INTERIM RESOLUTION DH (98) 279

HUMAN RIGHTS

APPLICATION No. 29251/95

SILVA GOMES AND OTHERS AGAINST PORTUGAL

(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 10 July 1998

at the 637th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)

The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of Article 32 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”),

Having regard to the report drawn up on 14 January 1998 by the European Commission of Human Rights in accordance with Article 31 of the Convention relating to the application lodged on 26 September 1995 by 15 Portuguese citizens, Ms Casimira Silva Gomes, Ms Rosa Maria Aires de Jesus, Ms Maria Cristina Dias Coelho, Ms Alice Cardoso Alexandre Brites, Ms Lavinia Saraiva Bento, Ms Elvira Pereira Gomes Teixeira, Mr Nelson Santos Pereira, Ms Maria Irene Marques Silva, Ms Maria da Conceição Mestre Santos, Ms Perpétua Pereira da Silva Rocha, Ms Mercedes Maria Sousa Batista, Ms Preciosa Gomes Rezende, Ms Maria Ernestina Gomes, Ms Ana Maria Rodrigues and Ms Vitória Silvestre Gomes Lopes against Portugal;

Whereas on 18 February 1998 the Commission transmitted the said report to the Committee of Ministers and whereas the period of three months provided for in Article 32, paragraph 1, of the Convention has elapsed without the case having been brought before the European Court of Human Rights in pursuance of Article 48 of the Convention ;

Whereas in their application, as declared admissible by the Commission on 9 April 1997, the applicants complained of the excessive length of certain proceedings concerning civil rights and obligations before the labour courts;

Whereas in its report the Commission concluded, by fourteen votes to one, that there had been a violation of Article 6, paragraph 1, of the Convention;

Whereas, at the 637th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies, the Committee of Ministers, having voted in accordance with the provisions of Article 32, paragraph 1, of the Convention and agreed with the opinion expressed by the Commission, held, by a decision adopted on 10 July 1998, that there had been in this case a violation of Article 6, paragraph 1, of the Convention,

Authorises the publication of the report adopted by the Commission in this case;

Decides to pursue the examination of the present case, in accordance with Article 32 of the Convention with a view to adopting the final resolution.