HEADQUARTERS PROGRAMME TO MARK TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS
| Press Release NOTE 5658 |
Note No. 5658
26 March 2001
Note to Correspondents
HEADQUARTERS PROGRAMME TO MARK TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF INTERNATIONAL
COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS
The twenty-fifth anniversary of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, one of the most important United Nations human rights instruments, will be marked at Headquarters today by a panel discussion with the members and two former chairpersons of the Committee on Human Rights in Conference Room 2, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Covenant entered into force on 23 March 1976.
The discussion will focus on the impact of reporting procedures by States parties to the Covenant. Participants will also discuss the effectiveness of the procedure that allows individuals to bring specific complaints before the Committee and the role of non-governmental organizations in the Committee’s work. Permanent missions, non-governmental organizations and media are invited to participate in the event.
Background
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recognizes that everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security. It prohibits torture, cruel or degrading treatment or punishment and the arbitrary deprivation of life, and recognizes the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and freedom of expression. The Covenant is one of the first United Nations human rights instruments that recognize specific rights for individuals belonging to minorities.
One hundred forty-four countries have ratified the Covenant, which makes it the most universal binding legal instrument that guarantees individual civil and political rights.
States parties are required to submit regular reports on the implementation of their treaty obligations to a committee composed of 18 independent experts selected for their recognized competence in the field of human rights.
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