Human Rights Committee to hold its one hundredth and tenth session in Geneva from 10 to 28 March 2014

BACKGROUND RELEASE

6 March 2014

Experts to Review Reports of Chad, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Nepal, Sierra Leone and the United States

The Human Rights Committee will hold its one hundredth and tenth session in Geneva from 10 to 28 March, during which it will review the reports of Chad, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Nepal, Sierra Leone and the United States on how they are implementing the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

On Monday, 10 March, the Committee will hear an address by the High Commissioner for Human Rights or her representative and will also adopt its agenda and programme of work. During the session, the Committee will hear, in closed meetings, from United Nations organizations, specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions on the situation in the countries that it will review.

In addition, the Committee will discuss its methods of work and hear progress reports from its Special Rapporteur on follow-up to views and follow-up to concluding observations. The Committee will also consider a number of individual communications in closed meetings and will continue its discussion on a draft General Comment on Article 9 on the right of everyone to liberty and security of person.

Five out of the six States parties presenting reports during this session have been previously reviewed by the Committee. Chad is presenting its second periodic report (CCPR/C/TCD/2), and the Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on its initial periodic report, which was considered in July 2009, can be found in (CCPR/C/TCD/CO/1). Kyrgyzstan is presenting its second periodic report (CCPR/C/KGZ/2); the Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on its initial periodic report, considered in July 2000, can be found in (CCPR/CO/69/KGZ). Latvia is presenting its third periodic report (CCPR/C/LVA/3), while the Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on its second periodic report, which was considered in October 2003, can be found in (CCPR/CO/79/LVA). Nepal will be presenting its second periodic report (CCPR/C/NPL/2), and the Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on its initial report, which was considered in October 1994, can be found in (CCPR/C/79/Add.42). Finally, the United States is presenting its fourth periodic report (CCPR/C/USA/4), while the Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on its third periodic report, considered in July 2006, can be found in (CCPR/C/USA/CO/3/Rev.1).

Sierra Leone (CCPR/C/SLE/1) will be presenting its initial report.

Further information on the one-hundredth and tenth session can be found via this link.

Background on the Covenant

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was adopted by the General Assembly and opened for signature in 1966 and entered into force in 1976. The 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 rights to freedom of thought, conscience and 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 167 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, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 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, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 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 the 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 115 States are parties to the Optional Protocol: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, 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, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, 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, Tunisia, 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.

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 78 States have ratified or acceded to the Second Optional Protocol: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, 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, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, 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 the 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:

Yadh Ben Achour (Tunisia); Lazhari Bouzid (Algeria); Christine Chanet (France); Ahmad Amin Fathalla (Egypt); Cornelis Flinterman (The Netherlands); Yuji Iwasawa (Japan); Walter Kalin (Switzerland); Zonke Zanele Majodina (South Africa); Gerarld L. Neuman (United States); Nigel Rodley (United Kingdom); Victor Manuel Rodriguez-Rescia (Costa Rica); Fabian Omar Salvioli (Argentina); Anja Seibert-Fohr (Germany); Yuval Shany (Israel); Konstantine Vardzelashvili (Georgia); Margo Waterval (Suriname); and Andrei Paul Zlatescu (Romania).

Mr. Rodley is the Chairperson. The Vice-Chairpersons are Mr. Ben Achour and Ms. Waterval. Mr. Flinterman is the Rapporteur.

Programme of Work (Public meetings)

Monday, 10 March
10 a.m. Opening of session, adoption of the agenda, report of the working group
3 p.m. Second report of Kyrgyzstan (CCPR/C/KGZ/2)

Tuesday, 11 March
10 a.m. Second report of Kyrgyzstan (CCPR/C/KGZ/2)
3 p.m. Initial report of Sierra Leone (CCPR/C/SLE/1)

Wednesday, 12 March
10 a.m. Initial report of Sierra Leone (CCPR/C/SLE/1)
3 p.m. Third report of Latvia (CCPR/C/LVA/3)

Thursday, 13 March
10 a.m. Third report of Latvia (CCPR/C/LVA/3)
3 p.m. Fourth report of United States (CCPR/C/USA/4) – Palais des Nations

Friday, 14 March
10 a.m. Fourth report of United States (CCPR/C/USA/4) – Palais des Nations
3 p.m. Methods of Work – Palais des Nations

Monday, 17 March
10 a.m. Communications
3 p.m. Second report of Chad (CCPR/C/TCD/2)

Tuesday, 18 March
10 a.m. Second report of Chad (CCPR/C/TCD/2)
3 p.m. Second report of Nepal (CCPR/C/NPL/2)

Wednesday, 19 March
10 a.m. Second report of Nepal (CCPR/C/NPL/2)

Thursday, 20 March
10 a.m. Draft General Comment on Article 9

Friday, 21 March
10 a.m. Draft General Comment on Article 9

Monday, 24 March
10 a.m. Progress report of Special Rapporteur on Follow-up to Concluding Observations
11:30 a.m. Progress report of Special Rapporteur on Follow-up to Views

Tuesday, 25 March
10 a.m. Draft General Comment on Article 9

Thursday, 27 March
10 a.m. Adoption of annual Report
11:00 a.m. Draft General Comment on Article 9

Friday, 28 March
12 p.m. Methods of Work
3 p.m. Methods of work and announcement of bureau decisions
Closing of the session

Live webcasts of the public sessions can be viewed on http://www.treatybodywebcast.org/.

The country reports and full list of issues can be found here, as well as the concluding observations on 27 March: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=625&Lang=en

To learn more about the Human Rights Committee, visit:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CCPR/Pages/CCPRIndex.aspx

To learn more about the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, visit: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CCPR.aspx


For more information and other media requests, please contact Liz Throssell (+41 (0) 22 917 9434/ ethrossell@ohchr.org

To arrange an interview with a Committee member, please contact Kate Fox (+41 (0) 22 917 9398/ kfox@ohchr.org)


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