CAT/C/55/D/522/2012
Annex
Decision of the Committee against Torture under article 22 of
the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment (fifty-fifth session)
concerning
Communication No. 522/2012 *
Submitted by:
Patrice Gahungu, represented by Track
Impunity Always (TRIAL)
Alleged victim:
The complainant
State party:
Burundi
Date of complaint:
30 July 2012 (initial submission)
The Committee against Torture, established under article 17 of the Convention
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
Meeting on 10 August 2015,
Having concluded its consideration of complaint No. 522/2012, submitted to the
Committee against Torture by Mr. Patrice Gahungu under article 22 of the Convention,
Having taken into account all information made available to it by the
complainant, his counsel and the State party,
Adopts the following:
Decision under article 22, paragraph 7, of the Convention
1.1 The complainant is Patrice Gahungu, born in 1973 in Bweru commune, Ruyigi
Province, and residing in Bujumbura. He claims he was the victim of violations of
articles 2 (para. 1), 11, 12, 13 and 14, read in conjunction with article 1 and,
alternatively, article 16 of the Convention. The complainant is represented by counsel.
1.2 On 18 September 2012, in accordance with rule 114, paragraph 1, of its rules of
procedure, the Committee requested the State party to adopt effective measures,
throughout the duration of the Committee’s consideration of the complaint, to prevent
any threats or acts of violence to which the complainant or his family might be
exposed, in particular as a result of having lodged the present complaint.
The facts as presented by the complainant
2.1 The complainant is a lawyer by training and practised for many years in the
investigations, operations and transmissions offices of the Burundian National Police,
until 2007 when he was dismissed following internal disputes. Since the events
__________________
* The following Committee members took part in the consideration of the communication: Essadia
Belmir, Alessio Bruni, Satyabhoosun Gupt Domah, Abdoulaye Gaye, Claudio Grossman, Jens
Modvig, Sapana Pradhan-Malla, George Tugushi and Kening Zhang.
2/15
GE.15-16176