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HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE DISCUSSES PROGRESS REPORT ON INDIVIDUAL COMMUNICATIONS
29 October 2004
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Human Rights Committee
29 October 2004
The Human Rights Committee today discussed progress made on the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which provides for the confidential consideration of communications from individuals who claim to be victims of a violation of any rights proclaimed in the Covenant. The Committee can only receive communications from nationals of a country if it is a State party to the Optional Protocol.
Committee Expert Nisuke Ando, serving as Special Rapporteur on new communications, outlined his first progress report. He informed Committee members of follow-up activities and follow-up information received between sessions on individual communications. The report included information received between the eighty-first session of the Committee which was held in July this year, and the current eighty-second session which began on 18 October and will end on 5 November. Mr. Ando provided a summary of a series of individual complaints received, saying that in general the attitudes of States parties had not changed. In certain cases the State party disagreed with the view of the Committee whereas in other cases it accepted the views and took the necessary action as per the recommendation of the 18-member body, thus deeming the case closed. When an issue was undecided, the Committee sent reminders to the State party in question asking for updated information on individual cases.
During the course of the morning’s meeting, the Committee also began discussing procedures for reporting guidelines. Under this procedure, the Committee will examine methods of harmonizing guidelines on reporting to all treaty bodies as a means of coordinating and cooperating with other committees on this matter.
The Committee will conclude its current session on 5 November. It will meet in private next week to discuss its conclusions and recommendations on country reports reviewed during this session and to consider individual complaints.
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29 October 2004
The Human Rights Committee today discussed progress made on the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which provides for the confidential consideration of communications from individuals who claim to be victims of a violation of any rights proclaimed in the Covenant. The Committee can only receive communications from nationals of a country if it is a State party to the Optional Protocol.
Committee Expert Nisuke Ando, serving as Special Rapporteur on new communications, outlined his first progress report. He informed Committee members of follow-up activities and follow-up information received between sessions on individual communications. The report included information received between the eighty-first session of the Committee which was held in July this year, and the current eighty-second session which began on 18 October and will end on 5 November. Mr. Ando provided a summary of a series of individual complaints received, saying that in general the attitudes of States parties had not changed. In certain cases the State party disagreed with the view of the Committee whereas in other cases it accepted the views and took the necessary action as per the recommendation of the 18-member body, thus deeming the case closed. When an issue was undecided, the Committee sent reminders to the State party in question asking for updated information on individual cases.
During the course of the morning’s meeting, the Committee also began discussing procedures for reporting guidelines. Under this procedure, the Committee will examine methods of harmonizing guidelines on reporting to all treaty bodies as a means of coordinating and cooperating with other committees on this matter.
The Committee will conclude its current session on 5 November. It will meet in private next week to discuss its conclusions and recommendations on country reports reviewed during this session and to consider individual complaints.
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