Follow-up report v. Argentina,Denmark,Mexico,Morocco,Switzerland

The present report is a compilation of information received from States parties and complainants that has been processed since the sixty-sixth session of the Committee against Torture (23 April–17 May 2019), in the framework of its follow-up procedure on decisions relating to communications submitted under article 22 of the Convention.²

2. The preceding follow-up report on decisions relating to communications submitted under article 22 of the Convention was adopted by the Committee at its sixty-sixth session (CAT/C/66/3), on 16 May 2019, as amended. ↩

In line with the decision taken by the Committee at the sixty-sixth session to keep the follow-up dialogue ongoing, given the absence of meaningful progress in the implementation of the above decision, the Chair requested a meeting with a representative of the Permanent Mission of Morocco to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva. The meeting was to be held from 2 to 3 p.m. on 6 August 2019, for the purposes of discussing further measures that could be taken by the State party’s authorities to implement the Committee’s decision.

The follow-up observations and comments have demonstrated a lack of implementation. The Committee therefore decided to keep the follow-up dialogue ongoing, and to consider further steps in the light of the State party’s observations. In addition, in line with an earlier decision, the Committee will publish the lack of implementation of the above decision in its annual report.

On 15 July 2019, the State party submitted the following information. In relation to the investigation of torture, it reports that the Office of the Attorney General in 2015 resumed the investigation into the circumstances of the arrest of Ramiro López Vázquez, Ramiro Ramírez Martínez, Rodrigo Ramírez Martínez and Orlando Santaolaya Villarreal by military personnel.

On 12 April 2019, the amparo proceedings initiated by the victims against allegedly harmful acts of the Prosecutor’s Office specializing in crimes of torture and the experts of the General Coordination of Expert Service were dismissed.

The pending investigation initiated by the General Directorate of Crimes Committed by Public Servants deals with the crimes stipulated by the federal law to prevent and punish torture. The Office of the Attorney General is working to determine the responsibility of those who participated in the alleged criminal acts, respecting at all times the rights of the victims. Moreover, a ministerial inspection was carried out, involving experts in forensic photography, at the facilities of the twenty-eighth Infantry Battalion of the Mexican Army, where the victims were probably detained. Likewise, actions were taken regarding the preventive custody (arraigo) and sentence related to case No. 27/2015-III by the Second District Court of Criminal Proceedings in the State of Nayarit. In addition, a voice recognition examination was conducted for Ramiro Ramírez Martínez and Orlando Santaolaya Villarreal. The Attorney General of Military Justice of the Ministry of National Defence has carried out pertinent actions for the full identification of those responsible.

Regarding the Committee’s request for rehabilitation, the four victims have been registered in the National Registry of Victims. They have the right to receive measures of assistance, protection, care and integral reparation provided by the Executive Commission for Victims, in accordance with the Law on Assistance to Victims. Moreover, the Mexican Commission for the Defence and Promotion of Human Rights, representing the victims, submitted a proposal for reparation of the victims, which is pending before the Interdisciplinary Evaluation Committee of the Executive Commission for Victims.

Furthermore, Rodrigo Ramírez Martínez and Ramiro López Vázquez have received psychological assistance; however, it was suspended owing to their absence. The assistance can be resumed at any time. Mr. López Vázquez has received various types of medical assistance at the Integral Care Centre in the State of Baja California. Orlando Santaolaya Villarreal requested a health assessment from the Social Readaptation Centre “El Hongo II”, which confirmed that he did not require urgent attention, but it could be provided upon request.

In addition, the State party emphasizes that the Executive Commission for Victims has provided legal advice to the victims and their relatives. Regarding the alleged harassment and criminalization of the victims, the State party admits that no investigation has been initiated. However, the victims may submit a complaint to the Ministry of Justice, if necessary. The State party has also maintained regular contact with the representatives of the victims and to date, two meetings have been organized with the Executive Commission. Finally, the State party reaffirms that it will take further measures to fully implement the Committee’s recommendations in the above decision, and will provide further updates.

On 6 August 2019, the State party’s observations were transmitted to the complainants’ counsels for comments, which are to be provided by 6 October 2019.

The follow-up observations and comments have demonstrated partial implementation. The Committee decided to keep the follow-up dialogue ongoing and to consider further steps in the light of the responses provided by of the complainants’ counsels.

In line with the decision taken by the Committee at its sixty-sixth session to keep the follow-up dialogue ongoing, given the absence of meaningful progress in the implementation of the above decision, the Chair requested a meeting with a representative of the Permanent Mission of Morocco to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva. The meeting was to be held from 2 to 3 p.m. on 6 August 2019, for the purposes of discussing further measures that could be taken by the State party’s authorities to implement the Committee’s decision. The Chair of the Committee also requested the State party to refrain from reprisals against Mr. Asfari, while noting positive developments in the form of visits to Mr. Asfari by his wife. The Chair also invited the State party to provide further follow-up observations on the implementation of the remedy.

The follow-up observations and comments have demonstrated a lack of implementation. The Committee decided to keep the follow-up dialogue ongoing, and to consider further steps in the light of the State party’s observations. In addition, in line with an earlier decision, the Committee is to publish the lack of implementation of the above decision in its annual report.

On 16 May 2019, the counsel apologized for the lack of a reply to the Secretariat’s requests for follow-up comments, indicating that she had no further comments to make. The counsel, however, admitted that her clients had left Denmark, and that she was unaware of their current whereabouts.

The follow-up observations and comments demonstrated a lack of implementation. The Committee decided to close the follow-up dialogue, despite an unsatisfactory resolution, as the State party had decided not to implement the decision, having deported the complainants.

On 25 June 2019, the State party submitted that the State Secretariat for Migration had recognized the complainant as a refugee on 20 June 2019, which entitled him to reside in Switzerland and to seek employment.

On 5 August 2019, the State party’s follow-up observations were transmitted to the counsel for comments, which are to be provided by 5 October 2019.

Since the counsel’s response to the State party’s observations was pending, the Committee decided to keep the follow-up dialogue ongoing, and to consider further steps in the light of the counsel’s comments. The follow-up observations and comments have demonstrated full implementation.

On 18 June 2019, the State party submitted the following information. It reports that the State Secretariat for Migration scheduled an oral hearing of the complainant for 10 July 2019. As indicated on 27 February 2019, the complainant does not run a risk to be removed since the complainant’s asylum procedure has been reopened. Moreover, the decision of the State Secretariat for Migration can be appealed to the Federal Administrative Tribunal, with a suspensive effect. The State party therefore considers that it has implemented the Committee’s decision in the above case.

On 5 August 2019, the State party’s follow-up observations were transmitted to the counsel for comments, which are to be provided by 5 October 2019.

The follow-up observations and comments have demonstrated partial implementation. The Committee decided to keep the follow-up dialogue ongoing, and to consider further steps in the light of the counsel’s comments and the outcomes of the national asylum procedure.

On 27 July 2019, the complainants’ counsel submitted the following information. It reports that the relatives of the victim have suffered harassment by the State party. They were visited at their homes by the police and summoned to testify in the court in Santa Fe, which is 400 km away. The counsel was not informed of the summons. At the same time, the prosecutor made no progress in the investigation, adding to the anguish caused by so many years of impunity. In that regard, the counsel suggested that if testimony was required, the prosecutor could travel herself to Córdoba to take the declaration. Alternatively, a statement could be taken by means of judicial assistance, or tickets for public transportation and funds for accommodation could be provided to the complainants as a last resort. Those proposals were made because neither of the two sisters could afford the cost of the journey on her own, and any contribution they could make to the investigation would be minimal. The counsel finally decided that the victim’s relatives should not travel and that their witness statements could be presented in Córdoba. He reiterated that the State party had failed to comply with any of the recommendations made: the investigation was not progressing, the decision had not been made public and the victim’s relatives had not been compensated.

On 6 August 2019, the counsel’s comments were transmitted to the State party for observations, which are to be provided by 6 October 2019, with a view to the State party implementing the Committee’s decision.

The follow-up comments demonstrated a lack of implementation. The Committee decided to keep the follow-up dialogue ongoing, and to consider further steps in the light of the State party’s observations.

Further to the information dated 15 March 2019, the State party submitted the following information. It reports that the State Secretariat for Migration, after an oral hearing of the complainant on 5 April 2019, decided to reject the complainant’s asylum application as the complainant had not demonstrated that his removal would result in a personal risk of persecution. Since the complainant married a Swiss citizen on 27 February 2019, the State Secretariat for Migration has not issued a deportation order for him but has requested the cantonal authorities to grant the complainant temporary residence for an initial period of one year from the date of marriage. The State party therefore considers that it has implemented the Committee’s decision in the present case.

On 5 August 2019, the State party’s follow-up observations were transmitted to the counsel for comments, which are to be provided by 5 October 2019.

The follow-up observations and comments have demonstrated partial implementation. The Committee decided to keep the follow-up dialogue ongoing, and to consider further steps in the light of the counsel’s comments.