| remit |
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) · periodic reports every 5 years or as determined by the Committee · individual complaints (Ireland only) - see making a complaint under the optional protocols · inter-state complaints (never used) |
| type of issues considered |
the right to self-determination (Article 1)
- non-discrimination (Articles 2(1) and 26)
- equal rights of men and women to enjoy civil and political rights (Article 3)
- the right to life (Article 6)
- freedom from torture (Article 7)
- freedom from slavery (Article 8)
- the right to liberty (Article 9)
- prisoners’ rights (Articles 10 and 11)
- the right to freedom of movement (Article 12)
- limited immigration rights (Article 13)
- the right to a fair trial (Article 14)
- the right to family life and privacy (Articles 17 and 23)
- freedom of conscience and religion (Articles 18 and 19)
- freedom of assembly and association (Articles 21 and 22)
- children’s rights (Article 24)
- minority rights (Article 27)
|
| number of members |
18 “persons of high moral character and recognised competence in the field of human rights”; must act “impartially and conscientiously” |
| how nominated |
by States party to ICCPR |
| how elected |
ditto; for 4 year periods; can stand again; no more than one member per country; regard must be had to: geographical distribution, form of civilisation, type of legal system; half committee stands down every 2 years |
| reports to |
General Assembly |
| reports when |
annually |
| outline procedure |
- government submits report
- NGOs make submissions
- pre-sessional working group made up of 5 Committee members including Country Rapporteur draws up list of issues to be put to government, one session ahead of the session at which the report is due to be considered – NGOs are allowed to make oral presentations and suggest questions for Committee to put to government
- at hearing, government presents report and replies to list of issues
- Committee members ask questions
- government replies
- final comments by Committee chair
- concluding observations of the Committee
- closed session to consider concluding observations
- public expression of concluding observations
|
| current members (name, country of origin, date mandate expires) |
- Mr Abdelfattah AMOR (Tunisia 2002)
- Mr Nisuke ANDO (Japan 2002)
- Mr Prafullachandra Natwarlal BHAGWATI (India 2002
- Mrs Christine CHANET (France 2002)
- Mr Louis HENKIN (USA 2002)
- Mr Maurice GLÈLÈ-AHANHANZO (Benin 2004)
- Mr Ahmed Tawfik KHALIL (Egypt 2004)
- Mr Eckart Klein (Germany 2002)
- Mr David Kretzmer (Israel 2002)
- Mr Rajsoomer LALLAH (Mauritius 2004)
- Ms Cecilia MEDINA QUIROGA (Chile 2002)
- Mr Rafael RIVAS POSADA (Colombia 2004)
- Sir Nigel RODLEY (Uk 2004
- Mr Ivan SHEARER (Australia 2004)
- Mr Martin SCHEININ (Finland 2004)
- Mr Hipólito SOLARI YRIGOYEN (Argentina 2002)
- Mr Patrick VELLA (Malta 2004)
- Mr Maxwell Yalden (Canada 2004)
|
| un address |
:Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Palais des Nations
- United Nations
- 8 - 14 Avenue de
- la Paix
- 1211 Geneva 10
- Switzerland
|
| submissions by |
2 months prior to date set for Working Group to draw up list of questions (see outline procedure above) |
| secretary |
Mr M Schmidt Ms M Morales Fernandez |
| ROOM NUMBER |
Room 1-066 Room 1-032 |
| telephone |
00 41 22 917 9258 00 41 22 917 9139 |
| fax |
00 41 22 917 9022 00 41 22 917 9022 |
| E-mail address |
mschmidt.hchr@unog.ch mmorales.hchr@unog.ch |
| relevant un leaflet(s) |
Civil and Political Rights: The Human Rights Committee Fact Sheet No. 15 The International Bill of Human Rights Fact sheet No. 2/Rev.1 Communications Procedures Fact Sheet No. 7 |
| established |
1976 |
| meets |
Spring (New York), Summer and Autumn (Geneva) |
| came into force uk |
1976 (but the UK has not ratified either of the optional protocols) |
| last uk report |
considered july 1995 |
| next UK report |
1999-will be considered october 2001 |
| came into force |
1990 |
| last ireland report |
considered july 2000 |
| next ireland report |
july 2005 |
| further reading |
- The Human Rights Committee, Dominic McGoldrick, Clarendon Press, Oxford
- The ICCPR: International Human Rights Law in Ireland, Michael O’Flaherty and Liz Heffernan, Brehon Press,
- Dublin Commentary on the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Nowak & Tretter, Engel Verlag, Kehl am Rhein, 1993
|
