HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONTINUES DISCUSSIONON DRAFT REVISED GUIDELINES FOR PREPARATIONOF PERIODIC REPORTS BY STATE PARTIES

27 October 2009

 

The Human Rights Committee this afternoon continued its discussion – begun on Thursday, 22 October – of draft revised guidelines for reports to be submitted by States parties under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

 

At the Thursday meeting, Committee Expert Helen Keller had introduced the new guidelines, highlighting the introduction of a simplified optional reporting procedure. Having reviewed the three paragraphs regarding the new procedure, but without having taken a decision on them, the Committee had then begun a paragraph-by-paragraph examination of the rest of the draft revised reporting guidelines.

 

At today's meeting, the Committee continued its detailed examination, considering paragraphs on the list of issues prior to reporting; and on guidance and requirements for reporting under specific provisions of the Covenant, broken down article by article. On the latter section, a number of Experts expressed concern that the very detailed guidelines on each article would lead to very long reports – over 100 pages – in direct contradiction to the purpose of issuing revised guidelines, which was to simplify and reduce the burden of reporting on States parties. To combat that, it was suggested to add language to make that section of the guidelines instructive rather than mandatory.

 

The Committee will continue its consideration of the draft reporting guidelines, in particular the paragraphs related to the new optional reporting procedure, on Thursday, 29 October, in the afternoon.

 

The Committee’s next public meeting will be held tomorrow, 28 October at 11 a.m., when it is scheduled to hear progress reports on follow-up to concluding observations on State party reports and on follow-up to Views (Committee decisions on individual complaints alleging violations by a State party of rights set out in the Covenant).

 

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For use of information media; not an official record