HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE DISCUSSES DRAFT PROPOSAL FOR PLAN OF ACTION
22 July 1999
MORNING
HR/CT/99/20
22 July 1999
The Human Rights Committee this morning discussed a draft proposal for a plan of action to strengthen implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and the Convention against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Committee Chairperson Cecilia Medina Quiroga, presenting the draft, told members of the Committee that the proposal already had been discussed during a meeting of Chairpersons of human-rights treaty bodies. Among matters raised at that session were the development of common initiatives and the possibility of seeking voluntary funding to tackle problems faced by treaty bodies, she said.
A number of Committee members said inadequate staff support had been one of the major handicaps encountered by treaty bodies. They termed the proposed plan of action itself a recognition that there were deficiencies in the funds available for such support.
The proposed plan of action notes that the High Commissioner for Human Rights attaches great importance to efficient, competent and expeditious servicing of treaty bodies and indicates that she seeks to make additional resources available for that purpose. In the case of the Human Rights Committee, the plan would aim to eliminate a backlog in country reports yet to be considered. Currently there is an average one-year delay between submission of a country report and its review by the Committee.
Later in the morning, the Committee went into private session to discuss draft concluding observations and recommendations on country reports considered during the current session. The Committee will continue its private meeting when it reconvenes at 3 p.m.
HR/CT/99/20
22 July 1999
The Human Rights Committee this morning discussed a draft proposal for a plan of action to strengthen implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and the Convention against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Committee Chairperson Cecilia Medina Quiroga, presenting the draft, told members of the Committee that the proposal already had been discussed during a meeting of Chairpersons of human-rights treaty bodies. Among matters raised at that session were the development of common initiatives and the possibility of seeking voluntary funding to tackle problems faced by treaty bodies, she said.
A number of Committee members said inadequate staff support had been one of the major handicaps encountered by treaty bodies. They termed the proposed plan of action itself a recognition that there were deficiencies in the funds available for such support.
The proposed plan of action notes that the High Commissioner for Human Rights attaches great importance to efficient, competent and expeditious servicing of treaty bodies and indicates that she seeks to make additional resources available for that purpose. In the case of the Human Rights Committee, the plan would aim to eliminate a backlog in country reports yet to be considered. Currently there is an average one-year delay between submission of a country report and its review by the Committee.
Later in the morning, the Committee went into private session to discuss draft concluding observations and recommendations on country reports considered during the current session. The Committee will continue its private meeting when it reconvenes at 3 p.m.