International Covenant on Civil

 and Political Rights

37^th Meeting (AM)

Expert Elected to Human Rights Committee; Two Vice-Chairs Selected to Serve

States Parties TO International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

The Meeting of States Parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights today elected Yadh Ben Achour ( Tunisia) to the Human Rights Committee, replacing one member who had passed away before completing his four-year term of office. 

Mr. Ben Achour, who was elected by acclamation, fills the vacancy resulting from the death of Abdelfattah Amor, also of Tunisia, on 2 January.  He will complete the remaining portion of Mr. Amor’s term, which is slated to expire on 31 December 2014.  Two additional candidates — Ndiame Gaye (Senegal) and Marlon Manuel (Philippines) — had been nominated to fill the vacancy, but had withdrawn their candidature prior to the meeting.

The Human Rights Committee monitors implementation of the International Covenant and its Protocols, in the territory of the States parties.  The Committee comprises 18 independent experts of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights.  Elected by Member States, they serve four-year terms and half of their number are elected every second year in the General Assembly.  The Committee convenes three times a year in three-week sessions, two of which are held in Geneva and one in New York.

The 1966 Covenant commits its 167 States parties to respect the civil and political rights of individuals, including the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, in addition to electoral and due-process rights, and the right to a fair trial.  It lays out fundamental human rights in areas such as self-determination and the prohibition of discrimination.  Particular articles establish a ban on torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.  Well-balanced guarantees of habeas corpus, along with the guarantee that all persons deprived of their liberty will be treated with humanity, are set out in subsequent articles.

Mr. Ben Achourhas served as Chairman of Tunisia’s “High Instance for the Achievement of Objectives of the Revolution, Political Reform and Democratic Transition” body since March 2011.  Previously, he acted as President of the National Committee for Political Reform.  He was also Dean of the Faculty of Juridical, Political and Social Sciences of Tunis from 1993 to 1999.

Opening the meeting, Charles Radcliffe, Chief of the Global Issues Section, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), speaking on behalf of the Secretary-General, expressed the condolences of the United Nations Secretariat at the sudden death of Mr. Amor.  He also reminded members that regular elections had been scheduled for 6 September, when nine members would be selected to replace those whose terms of office were slated to end on 31 December.  Regular updates on developments regarding the Covenant and the work of the Committee would also be provided at the September meeting, he added.

In accordance with established practice by which the Chair of the Meeting of States Parties rotated according to regional groups, today’s meeting was led by Margus Kolga (Estonia).

In other business today, the Meeting elected Chandra Widya Yudha (Indonesia) and Hilding Lundkvist (Sweden) as Vice-Chairs from among the representatives of the States parties.

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For information media • not an official record