HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE ADOPTS LIST OF QUESTIONS TO BE TAKEN UP IN CONNECTION WITH THIRD AND FOURTH PERIODIC REPORTS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Press Release
HR/CT/585
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE ADOPTS LIST OF QUESTIONS TO BE TAKEN UP IN CONNECTION WITH THIRD AND FOURTH PERIODIC REPORTS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
20000727(Reissued as received.)
GENEVA, 26 July (UN Information Service) -- The Human Rights Committee this afternoon adopted a list of questions to be taken up in connection with the third and fourth periodic reports of Trinidad and Tobago on how that country was implementing the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
In the section of the list of questions on the Optional Protocol to the Covenant, a question was asked about the remedies existing in domestic law which were equivalent to those remedies provided by the Covenant. It is to be recalled that Trinidad and Tobago denounced the Optional Protocol -- which allows the Committee to consider communications from individuals claiming their rights were abused under the treaty -- on 27 March, with effect from 27 June. However, cases submitted prior to 27 June might still be examined by the Committee under its communications procedure. As one of the 145 States parties to the Covenant, Trinidad and Tobago must present periodic reports to the Committee on how the provisions of the treaty are being implemented.
With regard to the right to life, the Government will be asked to give up- to-date figures on executions and numbers of persons on death row. In addition, a question was formulated on flogging and whipping which are incompatible with article 7 of the Covenant, and their removal from the statute book was requested by the Committee.
Other topics on which questions were formulated included gender equality; states of emergency; rights of aliens; right to privacy and freedom of expression; freedom of religion; and participation in public affairs.
Before adjourning its afternoon meeting, the Committee met in private to discuss its draft concluding observations on the report of Kuwait which was considered during the current session.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 27 July, it will meet in private to discuss miscellaneous matters. The Committee's three-week session is expected to end on Friday, 28 July.
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