DIJKSTRA v. THE NETHERLANDS
Doc ref: 12128/86 • ECHR ID: 001-45538
Document date: May 19, 1992
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EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Application No. 12128/86
Th.K.J.M. DIJKSTRA
against
the NETHERLANDS
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
adopted on 19 May 1992
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
PART I: STATEMENT OF THE FACTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
PART II: SOLUTION REACHED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
INTRODUCTION
1. This Report relates to the application introduced under
Article 25 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by Th.K.J.M. Dijkstra against the
Netherlands on 30 November 1985. It was registered on
29 April 1986 under file No. 12128/86.
The Government of the Netherlands were represented by their
Agent, Mrs. D.S. van Heukelom, succeeded by
Mr. K. de Vey Mestdagh, both of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
The Hague.
2. On 8 April 1991 the Commission declared the complaint under
Article 6 para. 3 (c) of the Convention admissible and the
remainder of the application inadmissible. It then proceeded to
carry out its task under Article 28 para. 1 of the Convention
which provides as follows:
"In the event of the Commission accepting a petition
referred to it:
a. it shall, with a view to ascertaining the facts,
undertake together with the representatives of the
parties an examination of the petition and, if need
be, an investigation, for the effective conduct of
which the States concerned shall furnish all necessary
facilities, after an exchange of views with the
Commission;
b. it shall at the same time place itself at the disposal
of the parties concerned with a view to securing a
friendly settlement of the matter on the basis of
respect for Human Rights as defined in this
Convention."
3. The Commission found that the parties had reached a friendly
settlement of the case and on 19 May 1992 it adopted this Report,
which, in accordance with Article 28 para. 2 of the Convention,
is confined to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution
reached.
The following members were present when the Report was adopted:
MM. S. TRECHSEL
F. ERMACORA
E. BUSUTTIL
A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK
A. WEITZEL
J.-C. SOYER
H.G. SCHERMERS
H. DANELIUS
Mrs. G.H. THUNE
Sir Basil HALL
MM. F. MARTINEZ
C.L. ROZAKIS
Mrs. J. LIDDY
MM. L. LOUCAIDES
J.-C. GEUS
M. P. PELLONPÄÄ
B. MARXER
PART I
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS
4. The applicant is a Dutch citizen, born in 1945, and residing
at Maastricht, the Netherlands.
5. On 2 December 1983 the Regional Court (Gerecht in Eerste
Aanleg) of Curaçao convicted the applicant in absentia of a
traffic offence, despite her earlier request to have her case
adjourned in view of her imminent hospitalisation.
6. On 25 May 1984 the decision was notified to the applicant.
Her subsequent objection (verzet) was rejected on 15 June 1984
by the Regional Court for being out of time.
7. Before the Commission the applicant complained that she did
not have the opportunity to defend herself in person, invoking
Article 6 para. 3 (c) of the Convention.
PART II
SOLUTION REACHED
8. Following the decision on the admissibility of the
application, the Commission placed itself at the disposal of the
parties with a view to securing a friendly settlement in
accordance with Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the Convention and
invited the parties to submit any proposals they wished to make.
9. In accordance with the usual practice, the Secretary to the
Commission, acting on the Commission's instructions, contacted
the parties to explore the possibilities of reaching a friendly
settlement.
10. By letter of 11 March 1992, the Agent of the Government
submitted the following proposal:
"SETTLEMENT
1. The Government will pay the applicant an amount of Dfl
1.000,- as ex gratia allowance;
2. All documents, as far as public according to any
regulation, can be used for teaching purposes.
The above proposal is made on the explicit understanding
that it does not imply any recognition by the Government
that the Netherlands-Antillian authorities would have
treated the applicant incorrectly."
11. On 14 April 1992 the applicant informed the Commisson that
she agreed with the Government's proposal.
12. At its session on 19 May 1992, the Commission noted that the
parties had reached an agreement regarding the terms of a
settlement. It further considered, having regard to
Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the Convention, that the friendly
settlement of the case had been secured on the basis of respect
for Human Rights as defined in the Convention.
13. For these reasons, the Commission adopted this Report.
Secretary to the Commission Vice-President of the
Commission
(H.C. KRÜGER) (S. TRECHSEL)
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