CCPR/C/114/D/2143/2012 Authors’ further comments 9.1 In a letter dated 7 February 2014, the authors indicated that Ms. Dovadžija’s mental health, depression and living conditions deteriorated further following the rejection of her claim for a monthly pension on the ground that her husband had “voluntarily deserted the unit”. 9.2 The authors argue that the decision of the Federal Ministry for Veterans amounts to a denial of the disappearance of their husband and father. They recall that Mr. Dovadžija was last seen in October 1992 in life-threatening circumstances in the hands of the Vojska Republike Srpske. They recall that the State party’s authorities have not provided any information to the contrary and that Mr. Dovadžija remains officially registered as a missing person. The authors have been struggling over the years to unveil the truth about the fate and whereabouts of Mr. Dovadžija, to no avail, and they face perpetual revictimization. Issues and proceedings before the Committee Consideration of admissibility 10.1 Before considering any claims contained in a communication, the Committee must decide, in accordance with rule 93 of its rules of procedure, whether or not it is admissible under the Optional Protocol to the Covenant. 10.2 As required under article 5 (2) (a) of the Optional Protocol, the Committee has ascertained that the same matter is not being examined under another procedure of international investigation or settlement. The Committee notes that it is undisputed that the authors have exhausted all available domestic remedies, as required under article 5 (2) (b) of the Optional Protocol. 10.3 The Committee notes that the State party has not challenged the admissibility of the communication and that the authors’ allegations regarding violations of articles 6, 7, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 (1) and 24 (1) read in conjunction with article 2 (3) of the Covenant, and of article 7 read alone, have been sufficiently substantiated for the purposes of admissibility. All admissibility criteria having been met, the Committee declares the communication admissible and proceeds to its examination on the merits. Consideration of the merits 11.1 The Committee has considered the present communication in the light of all information made available to it by the parties, as required under article 5 (1) of the Optional Protocol. 11.2 The Committee takes note of the authors’ claims that on 9 June 1992, Mr. Dovadžija was apprehended by Vojska Republike Srpske soldiers and taken to the army barracks in Illijaš; after having been released, he returned to the army; his name appeared in a confidential list of men who had been captured by the Vojska Republike Srpske, and that document also indicated that he had been “wounded in Blažuj”. The Committee notes that, according to eyewitnesses, Mr. Dovadžija was captured and deprived of his liberty with them; they were all subjected to ill-treatment and forced labour while held in detention facilities in Semizovac; they were used as human shields at the front line in Žuć; and they saw Mr. Dovadžija for the last time in October 1992, when he was in the hands of the Vojska Republike Srpske, in life-threatening circumstances. The Committee also notes the authors’ argument that against that background, it is reasonable to presume that their husband and father became a victim of enforced disappearance by the Vojska Republike Srpske sometime after June 1992. No investigation has been carried out by the State party to clarify Mr. Dovadžija’s fate and whereabouts and to bring the perpetrators to justice. In 14

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