CAT/C/53/D/511/2012
determination of the proper interpretation of article 14, which is regarded as providing
victims with rights which may not exist as a matter of customary international law. 34
Issues and proceedings before the Committee
Consideration of admissibility
6.1
Before considering any claim contained in a communication, the Committee against
Torture must decide whether it is admissible under article 22 of the Convention. The
Committee has ascertained, as it is required to do under 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.
6.2
The Committee recalls that, in accordance with article 22, paragraph 5 (b), of the
Convention, it shall not consider any communications from an individual unless it has
ascertained that the individual has exhausted all available domestic remedies. The
Committee notes that in the instant case the State party does not contest that the
complainant has exhausted all available domestic remedies.
6.3
The Committee notes the State party’s argument that the communication is
inadmissible ratione personae under article 22 of the Convention because the
communication requires the Committee to consider whether China itself has violated
article 14 by allegedly not providing an effective remedy to the complainant, and China has
not made the declaration under article 22 of the Convention. The Committee also notes the
complainant’s assertion that article 14 applies irrespective of the places of the acts of
torture; and that, because the Australian courts have not declined jurisdiction on the ground
of forum non conveniens, the State party is required to afford an enforceable right to fair
and adequate compensation. The Committee recalls its general comment No. 3 (2012) on
the implementation of article 14 by States parties, in which it considers that “the application
of article 14 is not limited to victims who were harmed in the territory of the State party or
by or against nationals of the State party” and that “article 14 requires States parties to
ensure that all victims of torture and ill-treatment are able to access remedy and obtain
redress”.35 However, the Committee observes that, in the specific circumstances of this
case, the State party is unable to establish jurisdiction over officials of another State for
alleged acts committed outside the State party’s territory. 36 Accordingly, the Committee
considers that, in the case under review, the complainant’s claim to redress and
compensation is inadmissible.
7.
The Committee therefore decides:
(a)
That the communication is inadmissible under article 22, paragraph 2, of the
Convention;
(b)
That this decision shall be communicated to the complainant and to the State
party.
34
35
36
12
The complainant cites, inter alia, International Court of Justice, Jurisdictional Immunities of the State
(Germany v. Italy), Judgments, I.C.J. Reports 2012.
General comment No. 3, para. 22.
See communication No. 176/2000, Roitman Rosenmann v. Spain, inadmissibility decision of 30 April
2002, para. 6.6.