CAT/C/53/D/519/2012
and will be imprisoned without trial and tortured. Finally, the complainant notes that, even
if it is impossible to verify some of the aforementioned grounds and evidence
independently, the stated facts and evidence as a whole indicate a reasonable probability
that he faces a real and personal risk of torture in Myanmar.
Issues and proceedings before the Committee
Consideration of admissibility
8.1
Before considering any claims contained in a communication, the Committee must
decide whether it is admissible under article 22 of the Convention.
8.2
Preliminarily, the Committee notes the State party’s argument that the complainant
has abused the right to submit such a communication within the meaning of article 22,
paragraph 2, of the Convention, since he has not been issued by the State party’s authorities
with an order of deportation but with an order of departure, which requires him to
voluntarily leave the State party’s territory. The complainant contested the State party’s
argument, asserting that an order of departure still entails expulsion within the meaning of
article 3 of the Convention.
8.3
The Committee notes that, in order for there to be abuse of the right to raise a matter
before the Committee under article 22 of the Convention, one of the following conditions
must be met: the submission of a matter to the Committee must amount to malice or a
display of bad faith or intent at least to mislead, or be frivolous; or the acts or omissions
referred to must have nothing to do with the Convention.1 In the present case, however, it
cannot be ascertained that the complainant’s present communication has been submitted in
bad faith or is frivolous, as the matter of the complaint raises issues under article 3 of the
Convention. For that reason, the Committee concludes that the complainant has not abused
the right to submit such a communication within the meaning of article 22, paragraph 2, of
the Convention.
8.4
The Committee has further ascertained, as required by article 22, paragraph 5 (a), of
the Convention, that the same matter has not been, and is not being, examined under
another procedure of international investigation or settlement, and notes that, as required by
article 22, paragraph 5 (b), of the Convention, domestic remedies have been exhausted.
8.5. Accordingly, the Committee finds no further objections to admissibility and declares
the communication admissible, and proceeds to its consideration on the merits.
Consideration of the merits
9.1
In accordance with article 22, paragraph 4, of the Convention, the Committee has
considered the present communication in the light of all information made available to it by
the parties concerned.
9.2
In the present case, the issue before the Committee is whether the return of the
complainant to Myanmar would constitute a violation of the State party’s obligation under
article 3 of the Convention not to expel or to return (refouler) a person to another State
where there are substantial grounds for believing that he or she would be in danger of being
subjected to torture.
9.3
The Committee must evaluate whether there are substantial grounds for believing
that the complainant would be personally in danger of being subjected to torture upon
1
See for example communication No. 269/2005, Salem v. Tunisia, Views adopted on 7 November
2007, para. 8.4.
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