Human Rights Committee opens one hundred and seventeenth session

Human Rights Committee  

20 June 2016

The Human Rights Committee this morning opened its one hundred and seventeenth session, hearing an address by Adam Abdelmoula, Director of the Human Rights Treaties Division of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.  The Committee adopted its agenda and programme of work, as well as the report from its Working Group on Individual Communications.

Fabian Omar Salvioli, Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee, opened the session by stating that the session was beginning in the context of a great deal of tensions worldwide, namely  a context in which States failed to meet their human rights obligations, or had financial challenges in meeting them.  He noted that a robust response was needed to that situation and that the Human Rights Committee would work towards that end. 

Adam Abdelmoula, Director of the Human Rights Treaties Division of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, explained that the goal of his division was to ensure that the Human Rights Council, the Treaty Bodies and the Universal Periodic Review were supported more effectively.  He noted that now was a momentous time for the twin Covenants as their fiftieth anniversary was celebrated.  The most important event in that respect would be the joint meeting between the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which would explore the complementarity between two committees and the contemporary relevance of the two Covenants.  Mr. Adelmoula invited all stakeholders to reflect on how best the two Covenants could be used to strengthen human rights protection in a world with very different challenges from those that had existed at the time of their adoption. Mr. Abdelmoula reminded that the indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights had been a constant theme in the treaty body strengthening process.  As required by the General Assembly resolution 68/268 on the treaty body strengthening process, States had made a commitment to reconsider the state of the human rights treaty body system in 2020 and to decide on further action to enhance its functioning.  That process should contribute to the better protection of human rights on the ground, especially for the most vulnerable populations. 

In June 2015, Costa Rica had called for a worldwide academic process to reflect on the future of the treaty body system.  Following that call, in late 2015, the Geneva Academy of International had developed the Academic Platform Project on the 2020 Review, which aimed to develop innovative proposals and solutions with a view to shaping the 2020 review.  To do so, a large and cross-regional group of independent researchers would meet at a series of regional workshops to plot the way forward.  Treaty body experts would have the possibility to participate actively in the project.  Currently, the first Secretary-General’s report under the General Assembly resolution 68/268 was being finalized.  It would highlight the progress and challenges of the first year of the implementation of the resolution, as well as anticipate requirements for the next biennium (2018-2019).  Mr. Abdelmoula also announced that the Handbook for Treaty Body Members was available in English and Spanish, with versions in other languages coming out soon.  The handbook was supposed to assist States in nominating and electing competent and independent treaty body members. 

The Working Group on Individual Communications, chaired by the Committee Member Sarah Cleveland, then presented its report to the Committee.  The Working Group had met between 13 and 17 June and had examined 24 cases, out of which one had been accepted, three rejected, and recommendations for the 20 remaining had been adopted.  Ms. Cleveland informed the Committee about three cases reviewed under the new procedure. 

The Committee will next meet at 3 p.m. today to begin its consideration of the sixth report of Denmark (CCPR/C/DNK/6).

During its one hundred and seventeenth session, to be held at the Palais Wilson from 20 June to 15 July 2016, the Committee will also consider the reports of Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Ghana, Ecuador, Burkina Faso and Argentina. 

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For use of the information media; not an official record

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