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HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE TO HOLD ITS NINETY-SIXTH SESSION IN GENEVA FROM 13 TO 31 JULY 2009
09 July 2009
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Human Rights Committee
BACKGROUND RELEASE
9 July 2009
Experts to Review Reports of Tanzania, Netherlands, Chad and Azerbaijan
Reports submitted by the Governments of Tanzania, the Netherlands, Chad and Azerbaijan on measures taken to implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights will be reviewed by the Human Rights Committee at its ninety-sixth session, which will be held in Geneva at the Palais Wilson from 13 to 31 July 2009.
On the first day of the session, the 18-member Committee will adopt its agenda and programme of work. It also will swear in a new member, one of nine members of the Committee elected or re-elected in September 2008. The Committee will then 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 fourth periodic report of Tanzania on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, 13 and 14 July; the fourth periodic report of the Netherlands and two Addendums on Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, 14 and 15 July; the initial report of Chad on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, 16 and 17 July; and the third periodic report of Azerbaijan on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, 20 and 21 July, in formal public meetings. The Committee will present its concluding observations on the implementation of the Covenant by these countries at the end of its three-week session on 31 July.
Three of the countries to be reviewed during this session have come before the Committee before. The Committee considered the third periodic report of Tanzania on 24 July 1998, and its concluding observations can be found in (CCPR/C/SR.1697). It reviewed the third periodic report of the Netherlands on 9 and 10 July 2001 and its concluding observations on the report can be found in (CCPR/CO/72/NET). The Committee considered the second periodic report of Azerbaijan on 26 October 2001, and its concluding observations on the report can be found in
(CCPR/CO/73/AZE).
The countries presenting reports are among the 164 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, 111 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, 433 communications are pending before the Committee. During the course of the present session, the Committee will review a portion of these communications. Seventy-one States parties have ratified or acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant, which aims to abolish the death penalty.
Also during the session, the Committee's Special Rapporteurs for follow-up on concluding observations and for follow-up on Views (Committee opinions and recommendations rendered on communications) are scheduled to provide progress reports on their activities.
On 23 July, the Committee will hold its fifth informal meeting with States parties to the Covenant from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Room XII of the Palais des Nations.
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 164 States have ratified or acceded to the Covenant: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, 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, Iran, Iraq, 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, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, 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, Vanuatu, 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 recognized 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 111 States are parties to the Optional Protocol: Albania, 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, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, 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, Turkey, Turkmenistan, 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 71 States have ratified or acceded to the Second Optional Protocol: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan 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); Mohammed Ayat (Morocco); Lazhari Bouzid (Algeria); Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati (India); Christine Chanet (France); Ahmed Amin Fathalla (Egypt); Yuji Iwasawa (Japan); Helen Keller (Switzerland); Rajsoomer Lallah (Mauritius); Zonke Zanele Majodina (South Africa); Iulia Antoanella Motoc (Romania); Michael O'Flaherty (Ireland);
José Luis Perez Sanchez-Cerro (Perú); Rafael Rivas Posada (Colombia); Krister Thelin (Sweden); Nigel Rodley (United Kingdom); Fabian Omar Salvioli (Argentina); and Ruth Wedgwood (United States).
Tentative Timetable for Opening/Closing of Session and Consideration of Reports
Monday, 13 July
10 a.m. Opening of session (public)
3 p.m. Tanzania: fourth periodic report (CCPR/C/TZA/4)
Tuesday, 14 July
10 a.m. Tanzania (continued)
3 p.m. Netherlands: fourth periodic report (CCPR/C/NET/4)
Addendum: Aruba (CCPR/C/NET/4/Add.1)
Addendum: the Netherlands Antilles (CCPR/C/NET/4/Add.2)
Wednesday, 15 July
10 a.m. Netherlands (continued)
Thursday, 16 July
10 a.m. Chad: initial report (CCPR/C/TCD/1)
Friday, 17 July
10 a.m. Chad (continued)
3 p.m. Chad (continued)
Monday, 20 July
3 p.m. Azerbaijan: third periodic report (CCPR/C/AZE/3)
Tuesday, 21 July
10 a.m. Azerbaijan (continued)
Friday, 31 July
10 a.m. Announcement of Bureau decisions, public closure of session
__________
For a full programme of work, please go to the following address on the Committee’s web page: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/docs/ProgramWork94th.doc
___________
For use of the information media; not an official record
BACKGROUND RELEASE
9 July 2009
Experts to Review Reports of Tanzania, Netherlands, Chad and Azerbaijan
Reports submitted by the Governments of Tanzania, the Netherlands, Chad and Azerbaijan on measures taken to implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights will be reviewed by the Human Rights Committee at its ninety-sixth session, which will be held in Geneva at the Palais Wilson from 13 to 31 July 2009.
On the first day of the session, the 18-member Committee will adopt its agenda and programme of work. It also will swear in a new member, one of nine members of the Committee elected or re-elected in September 2008. The Committee will then 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 fourth periodic report of Tanzania on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, 13 and 14 July; the fourth periodic report of the Netherlands and two Addendums on Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, 14 and 15 July; the initial report of Chad on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, 16 and 17 July; and the third periodic report of Azerbaijan on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, 20 and 21 July, in formal public meetings. The Committee will present its concluding observations on the implementation of the Covenant by these countries at the end of its three-week session on 31 July.
Three of the countries to be reviewed during this session have come before the Committee before. The Committee considered the third periodic report of Tanzania on 24 July 1998, and its concluding observations can be found in (CCPR/C/SR.1697). It reviewed the third periodic report of the Netherlands on 9 and 10 July 2001 and its concluding observations on the report can be found in (CCPR/CO/72/NET). The Committee considered the second periodic report of Azerbaijan on 26 October 2001, and its concluding observations on the report can be found in
(CCPR/CO/73/AZE).
The countries presenting reports are among the 164 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, 111 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, 433 communications are pending before the Committee. During the course of the present session, the Committee will review a portion of these communications. Seventy-one States parties have ratified or acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant, which aims to abolish the death penalty.
Also during the session, the Committee's Special Rapporteurs for follow-up on concluding observations and for follow-up on Views (Committee opinions and recommendations rendered on communications) are scheduled to provide progress reports on their activities.
On 23 July, the Committee will hold its fifth informal meeting with States parties to the Covenant from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Room XII of the Palais des Nations.
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 164 States have ratified or acceded to the Covenant: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, 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, Iran, Iraq, 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, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, 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, Vanuatu, 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 recognized 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 111 States are parties to the Optional Protocol: Albania, 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, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, 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, Turkey, Turkmenistan, 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 71 States have ratified or acceded to the Second Optional Protocol: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan 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); Mohammed Ayat (Morocco); Lazhari Bouzid (Algeria); Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati (India); Christine Chanet (France); Ahmed Amin Fathalla (Egypt); Yuji Iwasawa (Japan); Helen Keller (Switzerland); Rajsoomer Lallah (Mauritius); Zonke Zanele Majodina (South Africa); Iulia Antoanella Motoc (Romania); Michael O'Flaherty (Ireland);
José Luis Perez Sanchez-Cerro (Perú); Rafael Rivas Posada (Colombia); Krister Thelin (Sweden); Nigel Rodley (United Kingdom); Fabian Omar Salvioli (Argentina); and Ruth Wedgwood (United States).
Tentative Timetable for Opening/Closing of Session and Consideration of Reports
Monday, 13 July
10 a.m. Opening of session (public)
3 p.m. Tanzania: fourth periodic report (CCPR/C/TZA/4)
Tuesday, 14 July
10 a.m. Tanzania (continued)
3 p.m. Netherlands: fourth periodic report (CCPR/C/NET/4)
Addendum: Aruba (CCPR/C/NET/4/Add.1)
Addendum: the Netherlands Antilles (CCPR/C/NET/4/Add.2)
Wednesday, 15 July
10 a.m. Netherlands (continued)
Thursday, 16 July
10 a.m. Chad: initial report (CCPR/C/TCD/1)
Friday, 17 July
10 a.m. Chad (continued)
3 p.m. Chad (continued)
Monday, 20 July
3 p.m. Azerbaijan: third periodic report (CCPR/C/AZE/3)
Tuesday, 21 July
10 a.m. Azerbaijan (continued)
Friday, 31 July
10 a.m. Announcement of Bureau decisions, public closure of session
__________
For a full programme of work, please go to the following address on the Committee’s web page: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/docs/ProgramWork94th.doc
___________
For use of the information media; not an official record
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