CAT/C/53/D/511/2012
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-third session)
concerning
Communication No. 511/2012
Submitted by:
Z. (represented by Norman Gibson)
Alleged victim:
The complainant
State party:
Australia
Date of complaint:
29 September 2011 (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 26 November 2014,
Having concluded its consideration of complaint No. 511/2012, submitted to the
Committee against Torture by Z. under article 22 of the Convention against Torture and
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
Having taken into account all information made available to it by the complainant
and the State party,
Adopts the following:
Decision under article 22, paragraph 7, of the Convention against
Torture
1.
The complainant is Z., an Australian national, born on 13 May 1962. The
complainant claims to be a victim of a violation by the State party of article 14 of the
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (hereinafter “the Convention”). The complainant is represented by Norman
Gibson.
The facts as presented by the complainant
2.1
The complainant was born in Shanghai, China, and is of Chinese descent. On
2 December 1991, the complainant left China for Australia, and became an Australian
citizen in October 1996.
2.2
In 1995, the complainant began suffering from a condition known as rheumatoid
arthritis, and was effectively bedridden as a result. She tried all kinds of treatment and
medications, but nothing seemed to help her. In March 1997, the complainant’s husband
learned about Falun Gong. The Falun Gong practitioners told them about the principles of
“truthfulness, compassion and forbearance”. After learning more about these principles, the
complainant and her husband started practicing Falun Gong. Within a few days, the
complainant’s pain stopped, and she was able to lead a normal life again.
2