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HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE TO HOLD ITS NINETIETH SESSION IN GENEVA FROM 9 TO 27 JULY 2007
05 July 2007
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Human Rights Committee BACKGROUND RELEASE
5 July 2007
Experts to Review Reports of Zambia, Sudan, Czech Republic, And Country
Situation in Grenada
Reports submitted by the Governments of Zambia, Sudan, and the Czech Republic on measures taken to implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights will be reviewed by the Human Rights Committee at its ninetieth session, which will be held in Geneva at the Palais Wilson from 9 to 27 July 2007. In addition, the Committee will review the situation in Grenada, with regard to the fulfilment of its obligations under the Covenant, in the absence of a country report.
On the first day of the session, the 18-member Committee will adopt its agenda and programme of work. The Committee will also hear, in a closed meeting, from representatives of non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental organizations on the situation in the countries that it will review.
The Committee is scheduled to examine the third periodic report Zambia on Monday, 9 and Tuesday, 10 July; the third periodic report of Sudan on Wednesday, 11 and Thursday, 12 July; and the second periodic report of the Czech Republic on Monday, 16 and Tuesday, 17 July in formal public meetings. The country situation in Grenada will also be considered, in the absence of a report, on Wednesday, 18 July. The Committee will present its concluding observations on the situations in these countries at the end of its three-week session on 27 July.
The Committee's concluding remarks on the second periodic report of Zambia, which was reviewed on 26 and 27 March 1996, are contained in document CCPR/C/79/Add.62; the concluding remarks on the second periodic report of Sudan, which was considered by the Committee on 28 October 1997, can be found in document CCPR/C/79/Add.85; and the concluding observations by the Committee on the initial report of the Czech Republic, which was reviewed on 11 and 12 July 2001, are incorporated in document CCPR/CO/72/CZE.
The countries presenting reports are among the 160 States parties to the Covenant, which was adopted in 1966 by the General Assembly. The Committee, as a monitoring body, periodically examines reports submitted by States parties on the promotion and protection of civil and political rights. Representatives of those Governments introduce the reports and respond to oral and written questions from Committee members.
Under the Optional Protocol to the Covenant, 109 States parties recognize the competence of the Committee to consider confidential communications from individuals claiming to be victims of violations of any rights proclaimed under the treaty. At present, 309 communications are pending before the Committee. During the course of the present session, the Committee will review a portion of these communications.
Sixty States parties have ratified or acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant, which aims to abolish the death penalty.
Also at its ninetieth session, the Committee’s Special Rapporteurs for follow-up on concluding observations and for follow-up on Views are scheduled to provide progress reports on their activities. The Committee will also continue consideration of a draft revised general comment on article 14 (right to a fair trial), and hold a public meeting to discuss the working methods of the Committee.
Background on the Covenant
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was adopted by the General Assembly and opened for signature in 1966, together with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Both entered into force in 1976.
The Civil and Political Rights Covenant begins by stating that all peoples have the right of self-determination. It recognizes that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. It prohibits torture, cruel or degrading treatment or punishment, and the arbitrary deprivation of life. Anyone arrested is to be informed of the reasons for the arrest, and anyone arrested or detained on a criminal charge is to be brought promptly before a judge or another legally authorized person.
The Covenant also provides, among other rights, for freedom of movement, and places limitations upon the expulsion of aliens present lawfully in the territory of a State party. In addition, the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and to freedom of expression are recognized by the Covenant, which also prohibits any propaganda for war or any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred.
States Parties to Covenant
The following 160 States have ratified or acceded to the Covenant: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Optional Protocols to Covenant
The Optional Protocol to the Covenant 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 receive no communications if it concerns a State party to the Covenant that is not also a party to the Optional Protocol.
The following 109 States are parties to the Optional Protocol: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, and Zambia.
The Human Rights Committee is also mandated, under article 41 of the Covenant, to consider communications from a State party alleging violations of the Covenants provisions by another State party. This procedure can be applied when both States recognize this competence of the Committee by a relevant declaration. So far, 48 States have made the declaration under article 41.
The Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant, which aims at the abolition of the death penalty, was adopted by the General Assembly on 15 December 1989 and entered into force on 11 July 1991. The following 60 States have ratified or acceded to the Second Optional Protocol: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Membership of Committee
The States parties to the Covenant elect the Committee's 18 expert members who serve in their individual capacity for four-year terms. Article 28 of the Covenant requires that "they shall be persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights." They are: Abdelfattah Amor (Tunisia);Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati (India); Christine Chanet (France); Maurice Ahanhanzo Glèlè-Ahanhanzo (Benin); Yuji Iwasawa (Japan); Edwin Johnson Lopez (Ecuador); Walter Kälin (Switzerland); Rajsoomer Lallah (Mauritius); Zonke Zanele Majodina (South Africa); Iulia Antoanella Motoc (Romania); Michael O'Flaherty (Ireland); Elisabeth Palm (Sweden); Rafael Rivas Posada (Colombia); Nigel Rodley (United Kingdom); José Luis Sanchez-Cerro (Perú); Ivan Shearer (Australia); Ahmed Tawfik Khalil (Egypt); Ruth Wedgwood (United States).
The Chairperson is Mr. Rivas Posada. The Vice-Chairpersons are Ms. Palm, Mr. Shearer and Mr. Tawfik Khalil. The Rapporteur is Mr. Amor.
Tentative Timetable for Consideration of Reports
Monday, 9 July
Morning: Opening of session (public)
(11-1 p.m.) Meeting with representatives of non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations represented at the United Nations Office at Geneva (closed)
Afternoon: Third periodic report of Zambia (CCPR/C/ZMB/3)
Tuesday, 10 July
Morning: Zambia (continued)
Wednesday, 11 July
Afternoon: Third periodic report of Sudan (CCPR/C/SDN/3) (Palais des Nations, Room XXIII)
Thursday, 12 July
Morning: Sudan (continued) (Palais des Nations, Room XXIII)
Monday, 16 July
Afternoon: Second periodic report of the Czech Republic (CCPR/C/CZE/2)
Tuesday, 17 July
Morning: Czech Republic (continued)
Friday, 27 July
Morning: Concluding Observations Issued; Public Closure
__________
For use of the information media; not an official record
5 July 2007
Experts to Review Reports of Zambia, Sudan, Czech Republic, And Country
Situation in Grenada
Reports submitted by the Governments of Zambia, Sudan, and the Czech Republic on measures taken to implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights will be reviewed by the Human Rights Committee at its ninetieth session, which will be held in Geneva at the Palais Wilson from 9 to 27 July 2007. In addition, the Committee will review the situation in Grenada, with regard to the fulfilment of its obligations under the Covenant, in the absence of a country report.
On the first day of the session, the 18-member Committee will adopt its agenda and programme of work. The Committee will also hear, in a closed meeting, from representatives of non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental organizations on the situation in the countries that it will review.
The Committee is scheduled to examine the third periodic report Zambia on Monday, 9 and Tuesday, 10 July; the third periodic report of Sudan on Wednesday, 11 and Thursday, 12 July; and the second periodic report of the Czech Republic on Monday, 16 and Tuesday, 17 July in formal public meetings. The country situation in Grenada will also be considered, in the absence of a report, on Wednesday, 18 July. The Committee will present its concluding observations on the situations in these countries at the end of its three-week session on 27 July.
The Committee's concluding remarks on the second periodic report of Zambia, which was reviewed on 26 and 27 March 1996, are contained in document CCPR/C/79/Add.62; the concluding remarks on the second periodic report of Sudan, which was considered by the Committee on 28 October 1997, can be found in document CCPR/C/79/Add.85; and the concluding observations by the Committee on the initial report of the Czech Republic, which was reviewed on 11 and 12 July 2001, are incorporated in document CCPR/CO/72/CZE.
The countries presenting reports are among the 160 States parties to the Covenant, which was adopted in 1966 by the General Assembly. The Committee, as a monitoring body, periodically examines reports submitted by States parties on the promotion and protection of civil and political rights. Representatives of those Governments introduce the reports and respond to oral and written questions from Committee members.
Under the Optional Protocol to the Covenant, 109 States parties recognize the competence of the Committee to consider confidential communications from individuals claiming to be victims of violations of any rights proclaimed under the treaty. At present, 309 communications are pending before the Committee. During the course of the present session, the Committee will review a portion of these communications.
Sixty States parties have ratified or acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant, which aims to abolish the death penalty.
Also at its ninetieth session, the Committee’s Special Rapporteurs for follow-up on concluding observations and for follow-up on Views are scheduled to provide progress reports on their activities. The Committee will also continue consideration of a draft revised general comment on article 14 (right to a fair trial), and hold a public meeting to discuss the working methods of the Committee.
Background on the Covenant
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was adopted by the General Assembly and opened for signature in 1966, together with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Both entered into force in 1976.
The Civil and Political Rights Covenant begins by stating that all peoples have the right of self-determination. It recognizes that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. It prohibits torture, cruel or degrading treatment or punishment, and the arbitrary deprivation of life. Anyone arrested is to be informed of the reasons for the arrest, and anyone arrested or detained on a criminal charge is to be brought promptly before a judge or another legally authorized person.
The Covenant also provides, among other rights, for freedom of movement, and places limitations upon the expulsion of aliens present lawfully in the territory of a State party. In addition, the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and to freedom of expression are recognized by the Covenant, which also prohibits any propaganda for war or any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred.
States Parties to Covenant
The following 160 States have ratified or acceded to the Covenant: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Optional Protocols to Covenant
The Optional Protocol to the Covenant 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 receive no communications if it concerns a State party to the Covenant that is not also a party to the Optional Protocol.
The following 109 States are parties to the Optional Protocol: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, and Zambia.
The Human Rights Committee is also mandated, under article 41 of the Covenant, to consider communications from a State party alleging violations of the Covenants provisions by another State party. This procedure can be applied when both States recognize this competence of the Committee by a relevant declaration. So far, 48 States have made the declaration under article 41.
The Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant, which aims at the abolition of the death penalty, was adopted by the General Assembly on 15 December 1989 and entered into force on 11 July 1991. The following 60 States have ratified or acceded to the Second Optional Protocol: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Membership of Committee
The States parties to the Covenant elect the Committee's 18 expert members who serve in their individual capacity for four-year terms. Article 28 of the Covenant requires that "they shall be persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights." They are: Abdelfattah Amor (Tunisia);Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati (India); Christine Chanet (France); Maurice Ahanhanzo Glèlè-Ahanhanzo (Benin); Yuji Iwasawa (Japan); Edwin Johnson Lopez (Ecuador); Walter Kälin (Switzerland); Rajsoomer Lallah (Mauritius); Zonke Zanele Majodina (South Africa); Iulia Antoanella Motoc (Romania); Michael O'Flaherty (Ireland); Elisabeth Palm (Sweden); Rafael Rivas Posada (Colombia); Nigel Rodley (United Kingdom); José Luis Sanchez-Cerro (Perú); Ivan Shearer (Australia); Ahmed Tawfik Khalil (Egypt); Ruth Wedgwood (United States).
The Chairperson is Mr. Rivas Posada. The Vice-Chairpersons are Ms. Palm, Mr. Shearer and Mr. Tawfik Khalil. The Rapporteur is Mr. Amor.
Tentative Timetable for Consideration of Reports
Monday, 9 July
Morning: Opening of session (public)
(11-1 p.m.) Meeting with representatives of non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations represented at the United Nations Office at Geneva (closed)
Afternoon: Third periodic report of Zambia (CCPR/C/ZMB/3)
Tuesday, 10 July
Morning: Zambia (continued)
Wednesday, 11 July
Afternoon: Third periodic report of Sudan (CCPR/C/SDN/3) (Palais des Nations, Room XXIII)
Thursday, 12 July
Morning: Sudan (continued) (Palais des Nations, Room XXIII)
Monday, 16 July
Afternoon: Second periodic report of the Czech Republic (CCPR/C/CZE/2)
Tuesday, 17 July
Morning: Czech Republic (continued)
Friday, 27 July
Morning: Concluding Observations Issued; Public Closure
__________
For use of the information media; not an official record
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