Human Rights Committee

Seventy-first Session

1925^th Meeting (PM)

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE HEARS SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING STATE COMPLIANCE

WITH COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

The Human Rights Committee met this afternoon to hear an introduction of the follow-up progress report of the Special Rapporteur charged with following up the Committee's views to States party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Christine Chanet of France, introducing the report, said that since March 2000 she had met with several representatives from several countries.  For the July session, she suggested that the Special Rapporteur get in touch with representatives of, among other countries, Peru, Spain, Czech Republic, Republic of Korea, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Regarding cases in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, nothing had happened because no decision had been taken by the Committee. 

She said that States party should comply with the Committee’s views and observations.  Three approaches had been taken by States in that regard:  representatives had not been informed, in which case a note verbale should be transmitted; the State informed the Committee that there were constitutional obstacles to compliance, such as in the case of Canada; or the State contested the Committee’s findings, which the Netherlands and Australia had done.  She suggested changing procedures and also producing a General Comment on article 2 of the Covenant.  The Committee should consider how to put “teeth” into the actions of the Special Rapporteur, she said.

Asked by Committee members how the situation could be improved, she mentioned press conferences and field missions.

During the ensuing discussion, experts sought clarification on one of the communications before the Committee -- Waldman vs. Canada regarding discrimination in funding of religious schools. 

One communication, Garcia vs. Ecuador, had not been included in the report and the Secretariat was asked to provide an explanation for this.  The Secretariat was also requested to provide information on why funds that had been previously envisaged for field missions to Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica had not been used.

The Committee will meet again tomorrow, 6 April, at 10 a.m., to adopt its concluding observations and recommendations.

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