Introduction = 1
Part I - The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its Protocols = 3
Structure and Contents of the Covenant = 4
Parts I and II - Overarching Provisions = 4
Part III - The Substantive Rights of the Covenant = 6
Parts IV to VI - Monitoring and Technical Aspects of the Covenant = 9
Contents of the Two Optional Protocols to the Covenant = 10
Part II - The Human Rights Committee = 12
What is the Committee and who are its members? = 12
What are the roles of the Committee members? = 12
When does the Committee meet and how does it work? = 14
Part III - The Four Monitoring Functions of the Committee = 14
Examination of Reports Submitted by States Parties = 15
What should a State party’s report to the Committee include? = 15
How should a State party’s report be compiled? = 16
How does the Committee examine a State party’s report? = 18
What happens during the session when the Committee examines a State party’s report? = 18
What happens once the Committee has adopted its concluding observations? = 20
What happens if a State party fails to submit a report to the Committee? = 21
Adoption of General Comments on Articles of the Covenant = 24
Consideration of Individual Complaints Under the Optional Protocol = 25
What if my complaint is urgent? = 25
What technical and/or procedural requirements must my complaint satisfy? = 26
What about the substance of my case? = 26
What happens if the Committee finds in my favour? = 27
Assessment of Inter-State Complaints = 27
What impact does the Committee’s work have? = 29
Conclusion = 30
ANNEXES
I. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights = 31
II. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights = 55
III. Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty = 61
Part I - The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its Protocols = 3
Structure and Contents of the Covenant = 4
Parts I and II - Overarching Provisions = 4
Part III - The Substantive Rights of the Covenant = 6
Parts IV to VI - Monitoring and Technical Aspects of the Covenant = 9
Contents of the Two Optional Protocols to the Covenant = 10
Part II - The Human Rights Committee = 12
What is the Committee and who are its members? = 12
What are the roles of the Committee members? = 12
When does the Committee meet and how does it work? = 14
Part III - The Four Monitoring Functions of the Committee = 14
Examination of Reports Submitted by States Parties = 15
What should a State party’s report to the Committee include? = 15
How should a State party’s report be compiled? = 16
How does the Committee examine a State party’s report? = 18
What happens during the session when the Committee examines a State party’s report? = 18
What happens once the Committee has adopted its concluding observations? = 20
What happens if a State party fails to submit a report to the Committee? = 21
Adoption of General Comments on Articles of the Covenant = 24
Consideration of Individual Complaints Under the Optional Protocol = 25
What if my complaint is urgent? = 25
What technical and/or procedural requirements must my complaint satisfy? = 26
What about the substance of my case? = 26
What happens if the Committee finds in my favour? = 27
Assessment of Inter-State Complaints = 27
What impact does the Committee’s work have? = 29
Conclusion = 30
ANNEXES
I. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights = 31
II. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights = 55
III. Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty = 61