CAT/C/68/D/863/2018
statements she had made in 2009 about her experiences in Côte d’Ivoire, that there were no
medical reports to corroborate her claim that inconsistencies in her accounts resulted from
physical or mental health problems, and that her allegations that she had been imprisoned,
tortured and raped were not credible.
2.16 On 14 April 2014, the complainant applied to the District Court of The Hague for
judicial review of the decision of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The Institute
for Human Rights and Medical Assessment conducted a medical examination of the
complainant and presented its report to the District Court. In the report, the Institute stated
that the complainant’s psychological condition was typical for the type of trauma she had
endured, and that her injuries were consistent with the nature of the harm inflicted. The
Institute also stated that the complainant could not be expected to provide a full and
consistent account of every detail of her experiences.
2.17 On 8 January 2016, the District Court declared the complainant’s application for
judicial review well-founded. In its decision, it referred to the findings of the Institute for
Human Rights and Medical Assessment, according to which the complainant’s
psychological symptoms were typical for the type of trauma she had experienced. The
District Court considered that the report of the Institute represented an expert opinion on
the matter. The District Court considered that the Immigration and Naturalization Service
had not given enough weight to the complainant’s medical situation and its effect on her
statements.
2.18 On 12 February 2016, the Minister for Migration appealed against the decision of
the District Court before the Administrative Jurisdiction Division of the Council of State.
On 21 September 2016, the Division granted the Minister’s appeal, considering that the
complainant’s story lacked “positive persuasion”, since it was inconsistent with respect to
the core of her narrative and certain details. The Division reversed the decision of the
District Court, and declared the complainant’s application for judicial review unfounded.
2.19 In separate, parallel proceedings, on 23 October 2014, the complainant applied to the
Immigration and Naturalization Service for prolongation of her residence permit, arguing
that she had demonstrated compelling reasons to be permitted to remain in the Netherlands,
because she was too damaged to return to the country where she had been abused and
tortured for a prolonged period. Under domestic law, residence permits may be granted for
compelling reasons. However, on 21 October 2016, the Service denied the complainant’s
application, on the ground that she did not meet the legal requirements for renewal of her
residence permit. On 16 June 2017, the District Court of the Hague rejected the
complainant’s application for judicial review of the decision of the Service. The District
Court considered that during proceedings before lower instances, the complainant should
have presented her argument that the denial of social benefits constituted cruel and
inhumane treatment. On 6 July 2017, the complainant filed an appeal against the decision
of the District Court before the Administrative Jurisdiction Division. On 21 July 2017, the
Division rejected the appeal without stating the basis for its decision.
2.20 The complainant states that she has exhausted all domestic remedies and has not
submitted the same matter to another international body for examination.
The complaint
3.1
The complainant asserts that the State party would violate her rights under article 3
of the Convention by removing her to Côte d’Ivoire, where she suffered severe trauma,
torture and cruel and inhuman treatment. State agents arbitrarily arrested the complainant,
applied excessive force when transporting her to prison, arbitrarily imprisoned her, forced
her to endure inhuman conditions of detention for four years, and repeatedly raped her in
prison. The complainant is traumatized by the mere idea of returning to her country of
origin.
3.2
In addition, the complainant fears that she will be raped again if she is returned to
Côte d’Ivoire. She might run into the individuals who assaulted her, and while such an
encounter might not be foreseeable, her fear of having to confront them is overwhelming.
The complainant might also encounter places, situations and smells that will retraumatize
her.
4