arrest;€whether€the€detainee€was€entitled€toŠ 4„ Šremain€silent€until€he€had€seen€a€lawyer;€and€whether€there€was€any€provision€for€regular€visits€toŠ  p Špersons€held€in€custody€by€independent€magistrates.€In€addition,€information€was€requestedŠ  \ Šconcerning€the€resignation€of€certain€prison€officials€in€January€1990.Š ųH ŠĢ75.€€With€reference€to€article€13€of€the€Convention,€it€was€asked€whether€persons€who€lodgedŠ Š  Šaccusations€of€torture€with€a€court€or€submitted€a€complaint€to€the€Court€of€ConstitutionalŠ ¼  ŠGuarantees€or€to€the€special€commissions€of€the€Congress€were€provided€with€any€form€of€protectionŠ Øų Šby€the€Government.Š ”ä ŠĢ76.€€Regarding€article€14€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€requested€details€of€theŠ l¼ Šprovisions€made€by€the€reporting€State€for€the€complete€rehabilitation€of€the€victims€of€torture€andŠ X Ø Šwhether€there€had€been€any€actual€cases€where€compensation€had€been€awarded€to€victims€of€torture.Š D!” ŠIt€was€asked,€in€particular,€whether€compensation€was€paid€directly€by€the€State€or€whether€victimsŠ 0"€  Šhad€to€file€a€claim€against€their€torturers.Š #l! ŠĢ77.€€Concerning€article€15€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€receive€moreŠ ō$D # Šinformation€on€penal€provisions€which€established€that€any€statement€extracted€through€the€use€ofŠ ą%0!$ Štorture€would€be€void€and€disregarded€in€a€court€of€law€in€cases€of€any€kind,€including€casesŠ Ģ&"% Šinvolving€drugs.Š ø'#& ŠĢ78.€€With€regard€to€article€16€of€the€Convention,€further€information€was€sought€as€to€the€conditionsŠ )ą$( Šof€detention€in€Ecuador€and€concerning€relevant€rules€for€the€prohibition€of€acts€of€cruel,€inhumanŠ |*Ģ%) Šor€degrading€treatment€of€punishment.€Š h+ø&* ŠĢ79.€€In€reply€to€the€various€questions€raised€by€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€theŠ @-(, ŠState€party€said€that€the€Constitution€of€Ecuador€took€precedence€over€all€other€instruments€ofŠ ° Šdomestic€or€international€law€and€that€the€international€instruments€had€to€be€approved€by€theŠ œģ ŠNational€Congress€to€have€the€force€of€law.€Police€commissioners€and€officers€could€instituteŠ ˆŲ Šproceedings€to€establish€that€an€offence€had€been€committed,€charge€the€alleged€offender€and€orderŠ tÄ Špre„trial€detention,€but€only€the€examining€magistrate€was€authorized€to€take€a€decision€on€whetherŠ `° Šan€offence€had€been€committed.€The€legal€reform€at€present€under€consideration€was€designed€toŠ L œ Šensure€that€any€criminal€proceedings€were€brought€before€the€competent€courts€from€the€time€anŠ 8 ˆ Šinquiry€had€started€until€a€ruling€had€been€handed€down.€Until€September€1991,€the€National€PoliceŠ $ t Šhad€the€power€to€institute€proceedings.€In€the€future€this€power€would€be€the€responsibility€of€theŠ  ` ŠJudicial€Police€under€the€supervision€of€the€judicial€authorities.€For€the€present,€however,€aŠ ü L  Štransitional€provision€had€made€the€National€Police€Command€responsible€for€organizing€suchŠ č 8  Šproceedings.Š Ō$  ŠĢ80.€€Judges€of€the€Supreme€Court€were€appointed€by€the€National€Congress€while€judges€of€lowerŠ ¬ü  Šcourts€were€appointed€by€bodies€at€a€higher€level€in€the€judicial€hierarchy.€A€debate€was€currentlyŠ ˜č  Šin€progress€on€depoliticizing€the€higher€ranks€of€the€judiciary.€Former€members€of€the€SIC€had€forŠ „Ō  Šthe€most€part€been€reassigned€to€other€departments€of€the€police€force€not€concerning€withŠ pĄ Šinvestigations.Š \¬ ŠĢ81.€€Municipal€authorities€took€decisions€on€the€constitutional€aspects€of€habeas€corpus€when€powerŠ 4„ Što€order€a€detaineeššs€release€could€not€be€entrusted€to€other€authorities,€perhaps€owing€toŠ  p Šcommunication€difficulties€in€Ecuador.€€Mayors€and€chairmen€of€municipal€councils€were€not,Š  \ Šhowever,€authorized€to€take€any€decision€on€the€lawfulness€of€a€warrant€for€arrest.€€Any€official€whoŠ ųH Šrefused€to€obey€an€order€from€such€municipal€authorities€for€the€release€of€a€detainee€would€be€liableŠ ä4 Što€instant€dismissal.€€ņņŌ_ŌAmparoŌ_Ōóó€was€a€remedy€for€which€application€was€made€to€the€judicial€authorityŠ Š  Šimmediately€above€the€court€which€had€ordered€imprisonment.Š ¼  ŠĢ82.€€The€Constitution€made€contempt€an€offence€and€it€would€be€necessary€to€bring€the€Penal€CodeŠ ”ä Šinto€line€with€it.€€Officials€were€obliged€to€abide€by€the€decisions€of€the€Court€of€ConstitutionalŠ €Š ŠGuarantees€and€the€Court€could€dismiss€or€deprive€of€his€civil€rights€any€official€who€failed€to€doŠ l¼ Šso.Š X Ø ŠĢ83.€€With€regard€to€the€jurisdiction€of€various€courts,€particularly€military€and€police€courts,€theŠ 0"€  Šrepresentative€indicated€that€the€matter€had€assumed€greater€importance€with€the€trial€of€the€personsŠ #l! Šinvolved€in€the€Ō_ŌRestrepoŌ_Ō€brothers€case€which,€according€to€the€court,€came€within€the€jurisdictionŠ $X" Šof€the€Supreme€Court€and€the€ordinary€law€system.€€A€draft€code€of€penal€procedure€was€underŠ ō$D # Špreparation€and€it€would€define€more€clearly€the€offences€that€came€under€the€ordinary€law€systemŠ ą%0!$ Šand€those€that€were€subject€to€the€jurisdiction€of€the€police€court.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ84.€€With€regard€to€article€1€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€stated€that€while€domesticŠ ¤(ō#' Šlegislation€did€not€always€use€the€same€vocabulary€as€the€Convention,€it€was€broad€enough€to€enableŠ )ą$( Šjudges€to€apply€the€latterššs€provisions.€Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢ85.€€Referring€to€article€2€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€pointed€out€that€there€were€certainŠ T,¤'+ Šcircumstances,€such€as€self„defence,€which€might€justify€human€rights€violations.€€The€declarationŠ @-(, Šof€the€Supreme€Court€of€Justice€in€favour€of€amending€article€214€of€the€Penal€Code€was€intendedŠ ° Šprecisely€to€bring€domestic€provisions€in€line€with€those€of€the€Convention.Š œģ ŠĢ86.€€With€regard€to€article€3€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€informed€the€Committee€that€aŠ tÄ Šdecision€to€extradite€could€only€be€taken€by€the€Supreme€Court.€€Decisions€on€expulsion€were€madeŠ `° Šby€the€Secretary„General€of€the€police€of€the€province€concerned,€who€was€not€a€police€official€butŠ L œ Ša€magistrate.€€His€decision€was€final€except€where€expulsion€was€provisional.€€Expulsion€could€notŠ 8 ˆ Šbe€ordered€to€a€country€where€the€expelled€person€might€be€submitted€to€torture.Š $ t ŠĢ87.€€In€connection€with€article€4€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€referred€to€questions€relatingŠ ü L  Što€penalties€imposed€for€specific€cases€of€torture€and€pointed€out€that€one€of€the€failings€of€theŠ č 8  ŠEcuadorian€judicial€system€was€the€slowness€of€proceedings.€€A€large€percentage€of€detainees€hadŠ Ō$  Što€wait€months€if€not€years€before€appearing€before€a€court€and€it€was€not€unusual€for€the€periodŠ Ą  Šspent€in€pre„trial€detention€to€be€longer€than€the€actual€prison€sentence.€€Efforts€had€been€made€toŠ ¬ü  Šremedy€that€situation,€including€a€project,€undertaken€in€cooperation€with€the€United€Nations€LatinŠ ˜č  ŠAmerican€Institute€for€the€Prevention€of€Crime€and€the€Treatment€of€Delinquency,€to€improve€theŠ „Ō  Šadministration€of€justice€by€the€Supreme€Court.Š pĄ ŠĢ88.€€Referring€to€article€5€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€stated€that€Ecuadorian€law€could€alsoŠ H˜ Šapply€to€Ecuadorian€nationals€or€aliens€who€committed€acts€of€torture€abroad€but€who€had€beenŠ 4„ Šarrested€in€Ecuador.Š  p ŠĢ89.€€Concerning€article€11€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€explained€that€the€contradictionsŠ ųH Šregarding€the€duration€of€incommunicado€detention€in€domestic€law€had€been€partly€resolved€by€aŠ ä4 Šjudgement€of€the€Court€of€Constitutional€Guarantees€holding€that€the€provisions€of€the€ConstitutionŠ Š  Šmust€take€precedence€and€that€such€detention€must€not€last€longer€than€24€hours.€€A€person€heldŠ ¼  Šincommunicado€could€have€contact€with€his€lawyer,€as€the€right€of€defence€was€guaranteed€by€theŠ Øų ŠConstitution,€but€no€machinery€to€facilitate€such€contacts€had€been€expressly€provided€for€by€law.€Š ”ä ŠPractical€measures€existed€to€assist€detainees€in€their€social€rehabilitation€even€though€specializedŠ €Š Špersonnel€was€insufficient€in€that€respect.€€Prison€officials€who€resigned€in€1990€had€done€so€becauseŠ l¼ Šthey€were€dissatisfied€with€Ecuadorššs€penal€system.€€Their€reports€had€been€made€known€to€theŠ X Ø Špublic€through€the€press€and€had€led€to€reform€efforts,€especially€concerning€the€social€rehabilitationŠ D!” Šcentres.Š 0"€  ŠĢ90.€€Referring€to€article€14€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€explained€that€although€the€StateŠ $X" Šwas€required,€under€the€Constitution,€to€compensate€individuals€for€any€damage€suffered€as€a€resultŠ ō$D # Šof€the€operation€of€public€services€or€acts€performed€by€public€officials,€as€yet€there€was€no€lawŠ ą%0!$ Šguaranteeing€either€moral€and€financial€reparation€or€medical€rehabilitation€for€victims€of€torture.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢņņConcluding€observationsóóŠ ¤(ō#' ŠĢ91.€€In€concluding€the€consideration€of€the€report,€the€Committee€took€note€with€satisfaction€of€theŠ |*Ģ%) Šefforts€the€Government€of€Ecuador€was€making€to€improve€the€judicial€system€and€to€provideŠ h+ø&* Štraining€for€law€enforcement€and€medical€personnel€in€order€to€combat€torture.€€However,€theŠ T,¤'+ ŠCommittee€stated€that€there€were€certain€areas€in€which€further€efforts€were€needed,€particularly€toŠ @-(, Šensure€that€measures€involving€deprivation€of€liberty€were€taken€by€judges€and€not€by€administrativeŠ ° Šofficials.€€In€this€regard€it€was€noted€that€š šexamining€magistratesšš€had€no€judicial€function€and€wereŠ œģ Šin€fact€officials€of€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior.€€Additionally,€it€would€be€necessary€to€adapt€andŠ ˆŲ Šmodify€a€number€of€provisions€of€domestic€law;€to€eliminate€the€disparity€between€article€141€of€theŠ tÄ ŠConstitution,€which€laid€down€the€powers€of€the€Court€of€Constitutional€Guarantees,€and€EcuadorššsŠ `° Špenal€legislation;€and€to€reform€the€special€legal€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō.Š L œ ŠĢ92.€€The€Committee€was€also€of€the€view€that€article€25€of€the€Penal€Code€did€not€sufficiently€ensureŠ $ t Šconformity€with€article€4€of€the€Convention;€that€the€Penal€Code€should€be€brought€into€line€withŠ  ` Šarticle€2,€paragraph€3,€and€article€3€of€the€Convention;€and€that€the€law€should€be€further€developedŠ ü L  Šnot€only€regarding€compensation€but€also€in€respect€of€providing€full€rehabilitation€for€victims€ofŠ č 8  Štorture.Š Ō$  ŠŠ  Ą  Šņ ņCAT€A/49/44€Ō_Ō(1994)ó óŌ_ŌŠ ° ŠĢĢŌUSUK.,Ō97.€€The€Committee€against€Torture€considered€the€periodic€report€of€Ecuador€(CAT/C/20/Add.1)Š tÄ Šat€its€164ņņthóó€and€165ņņthóó€meetings,€held€on€15€November€1993€(see€CAT/C/SR.164€and€165),€andŠ `° Šadopted€the€following€conclusions€and€recommendations:Š L œ ŠĢA.€ņņIntroductionóóŠ $ t ŠĢ98.€€The€Committee€thanks€the€State€party€for€its€report€and€its€sincere€cooperation€in€theŠ ü L  Šconstructive€dialogue€with€the€Committee.€It€takes€note€of€the€information€submitted€in€the€reportŠ č 8  Šand€in€the€oral€presentation€by€the€delegation€of€Ecuador.Š Ō$  ŠĢ99.€€Ecuador€has€fulfilled€its€obligation€to€submit€a€periodic€report€under€article€19€of€theŠ ¬ü  ŠConvention.€Its€next€report€is€due€on€28€April€1997.Š ˜č  ŠĢB.€ņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ pĄ ŠĢ100.€€The€Committee€appreciates€the€firm€commitment€of€the€Government€of€Ecuador€to€theŠ H˜ Špromotion€and€protection€of€human€rights€and€in€particular€its€efforts€to€eradicate€all€forms€of€torture.Š 4„ ŠĢ101.€€It€also€appreciates€the€efforts€made€by€Ecuador€to€modernize€its€legislation€(Constitution,€PenalŠ  \ ŠCode,€Code€of€Penal€Procedure,€and€Act€on€the€Attorney-General's€Office)€and€to€establish€a€JudicialŠ ųH ŠPolice,€which€will€be€the€only€public€body€responsible€to€criminal€investigation,€under€the€directŠ ä4 Šsupervision€of€independent€magistrates.Š Š  ŠĢC.€ņņSubjects€of€concernóóŠ Øų ŠĢ102.€€The€Committee€is€nevertheless€concerned€by€the€many€allegations€received€from€variousŠ €Š Šnon-governmental€organizations€regarding€torture,€which€is€reportedly€Ō_ŌpractisedŌ_Ō€in€a€number€ofŠ l¼ Šplaces€of€detention€and€prisons,€particularly€in€the€premises€of€the€Crime€Investigation€Office.Š X Ø ŠĢ103.€€The€Committee€is€also€by€the€fact€that€no€action€has€been€taken€on€several€of€theŠ 0"€  Šrecommendations€it€made€to€Ecuador€in€1991,€in€particular€those€aimed€at€bringing€all€custodialŠ #l! Šmeasures€(arrest€warrants,€habeas€corpus)€under€the€direct€responsibility€of€independent€membersŠ $X" Šof€the€judiciary.€In€general,€the€Committee€is€concerned€by€the€limitations€that€appear€to€be€placedŠ ō$D # Šon€the€powers€of€the€courts€in€Ecuador€and€by€the€existence€of€officials€referred€to€as€"judges"€whoŠ ą%0!$ Šare€empowered€to€try€cases€without€belonging€to€the€judiciary€and€who€consequently€do€not€provideŠ Ģ&"% Šsafeguards€of€independence.Š ø'#& ŠĢĢD.€ņņRecommendationsóóŠ |*Ģ%) ŠĢ104.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€Ecuador€should€take€fundamental€and€urgent€steps€for€theŠ T,¤'+ Šcomplete€eradication€of€torture€and€other€similar€treatment.€To€that€end,€the€Government€shouldŠ @-(, ŠŌ_Ōensure€that€all€forms€of€torture€as€defined€in€article€1€of€the€Convention€are€offences€under€criminalŠ ° Šlaw.Š œģ ŠĢ105.€€The€Committee€also€encourages€Ecuador€to€implement,€within€a€reasonable€period€theŠ tÄ Šlegislative€reforms€undertaken€to€place€the€criminal€justice€system€(from€the€investigation€of€offencesŠ `° Što€the€serving€of€sentences)€under€the€direct€supervision€of€independent€members€of€the€judiciary€andŠ L œ Šensure€that€they€can€quickly€investigate€reported€or€suspected€cases€of€torture€or€ill-treatment.ŌUK.,US.,ÜvŌŠ 8 ˆ ŠĢ