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25 October 1999
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MORNING HR/CT/99/39
25 October 1999
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE DISCUSSES DRAFT GENERAL COMMENT ON EQUAL RIGHT OF MEN AND WOMEN TO ENJOY CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS
The Human Rights Committee this morning continued its discussion of a draft general comment on the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all civil and political rights set forth in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Following an intensive discussion on a paragraph concerning equality in marriage, Committee Chairperson Cecilia Medina Quiroga said the idea of recommending an equal minimum age of marriage for men and women was not a matter that a number of Committee members appeared to agree with. The Chairperson, who said she favoured establishing a minimum age, suggested following the recommendation of another member, who proposed, instead of discussing equality of age, asking States parties to use the same criteria to define age of marriage of men and women. Ms. Medina Quiroga also said any marriage should spring from the full and free consent of the couple concerned.
The Committee had decided to update its General Comment on Article 3 and replace General Comment 4, which it adopted in 1981, in light of the experience it had gathered in its activities over the last 20 years. The revision sought to take account of the important and practical impact of the article on the enjoyment of women of the generality of the human rights protected under the Covenant and assist the efforts by States parties in that regard as reflected in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.
Article 3 of the Covenant required States parties to ensure equally to men and women the right to the enjoyment of all rights provided for in the Covenant. Article 3 articulated that human rights were to be enjoyed by all human beings on an equal basis and that human rights were interdependent, in the sense that the right to enjoy equally all the rights set forth in the Covenant was affected whenever any such right was not enjoyed equally.
The purpose of General Comments is to assist States parties in fulfilling their reporting obligation in order to promote their further implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant. The General Comments also draw attention to insufficiencies disclosed by the large number of reports, and suggest improvements in the reporting procedures.
General Comments are also intended to stimulate the activities of States parties and international organizations in the promotion and protection of human rights. These comments should also be of interest to other States, especially those preparing to become parties to the Covenant. The General Comments thus strengthen the cooperation of all States in the universal promotion and protection of human rights.
The Committee is expected to adopt its draft general comment on Article 3 of the Convention in the course of its current session.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will take up the report of Portugal on Macau (document CCPR/C/POR/99/4).
25 October 1999
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE DISCUSSES DRAFT GENERAL COMMENT ON EQUAL RIGHT OF MEN AND WOMEN TO ENJOY CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS
The Human Rights Committee this morning continued its discussion of a draft general comment on the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all civil and political rights set forth in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Following an intensive discussion on a paragraph concerning equality in marriage, Committee Chairperson Cecilia Medina Quiroga said the idea of recommending an equal minimum age of marriage for men and women was not a matter that a number of Committee members appeared to agree with. The Chairperson, who said she favoured establishing a minimum age, suggested following the recommendation of another member, who proposed, instead of discussing equality of age, asking States parties to use the same criteria to define age of marriage of men and women. Ms. Medina Quiroga also said any marriage should spring from the full and free consent of the couple concerned.
The Committee had decided to update its General Comment on Article 3 and replace General Comment 4, which it adopted in 1981, in light of the experience it had gathered in its activities over the last 20 years. The revision sought to take account of the important and practical impact of the article on the enjoyment of women of the generality of the human rights protected under the Covenant and assist the efforts by States parties in that regard as reflected in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.
Article 3 of the Covenant required States parties to ensure equally to men and women the right to the enjoyment of all rights provided for in the Covenant. Article 3 articulated that human rights were to be enjoyed by all human beings on an equal basis and that human rights were interdependent, in the sense that the right to enjoy equally all the rights set forth in the Covenant was affected whenever any such right was not enjoyed equally.
The purpose of General Comments is to assist States parties in fulfilling their reporting obligation in order to promote their further implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant. The General Comments also draw attention to insufficiencies disclosed by the large number of reports, and suggest improvements in the reporting procedures.
General Comments are also intended to stimulate the activities of States parties and international organizations in the promotion and protection of human rights. These comments should also be of interest to other States, especially those preparing to become parties to the Covenant. The General Comments thus strengthen the cooperation of all States in the universal promotion and protection of human rights.
The Committee is expected to adopt its draft general comment on Article 3 of the Convention in the course of its current session.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will take up the report of Portugal on Macau (document CCPR/C/POR/99/4).