Human Rights Committee holds its one hundred and fourteenth session in Geneva from 29 June to 24 July 2015

Human Rights Committee
BACKGROUND RELEASE

25 June 2015 

Experts to Review Reports of Venezuela, United Kingdom, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Spain, Canada, Uzbekistan and France

The Human Rights Committee will hold its one hundred and fourteenth session in Geneva from 29 June to 24 July, during which it will review the reports of Venezuela, the United Kingdom, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Spain, Canada, Uzbekistan and France on how they are implementing the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

On Monday, 29 June, the Committee will hear an address by the High Commissioner for Human Rights or his 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.

On 14 July, the Committee will hold a half day discussion with a view to elaborating a General Comment on Article 6 of the Convention on the inherent right to life and the death penalty.

During the session the Committee will hear progress reports from its Special Rapporteurs on Follow-up to Concluding Observations and on Follow-up to Views.  In addition, the Committee will discuss its methods of work.  The Committee will also consider a number of individual communications in closed meetings.

All seven States parties coming before the Committee have been reviewed before.  Venezuela is presenting its fourth periodic report CCPR/C/VEN/4.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the third periodic report, which was considered in March 2001, can be found in CCPR/CO/71/VEN.

The United Kingdom is presenting its seventh periodic report CCPR/C/GBR/7, the seventh report of the United Kingdom Crown Dependencies CCPR/C/GBR/7 and the seventh report of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories CCPR/C/GBR/7.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the sixth periodic report, which was considered in July 2008, can be found in CCPR/C/GBR/CO/6.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is presenting its third periodic report CCPR/C/MKD/3.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the second periodic report, which was considered in March 2008, can be found in CCPR/C/MKD/CI/2.

Spain is presenting its sixth periodic report CCPR/C/ESP/6.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the fifth periodic report, which was considered in October 2008, can be found in CCPR/C/ESP/CO/5.

Canada is presenting its sixth periodic report CCPR/C/CAN/6.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the fifth periodic report, which was considered in March 2006, can be found in CCPR/C/CAN/CO/5.

Uzbekistan is presenting its fourth periodic report CCPR/C/UBZ/4.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the third periodic report, which was considered in March 2010, can be found in CCPR/C/UZB/CO/3.

France is presenting its fifth periodic report CCPR/C/FRA/5.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the fourth periodic report, which was considered in July 2008, can be found in CCPR/C/FR/CO/4.

The country reports, lists of issues and other documentation relating to the session can be found here. 

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 168 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, State of Palestine, 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  81 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, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, 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, Poland, 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:

Mr. Yadh Ben Achour (Tunisia); Mr. Lazhari Bouzid (Algeria); Ms. Sarah Cleveland (United States of America); Mr. Olivier De Frouville (France); Mr. Ahmad Amin Fathalla (Egypt); Mr. Yuji Iwasawa (Japan); Ms. Ivana Jelić (Montenegro); Mr. Duncan Muhumuza Laki (Uganda); Mr. Photini Pazartis (Greece); Mr. Mauro Politi (Italy); Mr. Nigel Rodley (United Kingdom); Mr. Victor Manuel Rodriguez-Rescia (Costa Rica); Mr. Fabian Omar Salvioli (Argentina); Mr. D. B. Seetulsingh (Mauritius); Ms. Anja Seibert-Fohr (Germany); Mr. Yuval Shany (Israel); Mr. Konstantine Vardzelashvili (Georgia);  and Ms. Margo Waterval (Suriname).

Mr. Salvioli is the Chairperson. The Vice-Chairpersons are Mr. Iwasawa, Mr. Seetulsingh and Ms. Seibert-Fohr.  Mr. Vardzelashvili is the Rapporteur.

Programme of Work

Monday, 29 June
 
10 a.m.          Opening of session, adoption of the agenda, report of the working group

10:45 a.m.     Closed meeting

3 p.m.           Review of the fourth report of Venezuela CCPR/C/VEN/4

Tuesday, 30 June

10 a.m.         Review of the fourth report of Venezuela (continued)

3 p.m.           Methods of work

Wednesday, 1 July

10 a.m.         Closed meeting

3 p.m.               Review of seventh report of the United Kingdom CCPR/C/GBR/7
Seventh report of the United Kingdom Crown Dependencies CCPR/C/GBR/7
Seventh report of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories CCPR/C/GBR/7

 
Thursday, 2 July

10 a.m.         Review of the seventh report of the United Kingdom (continued)

3 p.m.           Review of the third report of The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia CCPR/C/MKD/3

Friday, 3 July

10 a.m.         Review of the third report of The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (continued)

 3 p.m.          Closed meeting

Monday, 6 July

10 a.m.         Methods of work

3 p.m.           Review of the sixth report of Spain CCPR/C/ESP/6

Tuesday, 7 July
 
10 a.m.         Review of the sixth report of Spain (continued)

3 p.m.           Review of the sixth report of Canada CCPR/C/CAN/6

Wednesday, 8 July

10 a.m.         Review of the sixth report of Canada (continued)

3 p.m.           Review of the fourth report of Uzbekistan CCPR/C/UZB/4

Thursday, 9 July
 
10 a.m.         Review of the fourth report of Uzbekistan (continued)

3 p.m.           Closed meeting

Friday, 10 July

10 a.m.         Review of the fifth report of France CCPR/C/FRA/5

3 p.m.           Review of the fifth report of France (continued)

Monday, 13 July

10 a.m.         Progress report of Special Rapporteur on Follow-up to Concluding   Observations (public)

11:30 a.m.    Progress report of Special Rapporteur on Follow-up to Views (public)

3 p.m.           Closed meeting

Tuesday, 14 July

10 a.m.          Half day discussion on draft General Comment on the right to life at the Palais des Nations Room XIX 

 3 p.m.           Meeting with States parties at the Palais des Nations Room XIX

Wednesday, 15 July

10 a.m.         Closed meeting

3 p.m.           Closed meeting

Thursday, 16 July

10 a.m.         Closed meeting

3 p.m.           Closed meeting
 
Friday, 17 July

United Nations Holiday
 
Friday, 24 July
 
10 a.m.         Closed meeting

3 p.m.           Methods of work, announcement of bureau decisions, public closing of the session
 
 
A news conference is scheduled for Thursday 23 July at 13.30 at Palais des Nations in Geneva, after which the Committee will publish its concluding observations here:
http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=899&Lang=en

ENDS

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More information on the Human Rights Committee: http://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/ccpr

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: http://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights

Protecting your rights – pdf guide to the UN human rights committees:  http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/TB/TB_booklet_en.pdf
                                                         

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