HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONSIDERS RECOMMENDATIONS OF ITS WORKING GROUP ON METHODS OF WORK
Press Release
HR/CT/469
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONSIDERS RECOMMENDATIONS OF ITS WORKING GROUP ON METHODS OF WORK
19960402 The Human Rights Committee this morning considered recommendations submitted by the working group on methods of work under article 40 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. That article sets out procedures for the submission and consideration of reports by the Committee, the Covenant's monitoring body.Nisuke Ando, expert from Japan, introduced the paper on the Committee's methods of work under article 40. It addresses the consideration of initial and periodic reports, concluding observations by experts, overdue reports, follow-up to the activities under article 40, general comments and States parties' comments on the Committee's concluding observations.
Among the recommendations were that three meetings should be set aside for the consideration of initial reports and two consecutive meetings for periodic reports. Also, country rapporteurs, who are appointed from among Committee experts, should be appointed two or three sessions in advance of the consideration of a State party's report. Alternate rapporteurs could also be appointed and should play a more significant role in the drafting of concluding observations.
Other issues discussed this morning included problems relating to overdue, late submission and backlog of reports. It was argued that flexibility should be exercised when scheduling the Committee's consideration of initial reports. In the consideration of periodic reports, the key issues of a country in relation to the Covenant should be grouped under the first cluster of written questions. Flexibility should also be used in the organization of the list of questions concerning initial reports.
On overdue reports, it was noted that 20 States were late in submission of at least two reports and that, among those States, seven were late in submitting three reports. In the latter case, it was suggested that States be afforded the possibility of submitting a comprehensive report covering the period since the consideration of the previous one. It was further suggested that in very exceptional circumstances, when a State was late in submission due to bona fide material difficulties, there could be a possibility of requesting the presentation of an oral report.
Human Rights Committee - 2 - Press Release HR/CT/469 1496th Meeting (AM) 2 April 1996
Some experts, however, opposed the idea of an oral report as the written version, among other reasons, was more helpful for exchanges between the Committee and non-governmental organizations, and also because publicity to the report in the country concerned was of the utmost importance.
The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue consideration of the report of the working group on its methods of work.
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