HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONCLUDES CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES TO BE TAKEN UP WITH INITIAL GUATEMALA REPORT
Press Release
HR/CT/452
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONCLUDES CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES TO BE TAKEN UP WITH INITIAL GUATEMALA REPORT
19960318 The Human Rights Committee this afternoon concluded consideration of the list of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the initial report of Guatemala, scheduled to begin on 26 March.The Committee began discussing that list this morning, as part of a series of procedural and organizational matters addressed during the first meeting of its fifty-sixth session.
Among other issues, the list of questions to the Guatemalan delegation addresses: the legal status of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights within domestic law; steps taken to implement the 1994 Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights signed between the Government and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG); the impact of the civil war in Guatemala on the exercise of the rights guaranteed in the Covenant; activities of paramilitary groups; the situation of street children; and the rights of indigenous groups.
Also this afternoon, the Committee deferred consideration of the list of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the third periodic report of Peru. Consideration of Peru's report, which was scheduled for the current session, was deferred to the Committee's July session, at the request of that country. As Peru already has the list of questions, the Committee reserved its right to modify the list before the report's consideration.
During the current session, the Committee will also consider reports submitted by Mauritius, Spain, Zambia and Nigeria on their compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The Committee will also consider 17 communications under the Covenant's first Optional Protocol, which provides for confidential consideration of communications from individuals claiming to be victims of a violation of any Covenant right. The current session, which began this morning, will continue through 4 April.
The Committee will also resume its consideration of a draft general comment regarding article 25 of the Covenant. That article addresses the
Human Rights Committee - 2 - Press Release HR/CT/452 1475th Meeting (PM) 18 March 1996
right to take part in the conduct of public affairs, the right to vote and to be elected, and the right of access to public service. The Committee will also review past general comments with a view to identifying Covenant provisions which have not yet been addressed or whose comments need to be updated.
The five countries presenting reports during the current session are among the 132 States parties to the International Covenant. The Committee, as a monitoring body, periodically examines reports submitted by States parties on their promotion and protection of civil and political rights. Representatives of those governments will introduce their country reports and respond to oral and written questions from the Committee's 18 members, who serve in their personal capacity.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Tuesday, 19 March, to begin consideration of the third periodic report of Mauritius.
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