UN Human Rights Committee to review South Africa, Namibia, Sweden, New Zealand, Slovenia, Costa Rica, Rwanda

GENEVA (29 February 2016) – The UN Human Rights Committee, which monitors  implementation by States of one of the main international human rights treaties - the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) - is meeting in Geneva from 7 to 31 March.  The Committee will review these countries on the following dates:

South Africa (7-8 Mar); Namibia (8-9 Mar); Sweden (9-10 Mar); New Zealand (14-15 Mar); Slovenia (15-16 Mar); Costa Rica (16-17 Mar); Rwanda (17-18 Mar)

The above are among the 168 States that have ratified the ICCPR and so are required to be reviewed regularly by the Committee of 18 international independent experts.  The Committee will also hear from NGOs and national human rights institutions.  The public sessions take place from 10:00 - 13:00 and 15:00 - 18:00 at Palais Wilson, Geneva,  and will be webcast here: www.treatybodywebcast.org

More information, including submitted reports by the States, here: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1016&Lang=en .The Committee will publish its findings, known as concluding observations, here on 30 March.

Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always - #4Freedoms
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) are marking their 50th anniversary in 2016. The UN Human Rights Office is running a campaign, entitled “Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always”,  throughout the year to promote and raise awareness of the two treaties. The campaign is focussing on the timeless themes of rights and freedoms, in particular freedom from fear, freedom of speech, freedom of worship and freedom from want, and the work that continues to secure and ensure them. Check the campaign website at http://2covenants.ohchr.org

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact: Liz Throssell  +41 (0) 22 917 9466 / +41 79 752 0488 ethrossell@ohchr.org

More information on the Human Rights Committee: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CCPR/Pages/CCPRIndex.aspx

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