Universal-Womens-accesss-to-justice-Publications-Practitioners-Guide-Series-2016-ENG

V
WOMEN’S ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE 299
The remedy must also have certain characteristics of due
process of law. 743 It must be independent, which means that
it must not be subject to interference by the authorities against
which the complaint is brought. 744 It must afford due process of
law for the protection of the right or rights alleged to be
violated, must be accessible by everyone, and must not
constitute a denial of justice. 745 This will require the provision
of free legal advice, where necessary to ensure access to the
procedure. 746 The remedy must afford the applicant sufficient
time to prepare the case, so as to allow a realistic possibility of
using the remedy. 747
A particular situation arises under the Committee on
Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Under the
ICERD, any State Party may establish a national body to
consider petitions regarding violation of ICERD rights. 748 In
countries where such bodies exist, before his or her
communication can be considered as admissible, the
para. 49; Muminov v. Russia, ECtHR, op. cit., fn. 343, para. 101;
Gebremedhin v. France, ECtHR, op. cit., fn. 602, paras. 66-67.
743
See, Article 46 ACHR; and Article 31, IACHR Rules of Procedure.
744
See, CCPR, General Comment No. 31, op. cit., fn. 46, para 15;
Keenan v. United Kingdom, ECtHR, op. cit., fn. 769, para. 122;
Muminov v. Russia, ECtHR, op. cit., fn. 343, para. 101; Judicial
guarantees in states of emergency, IACtHR, Advisory Opinion OC-
9/87, 6 October 1987, para. 24.
745
See, Vélez Loor v. Panama, IACHR, op. cit., fn. 1304, para. 36. On
access, see also, Concluding Observations on Mexico, CMW, op. cit.,
fn. 491, paras. 25-26; Concluding Observations on Egypt, CMW, op.
cit., fn. 1074, paras. 22-23; Concluding Observations on Bolivia, CMW,
op. cit., fn. 502, paras. 23-24; Airey v. Ireland, ECtHR, Application No.
6289/73, Judgment of 9 October 1979.
746
Ibid., para. 45.
747
See, Muminov v. Russia, ECtHR, op. cit., fn. 343, para. 90;
Bahaddar v. the Netherlands, ECtHR, op. cit., fn. 1309, para. 45;
Alzery v. Sweden, CCPR, op. cit., fn. 364, para. 8.2.
748
Article 14.2 ICERD. However, this provision is not utilised in
practice.