The authors of the communication are R.T. and S.T., nationals of Zimbabwe born in 1960 and 1966 respectively. They claim that the State Party would violate their rights under articles 2, 6 (1), 7, 9 (1), 13, 17 and 23 (1) of the Covenant if it deported them to Zimbabwe. Their applications for asylum in Canada were rejected, but as they were granted a stay of removal on 20 August 2019, they did not ask the Committee to request interim measures. The Optional Protocol entered into force for the State Party on 19 August 1976. The authors are represented by counsel.
In their initial communication, registered on 28 November 2019 without a request for interim measures, the authors submitted that they would face a real and personal risk of irreparable harm if removed to Zimbabwe, on the basis of their political activism.
On 10 December 2020, the State Party requested that the Committee suspend its consideration of the communication, as the case remained pending before the Federal Court. On 17 December 2020, instead of granting the request for suspension, the Committee extended the deadline for the State Party’s observations. On 23 November 2021, the authors’ counsel informed the Committee of the final judgment rendered at the national level.
On 1 December 2021, the State Party submitted its observations on admissibility and the merits. On 2 February 2022, the authors’ counsel submitted comments thereon. The State Party has not submitted any additional observations.
On 17 October 2024, the State Party submitted a request to the Committee that it lift the suspension of the case and discontinue its consideration of the communication, as the authors had been granted Canadian citizenship on 26 August 2024. On 21 May 2025, the State Party’s request was transmitted for comments to counsel. On 23 May 2025, counsel confirmed that the authors had become Canadian citizens, and that they agreed with the State Party’s request that the Committee discontinue its consideration of the communication.
At a meeting on 17 July 2025, the Committee, in the light of the fact that the authors had been granted Canadian citizenship, decided to discontinue the consideration of communication No. 3679/2019.