CCPR/C/PRY/2004/2 Political Rights 3 August 2004
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UNITED CCPR NATIONS International Covenant Distr. GENERAL on Civil and CCPR/C/PRY/2004/2 Political Rights 3 August 2004 ENGLISH Original: SPANISH HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 40 OF THE COVENANT Second periodic report PARAGUAY* [9 July 2004] * This report is issued unedited, in compliance with the wish expressed by the Human Rights Committee at its sixty-sixth session in July 1999. GE.04-43093 (EXT) CCPR/C/PRY/2004/2 page 2 CONTENTS Paragraphs Page GENERAL ............................................................................................ 1 - 79 4 A. Protection of rights under the Constitution .................................. 1 - 10 4 B. Possibility of invoking the provisions of the Covenant in legal proceedings................................................................................... 11 - 18 5 C. Authorities with jurisdiction in the area of human rights............. 19 - 39 7 D. Rremedies available to persons claiming that their rights have been violated........................................................................ 40 - 72 10 E. Oother measures adopted to ensure implementation of the provisions of the Covenant........................................................... 73 - 79 16 INFORMATION CONCERNING THE APPLICATION OF ARTICLES 1 TO 27 OF THE COVENANT.............................................. 80 - 612 18 Article 1 ............................................................................................ 80 - 85 18 Article 2 ............................................................................................ 86 - 114 18 Article 3 ............................................................................................ 115 - 148 22 Article 4 ............................................................................................ 149 - 162 26 Article 5 ............................................................................................ 163 - 174 28 Article 6 ............................................................................................ 175 - 203 30 Article 7 ............................................................................................ 204 - 239 38 Article 8 ............................................................................................ 240 - 261 44 Article 9 ............................................................................................ 262 - 309 48 Article 10 ............................................................................................ 310 - 326 59 Article 11 ............................................................................................ 327 - 331 65 Article 12 ............................................................................................ 332 - 364 65 Article 13 ............................................................................................ 365 - 369 71 Article 14 ............................................................................................ 370 - 423 72 Article 15 ............................................................................................ 424 - 430 81 CCPR/C/PRY/2004/2 page 3 Paragraphs Page Article 16 ............................................................................................ 431 - 438 83 Article 17 ............................................................................................ 439 - 448 83 Article 18 ............................................................................................ 449 - 467 85 Article 19 ............................................................................................ 468 - 480 87 Article 20 ............................................................................................ 481 - 484 89 Article 21 ............................................................................................ 485 - 494 89 Article 22 ............................................................................................ 495 - 510 90 Article 23 ............................................................................................ 511 - 523 93 Article 24 ............................................................................................ 524 - 561 96 Article 25 ............................................................................................ 562 - 576 103 Article 26 ............................................................................................ 577 - 590 107 Article 27 ............................................................................................ 591 - 612 109 CCPR/C/PRY/2004/2 page 4 GENERAL A. Protection of rights under the Constitution 1. It is important to note at the outset that the Preamble to the Constitution (annex 1), promulgated on 20 June 1992, recognizes human dignity with the aim of ensuring freedom, equality and justice, and reaffirms the principles of representative, participatory and pluralist republican democracy. The interrelationship and interdependence of human rights and democracy are thus identified, in the spirit of the basic law, as two indispensable and indivisible elements that are mutually reinforcing when it comes to safeguarding the full enjoyment of both rights. 2. The Constitution, which is based on international human rights instruments, also sets forth a wide range of basic guarantees, rights and freedoms, respecting the principle of the universality, interrelatedness and interdependence of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. 3. The Constitution refers, among other fundamental rights and freedoms, to the right to life (article 4); the prohibition and imprescriptibility of the crimes of genocide, forced disappearance, torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (article 5); the right to liberty and security of the person (article 30); the prohibition of slavery and other forms of servitude (article 10); the right to a fair hearing and procedural rights (articles 16 and 17); the right to freedom of religion and ideology, and to conscientious objection (article 24); freedom of expression and of the press (article 26); freedom of association (article 42); the rights of the family (articles 49 to 61); the rights of indigenous peoples (articles 62 to 67); the right to health (articles 68 to 72); the right to education and culture (articles 73 to 85); and political rights and duties (articles 117 to 126). Enforcement of the rights set forth in the Constitution is also constitutionally guaranteed through, for instance, unconstitutionality proceedings (article 132), habeas corpus proceedings (article 133), amparo proceedings (article 134) and habeas data proceedings (article 135). 4. The 1992 Constitution also provides for the establishment of a special institution, the Office of the Ombudsman (Defensor del Pueblo), for the protection and promotion of human rights. In 1995 Act No. 631 establishing the Office of the Ombudsman was adopted and nine years after the promulgation of the Constitution, on 11 October 2001, the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman were appointed by resolution No. 768/01 adopted by the Chamber of Deputies in implementation of article 277 of the Constitution and articles 4 and 11 of Act No. 631 of 14 November 1995. 5. The Office of the Ombudsman is now a firmly established institution that has played an active part in the enactment of legislation, the safeguarding of human rights, the channelling of complaints from members of the public and the protection of community interests. Mention should also be made of the Office’s efforts to clear the way for the granting of reparations to the victims of the 1954-1989 dictatorship by making representations to the executive and legislative authorities, and by challenging the unconstitutionality proceedings brought by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the Constitutional Division of the Supreme Court of Justice against the Ombudsman’s advice regarding the compensation of victims. Thanks to a dialogue between the Ombudsman and the Attorney-General, it was possible to achieve a favourable settlement for the victims through the withdrawal of the unconstitutionality proceedings against the Ombudsman’s advice, which cleared the way for the initiation of compensation payments to the victims of the dictatorship. The State wishes to inform the Committee that the Office of the Ombudsman has facilitated access to information about its work through its web site www.paraguaygobierno.gov.py/defensoria. CCPR/C/PRY/2004/2 page 5 6. Chapter V of the Constitution, entitled “International Relations”, stipulates in article 142 that: “International human rights treaties can be denounced only through the procedures governing amendments to this Constitution.” 7. In addition, article 137 of the Constitution entitled “Supremacy of the Constitution”, contained in Part II “Political Organization of the Republic”, Chapter I “Fundamental Declarations”, stipulates that: “The Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic, followed by adopted and ratified international treaties, conventions and agreements, laws enacted by the Congress and other related subordinate legislation, which constitute national positive law in the foregoing order of precedence. Any attempts to change that order other than through the procedures set forth in this Constitution shall constitute offences which shall be characterized and punishable by law. Any measure or act by a public authority that is at variance with the provisions of this Constitution shall be null and void.” 8. Accordingly,