UN Human Rights Committee
Mission/Mandate:
[…]
The Committee meets in Geneva or New York and normally holds three sessions per year.”
Target group:
Governments of State parties to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Objective:
The Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provides that its “States parties […] submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented.
[…] The Committee examines each report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of ‘concluding observations’” (Ibid.), which the state is expected “to disseminate […], in all appropriate languages, with a view to public information and discussion.” (Consolidated guidelines for State reports under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 26 February 2001, HRC website, http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CCPR.C.66.GUI.Rev.2.En?Opendocument, accessed 11 December 2008)
Funding:
United Nations funds
Scope of reporting:
Geographic focus: Countries that are parties to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Thematic focus: Civil and political rights
Reporting methodology:
The reports titled “Consideration of reports submitted by the State Parties under Article 40 of the Covenant” (“Concluding Observations”) are based on HRC’s assessments of State party reports, which also involves discussions with a delegation from the country concerned. The HRC “Considerations”-reports provide a general account on what the Committee considers to be “positive aspects” and “[p]rincipal subjects of concern and recommendations” as to the country’s human rights situation. Since information is provided in an overview manner, no reference is made to individual cases. Information is not sourced. The respective positions of the HRC are included in the text, as are relevant provisions of the Covenant. The style of the reports appears declaratory, and each account on an aspect that is considered to be one “of concern” is followed by recommendations to the state party. (see recent HRC reports published here: HRC website, http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/sessions.htm, accessed 11 December 2008)
Publication cycle:
Publication of reports does not follow a regular cycle.
Languages:
Each report is available in one or several UN working languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Chinese)
Navigation of website:
HRC Homepage > Sessions > select session(s) that list the country in question
Additional references:
