HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE TO HOLD SEVENTY-SIXTH SESSION IN GENEVA FROM 14 OCTOBER TO 1 NOVEMBER

Background Release

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE TO HOLD SEVENTY-SIXTH SESSION

IN GENEVA FROM 14 OCTOBER TO 1 NOVEMBER

Experts to Examine Reports of Egypt and Togo

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 10 October (UN Information Service) –- reports submitted by the Governments of Egypt and Togo on measures taken to implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights will be considered by the Human Rights Committee at its seventy-sixth session which will be held at the Palais Wilson in Geneva from 14 October to 1 November.  The situation in Suriname will be considered in private in the absence of a report and delegation from that country.

The opening meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, 14 October when the Committee members will adopt their programme of work.  Under organizational and other matters, the Experts will consider the report of the pre-sessional working group, as well as working methods.

According to the provisional timetable, the Committee will examine in private the situation in Suriname in the absence of a second periodic report and a delegation from that country on 15 and 16 October.  The third periodic report of Egypt will be examined in public on 17 and 18 October, and the third periodic report of Togo will be reviewed in public on 21 and 22 October.

The countries presenting reports are among the 149 States parties to the Covenant, which was adopted in 1966 by the General Assembly.  The Committee, as a monitoring body, periodically examines reports submitted by States parties on the promotion and protection of civil and political rights in their respective countries.  Representatives of those Governments introduce their country reports and respond to oral and written questions by the Committee's 18 members, who serve in their personal capacity.

A second meeting with States parties to the Covenant will be held on Thursday, 24 October, at 10 a.m. to discuss a number of issues.  The Committee members will prepare for this meeting on their first day of work, in addition to meeting with representatives of non-governmental organizations.

Under the Optional Protocol to the Covenant, 102 States parties recognize the competence of the Committee to consider confidential communications from

individuals claiming to be victims of violations of any rights proclaimed under the treaty.  Since the procedure began in 1977, the Committee has found violations in 282 cases.  Two hundred and sixty-four communications are pending before the Committee.

Forty-seven States parties have ratified or acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant, which aims to abolish the death penalty.

At this session, the Committee may continue its consideration of a draft general comment on article 2 concerning the provision of effective remedies for violations of the Covenant.

Concluding Remarks on Reports of States Parties Previously Reviewed

The two countries whose reports are being considered this session have had reports previously reviewed:

In its concluding remarks on the second periodic report of Egypt, considered in July 1993, the Committee welcomed the renewed positive dialogue with the State party, which had helped the Committee to evaluate the situation in the country.  It acknowledged Egypt's firm commitment to the principles of the rule of law and democracy.  The Committee expressed concern at the many severe measures taken by the Government to combat terrorism in the country.  However, recognizing that the Government had a duty to combat terrorism, the Committee considered that the measures taken to do so should not prejudice the enjoyment of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Covenant, in particular, its articles 6,7 and 9.  The Committee recommended that the Egyptian authorities should establish a closer and constructive dialogue with non-governmental organizations active in the field of human rights.  It also recommended that the State party bring its legislation in conformity with the provisions of article 6 of the Covenant and, in particular, limit the number of crimes punishable by the death penalty.

In concluding remarks on the second periodic report of Togo, reviewed in July 1994, the Committee noted that the country was emerging from a long and devastating period of internal disturbances during which grave human rights violations had occurred; and it was still in the process of recovery and transition to democracy.  It welcomed the adoption of a new Constitution and related legislation, which incorporated a number of provisions of the Covenant.  The Committee said it deplored the large number of cases of summary and arbitrary executions, enforced or involuntary disappearances, torture and arbitrary or unlawful detention committed by members of the army, security or other forces.  It urged that all such cases be systematically investigated in order to bring those suspected of having committed such acts before the courts, and that those found guilty be punished and that the victims be compensated. The Committee deemed it necessary that specific measures were taken to ensure that human rights were respected by the military and security forces.

Tentative Timetable for Consideration of Reports

Thursday 17 October 

afternoon         Egypt: Third periodic report (CCPR/C/EGY/2001/3)

Friday 18 October

morning           Egypt (continued)

Monday 21 October

afternoon         Togo: Third periodic report (CCPR/C/TGO/2001/3

Tuesday 22 October

morning           Togo (continued)

Background on Covenant

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was adopted by the General Assembly and opened for signature in 1966, together with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.  Both entered into force in 1976.

The Civil and Political Rights Covenant begins by stating that all peoples have the right of self-determination.  It recognizes that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.  It prohibits torture, cruel or degrading treatment or punishment, and the arbitrary deprivation of life.  Anyone arrested is to be informed of the reasons for the arrest, and anyone arrested or detained on a criminal charge is to be brought promptly before a judge or other legally authorized person.

The Covenant also provides, among other things, for freedom of movement, and places limitations upon the expulsion of aliens present lawfully in the territory of a State party.  In addition, the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and to freedom of expression are recognized by the Covenant, which also prohibits any propaganda for war or any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred.

States Parties to Covenant

The following 149 States have ratified or acceded to the Covenant: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

      Optional Protocols to Covenant

The Optional Protocol to the Covenant provides for the confidential consideration of communications from individuals who claim to be victims of a violation of any rights proclaimed in the Covenant.  The Committee can receive no communications if it concerns a State party to the Covenant that is not also a party to the Optional Protocol.

The following 102 States are parties to the Optional Protocol: Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar,  Mali, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, and Zambia.

The Human Rights Committee is also mandated, under article 41 of the Covenant, to consider communications from a State party alleging violations of the Covenants provisions by another State party.  This procedure can be applied when both States recognize this competence of the Committee by a relevant declaration.  So far, 47 States have made the declaration under article 41.

The Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant, which aims at the abolition of the death penalty, was adopted by the General Assembly on 15 December 1989 and entered into force on 11 July 1991. The following 47 States have ratified or acceded to the Second Optional Protocol: Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Portugal, Romania, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela and Yugoslavia.

Membership of Committee

The State parties to the Covenant elect the Committee's 18 expert members, who serve in their individual capacity, for four-year terms.  Article 28 of the Covenant requires that "they shall be persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights."

They are: Abdelfattah Amor (Tunisia); Nisuke Ando (Japan); Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati (India); Christine Chanet (France); Maurice Glele-Ahanhanzo (Benin); Louis Henkin (United States); Eckart Klein (Germany); David Kretzmer (Israel); Rajsoomer Lallah (Mauritius); Cecilia Medina Quiroga (Chile); Rafael Rivas Posada (Colombia); Nigel Rodley (United Kingdom); Martin Scheinin (Finland); Ivan Shearer (Australia); Hipolito Solari-Yrigoyen (Argentine); Ahmed Tawfik Khalil (Egypt); Patrick Vella (Malta); and Maxwell Yalden (Canada).

Mr. Bhagwati is Chairperson of the Committee.  Mr. Amor, Mr. Kretzmer and Mr. Solari-Yrigoyen are Vice-Chairpersons and Mr. Klein is the Rapporteur.

* *** *