HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE ADOPTS LISTS OF QUESTIONS TO BE TAKEN UP IN CONNECTION WITH CONSIDERATION OF STATES PARTIES REPORTS
Press Release
HR/CT/584
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE ADOPTS LISTS OF QUESTIONS TO BE TAKEN UP IN CONNECTION WITH CONSIDERATION OF STATES PARTIES REPORTS
20000727(Reissued as received.)
GENEVA, 26 July (UN Information Service) -- The Human Rights Committee this morning continued its adoption of lists of written questions to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the reports of Gabon and Peru.
The two countries are among the States parties whose reports are scheduled to be considered by the Committee during its next session which will be held from 16 October to 3 November in Geneva.
The Committee has already received the second periodic report of Gabon and Peru's fourth periodic report on their compliance with the terms of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Gabon and Peru are among the 145 States parties to the Covenant and as such they are obligated to submit periodic summaries on the administrative and legislative measures they have undertaken with the view to implementing the provisions of the treaty.
Before adopting the lists of questions as a whole, the Committee's 18 independent experts discussed each content of the written questions regarding each report. The questions focus on constitutional and legal frameworks within which the provisions of the Covenant and the Optional Protocol to the Covenant are implemented; and the measures adopted by the States parties in compliance with the Committee's recommendations during its considerations of previous reports submitted by those countries.
The lists also contain questions on the main subjects of the situation of states of emergency; right to life; gender equality and equality before the law; liberty and security of the person: treatment of prisoners and other detainees, right to fair trial; right to privacy and freedom of expression; freedom of religion; and participation in public affairs, among other things.
During its March 1999 session, the Committee decided that the lists of issues for the examination of States parties should henceforth be adopted at the session prior to the examination of a report, in order to allow a period of at least two months for States parties to prepare for the discussion with the Committee. States parties are encouraged to use the list of issues better to prepare for a constructive discussion, but are not expected to submit written answers. Each State party sends a Government delegation to defend its report and to respond to the written and oral questions of the Committee experts.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will continue its consideration of the list of issues on the fourth periodic report of Trinidad and Tobago.
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