A/HRC/22/44
57.
The Working Group regards as detention all forms of deprivation of liberty and
would like to re-emphasize its former statement:
if the term “detention” were to apply to pretrial detention alone, then it would follow
that the [Universal Declaration of Human Rights] does not condemn arbitrary
imprisonment pursuant to a trial of whatever nature. Such an interpretation is per se
unacceptable. In fact the Declaration, in article 10, stipulates the entitlement in full
equality of a fair and public hearing to everyone by an independent and impartial
tribunal. This further confirms that the expression “detention” in article 9 refers to
all situations, either pre-trial or post-trial.23
58.
This broad interpretation is confirmed by current State practice.24
59.
Placing individuals in temporary custody in stations, ports and airports or any other
facilities where they remain under constant surveillance may not only amount to restrictions
to personal freedom of movement, but also constitute a de facto deprivation of liberty.25
The Working Group has confirmed this in its previous deliberations on house arrest,
rehabilitation through labour, retention in non-recognized centres for migrants or asylum
seekers, psychiatric facilities and so-called international or transit zones in ports or
international airports, gathering centres or hospitals.26
60.
In this regard secret and/or incommunicado detention constitutes the most heinous
violation of the norm protecting the right to liberty of human being under customary
international law. The arbitrariness is inherent in these forms of deprivation of liberty as the
individual is left outside the cloak of any legal protection.27
D.
The notion of “arbitrary” and its constituent elements under customary
international law
61.
The notion of “arbitrary” stricto sensu includes both the requirement that a particular
form of deprivation of liberty is taken in accordance with the applicable law and procedure
and that it is proportional to the aim sought, reasonable and necessary.28 The drafting
history of article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights “confirms
that ‘arbitrariness’ is not to be equated with ‘against the law’, but must be interpreted more
23
24
25
26
27
28
GE.12-18935
Ibid., para. 66.
See e.g. submissions by Canada (R. v. Swain, [1991] 1 S.C.R. 933; R. v. Demers, [2004] 2 S.C.R. 489,
para. 30; May v. Ferndale Institution, [2005] 3 S.C.R. 809, para. 76; Kindler v. Canada (Minister of
Justice), [1991] 2 S.C.R. 779, p, 831; Cunningham v. Canada, [1993] 2 S.C.R. 143, pp. 148–151);
United States of America (Restatement (Third) of Foreign Relations Law, section 702 (1987), and Ma
v. Ashcroft, 257 F.3d 1095, 1114 (9th Cir. 2001); Martinez v. City of Los Angeles, 141 F.3d 1373,
1384 (9th Cir. 1998); and De Sanchez v. Banco Central de Nicaragua, 770 F.2d 1385, 1397 (5th Cir.
1985)); see also submission by the Government of Lithuania.
See report of the Working Group to the Economic and Social Council, E/CN.4/1998/44, para. 41;
Working Group opinion No. 16/2011 (China).
See its deliberations Nos. 1, 4, 5 and 7.
See the joint study on global practices in relation to secret detention in the context of countering
terrorism, A/HRC/13/42, p. 2.
See e.g. Human Rights Committee, A. v. Australia; Marques de Morais v. Angola, communication
No. 1128/2002, Views adopted on 29 March 2005, para. 6.1; Inter-American Court of Human Rights,
Gangaram Panday v. Suriname, Judgement, Ser. C, No. 16, 1994, para. 47; Working Group, opinions
No. 4/2011 (Switzerland); No. 3/2004 (Israel).
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