HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONCLUDES COMMENT ON ARTICLE 25 OF INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL, POLITICAL RIGHTS

29 March 1996

Press Release
HR/CT/466

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONCLUDES COMMENT ON ARTICLE 25 OF INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL, POLITICAL RIGHTS

19960329 Addresses Right to Participate in Public Affairs, Elections

The Human Rights Committee this afternoon concluded a reading of their draft general comment on article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. That article addresses the right to take part in public affairs, to vote or be elected, and to have access to public service.

In a general exchange of views on the wording of specific paragraphs of the draft text, the Committee focused its attention on issues relating to the freedoms of expression, association and assembly. Matters addressed by those paragraphs include the role of political parties, limitations on campaign contributions and expenditures, and the role of mass media in the political process.

General comments are formulated by the Committee over time with the aim of assisting States parties in interpreting individual articles of the Covenant. They elaborate on the overall scope of a given article, as well as its place within the protections provided by the Covenant.

The full text of article 25 reads as follows:

"Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:

"(a) To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives;

"(b) To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors;

"(c) To have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country."

Article 2 deals with assuring Covenant protections to all in the territory or jurisdiction of the State party, "without distinction of any

kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status".

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m., Monday, 1 April, to begin its consideration of the first periodic report of Nigeria on its compliance with the Covenant.

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