Human Rights Committee

Rules of procedure of the Human Rights Committee*

Part I

General rules

I.Sessions

Rule 1

The Human Rights Committee (hereinafter referred to as “the Committee”) shall hold sessions as may be required for the satisfactory performance of its functions in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (hereinafter referred to as “the Covenant”).

Rule 2

1.The Committee shall normally hold three regular sessions each year.

2.Regular sessions of the Committee shall be convened at dates decided by the Committee in consultation with the Secretary-General of the United Nations (hereinafter referred to as “the Secretary-General”), taking into account the calendar of conferences as approved by the General Assembly.

Rule 3

1.Special sessions of the Committee shall be convened by decision of the Committee. When the Committee is not in session, the Chairperson may convene special sessions in consultation with the other officers of the Committee. The Chairperson of the Committee shall also convene special sessions:

(a)At the request of a majority of the members of the Committee;

(b)At the request of a State party to the Covenant.

2.Special sessions shall be convened as soon as possible at a date fixed by the Chairperson in consultation with the Secretary-General and with the other officers of the Committee, taking into account the calendar of conferences as approved by the General Assembly.

Rule 4

The Secretary-General shall notify the members of the Committee of the date and place of the first meeting of each session. Such notification shall be sent, in the case of a regular session, at least six weeks in advance and, in the case of a special session, at least 18 days in advance.

Rule 5

Sessions of the Committee shall normally be held at United Nations Headquarters or at the United Nations Office at Geneva. Another place for a session may be designated by the Committee in consultation with the Secretary-General.

II.Agenda

Rule 6

The provisional agenda for each regular session shall be prepared by the Secretary‑General in consultation with the Chairperson of the Committee, in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Covenant and of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (hereinafter referred to as “the Protocol”), and shall include:

(a)Any item the inclusion of which has been ordered by the Committee at a previous session;

(b)Any item proposed by the Chairperson of the Committee;

(c)Any item proposed by a State party to the Covenant;

(d)Any item proposed by a member of the Committee;

(e)Any item proposed by the Secretary-General relating to functions of the Secretary-General under the Covenant, the Protocol or these rules.

Rule 7

The provisional agenda for a special session of the Committee shall consist only of those items which are proposed for consideration at that special session.

Rule 8

The first item on the provisional agenda for any session shall be the adoption of the agenda, except for the election of officers when required under rule 17 of these rules.

Rule 9

During a session, the Committee may revise the agenda and may, as appropriate, defer or delete items; only urgent and important items may be added to the agenda.

Rule 10

The provisional agenda and the basic documents relating to each item appearing thereon shall be transmitted to the members of the Committee by the Secretary-General, who shall endeavour to have the documents transmitted to the members at least six weeks prior to the opening of the session.

III.Members of the Committee

Rule 11

The members of the Committee shall be the 18 persons elected in accordance with articles 28 to 34 of the Covenant.

Rule 12

The term of office of the members of the Committee elected at the first election shall begin on 1 January 1977. The term of office of members of the Committee elected at subsequent elections shall begin on the day after the date of expiry of the term of office of the members of the Committee whom they replace.

Rule 13

1.If, in the unanimous opinion of the other members, a member of the Committee has ceased to carry out the functions of member for any reason other than absence of a temporary character, the Chairperson of the Committee shall notify the Secretary-General, who shall then declare the seat of that member to be vacant.

2.In the event of the death or the resignation of a member of the Committee, the Chairperson shall immediately notify the Secretary-General, who shall declare the seat vacant from the date of death or the date on which the resignation takes effect. The resignation of a member of the Committee shall be notified by that member in writing directly to the Chairperson or to the Secretary-General and action shall be taken to declare the seat of that member vacant only after such notification has been received.

Rule 14

A vacancy declared in accordance with rule 13 of these rules shall be dealt with in accordance with article 34 of the Covenant.

Rule 15

Any member of the Committee elected to fill a vacancy declared in accordance with article 33 of the Covenant shall hold office for the remainder of the term of the member who vacated the seat on the Committee under the provisions of that article.

Rule 16

Before assuming duties as a member, each member of the Committee shall give the following solemn undertaking in open Committee:

“I solemnly undertake to discharge my duties as a member of the Human Rights Committee impartially and conscientiously.”

IV.Officers

Rule 17

The Committee shall elect from among its members a Chairperson, three Vice‑Chairpersons and a Rapporteur.

Rule 18

The officers of the Committee shall be elected for a term of two years. They shall be eligible for re-election. None of them, however, may hold office after ceasing to be a member of the Committee.

Rule 19

The Chairperson shall perform the functions conferred upon the Chairperson by the Covenant, the rules of procedure and the decisions of the Committee. In the exercise of those functions, the Chairperson shall remain under the authority of the Committee.

Rule 20

If during a session the Chairperson is unable to be present at a meeting or any part thereof, the Chairperson shall designate one of the Vice-Chairpersons to act as Chairperson.

Rule 21

A Vice-Chairperson acting as Chairperson shall have the same rights and duties as the Chairperson.

Rule 22

If any of the officers of the Committee ceases to serve or declares to be unable to continue serving as a member of the Committee or for any reason is no longer able to act as an officer, a new officer shall be elected for the unexpired term of the predecessor.

V.Secretariat

Rule 23

1.The secretariat of the Committee and of such subsidiary bodies as may be established by the Committee (hereinafter referred to as “the secretariat”) shall be provided by the Secretary‑General.

2.The Secretary-General shall provide the necessary staff and facilities for the effective performance of the functions of the Committee under the Covenant.

Rule 24

The Secretary-General or a representative of the Secretary-General shall attend all meetings of the Committee. Subject to rule 38 of these rules, the Secretary-General or the representative may make oral or written statements at meetings of the Committee or its subsidiary bodies.

Rule 25

The Secretary-General shall be responsible for all the necessary arrangements for meetings of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies.

Rule 26

The Secretary-General shall be responsible for informing the members of the Committee without delay of any questions which may be brought before it for consideration.

Rule 27

Before any proposal which involves expenditure is approved by the Committee or by any of its subsidiary bodies, the Secretary-General shall prepare and circulate to the members of the Committee or subsidiary body, as early as possible, an estimate of the cost involved in the proposal. It shall be the duty of the Chairperson to draw the attention of members to this estimate and to invite discussion on it when the proposal is considered by the Committee or subsidiary body.

VI.Languages

Rule 28

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish shall be the official languages, and Arabic, English, French, Russian and Spanish the working languages of the Committee.

Rule 29

Interpretation shall be provided by the Secretariat of the United Nations. Speeches made in any of the working languages shall be interpreted into the other working languages. Speeches made in an official language shall be interpreted into the working languages.

Rule 30

Any speaker addressing the Committee and using a language other than one of the official languages shall normally provide for interpretation into one of the working languages. Interpretation into the other working languages may be based on the interpretation given in the first working language.

Rule 31

Summary records of the meetings of the Committee shall be drawn up in the working languages.

Rule 32

All formal decisions of the Committee shall be made available in the official languages. All other official documents of the Committee shall be issued in the working languages and any of them may, if the Committee so decides, be issued in all the official languages.

VII.Public and private meetings

Rule 33

The meetings of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies shall be held in public unless the Committee decides otherwise or it appears from the relevant provisions of the Covenant or the Protocol that the meeting should be held in private. The adoption of concluding observations under article 40 shall take place in closed meetings.

Rule 34

At the close of each private meeting the Committee or its subsidiary body may issue a communiqué through the Secretary-General.

VIII.Records

Rule 35

Summary records of the public and private meetings of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies shall be prepared by the Secretariat. They shall be distributed in provisional form as soon as possible to the members of the Committee and to any others participating in the meeting. All such participants may, within three working days after receipt of the provisional record of the meeting, submit corrections to the Secretariat. Any disagreement concerning such corrections shall be settled by the Chairperson of the Committee or the chairperson of the subsidiary body to which the record relates or, in the case of continued disagreement, by decision of the Committee or of the subsidiary body.

Rule 36

1.The summary records of public meetings of the Committee in their final form shall be documents of general distribution unless, in exceptional circumstances, the Committee decides otherwise.

2.The summary records of private meetings shall be distributed to the members of the Committee and to other participants in the meetings. They may be made available to others upon decision of the Committee at such time and under such circumstances as the Committee may decide.

IX.Conduct of business

Rule 37

Twelve members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.

Rule 38

The Chairperson shall declare the opening and closing of each meeting of the Committee, direct the discussion, ensure observance of these rules, accord the right to speak, put questions to the vote and announce decisions. The Chairperson, subject to these rules, shall have control over the proceedings of the Committee and over the maintenance of order at its meetings. The Chairperson may, in the course of the discussion of an item, propose to the Committee the limitation of the time to be allowed to speakers, the limitation of the number of times each speaker may speak on any question and the closure of the list of speakers. The Chairperson shall rule on points of order and shall have the power to propose adjournment or closure of the debate or adjournment or suspension of a meeting. Debate shall be confined to the question before the Committee, and the Chairperson may call a speaker to order if that speaker’s remarks are not relevant to the subject under discussion.

Rule 39

During the discussion of any matter, a member may at any time raise a point of order, and the point of order shall immediately be decided by the Chairperson in accordance with the rules of procedure. Any appeal against the ruling of the Chairperson shall immediately be put to the vote, and the ruling of the Chairperson shall stand unless overruled by a majority of the members present. A member may not, in raising a point of order, speak on the substance of the matter under discussion.

Rule 40

During the discussion of any matter, a member may move the adjournment of the debate on the item under discussion. In addition to the proposer of the motion, one member may speak in favour of and one against the motion, after which the motion shall immediately be put to the vote.

Rule 41

The Committee may limit the time allowed to each speaker on any question. When debate is limited and a speaker exceeds his allotted time, the Chairperson shall call that speaker to order without delay.

Rule 42

When the debate on an item is concluded because there are no other speakers, the Chairperson shall declare the debate closed. Such closure shall have the same effect as closure by the consent of the Committee.

Rule 43

A member may at any time move the closure of the debate on the item under discussion, regardless of whether any other member or representative has signified a wish to speak. Permission to speak on the closure of the debate shall be accorded only to two speakers opposing the closure, after which the motion shall immediately be put to the vote.

Rule 44

During the discussion of any matter, a member may move the suspension or the adjournment of the meeting. No discussion on such motions shall be permitted, and they shall immediately be put to the vote.

Rule 45

Subject to rule 39 of these rules, the following motions shall have precedence, in the following order, over all other proposals or motions before the meeting:

(a)To suspend the meeting;

(b)To adjourn the meeting;

(c)To adjourn the debate on the item under discussion;

(d)For the closure of the debate on the item under discussion.

Rule 46

Unless otherwise decided by the Committee, proposals and substantive amendments or motions submitted by members shall be introduced in writing and handed to the secretariat, and their consideration shall, if so requested by any member, be deferred until the next meeting on the following day.

Rule 47

Subject to rule 45 of these rules, any motion by a member calling for a decision on the competence of the Committee to adopt a proposal submitted to it shall be put to the vote immediately before a vote is taken on the proposal in question.

Rule 48

A motion may be withdrawn by its proposer at any time before voting on it has commenced, provided that the motion has not been amended. A motion which has thus been withdrawn may be reintroduced by another member.

Rule 49

When a proposal has been adopted or rejected, it may not be reconsidered at the same session unless the Committee so decides. Permission to speak on a motion to reconsider shall be accorded only to two speakers in favour of the motion and two speakers opposing the motion, after which it shall immediately be put to the vote.

X.Voting

Rule 50

Each member of the Committee shall have one vote.

Rule 51

Except as otherwise provided in the Covenant or elsewhere in these rules, decisions of the Committee shall be made by a majority of the members present.

Rule 52

Subject to rule 58 of these rules, the Committee shall normally vote by show of hands, except that any member may request a roll-call, which shall then be taken in the alphabetical order of the names of the members of the Committee, beginning with the member whose name is drawn by lot by the Chairperson.

Rule 53

The vote of each member participating in a roll-call shall be inserted in the record.

Rule 54

After the voting has commenced, it shall not be interrupted unless a member raises a point of order in connection with the actual conduct of the voting. Brief statements by members consisting solely of explanations of their votes may be permitted by the Chairperson before the voting has commenced or after the voting has been completed.

Rule 55

Parts of a proposal shall be voted on separately if a member requests that the proposal be divided. Those parts of the proposal which have been approved shall then be put to the vote as a whole; if all the operative parts of a proposal have been rejected, the proposal shall be considered to have been rejected as a whole.

Rule 56

1.When an amendment to a proposal is moved, the amendment shall be voted on first. When two or more amendments to a proposal are moved, the Committee shall first vote on the amendment furthest removed in substance from the original proposal and then on the amendment next furthest removed there from and so on until all the amendments have been put to the vote. If one or more amendments are adopted, the amended proposal shall then be voted upon.

2.A motion is considered an amendment to a proposal if it merely adds to, deletes from or revises part of that proposal.

Rule 57

1.If two or more proposals relate to the same question, the Committee shall, unless it decides otherwise, vote on the proposals in the order in which they have been submitted.

2.The Committee may, after each vote on a proposal, decide whether to vote on the next proposal.

3.Any motions requiring that no decision be taken on the substance of such proposals shall, however, be considered as previous questions and shall be put to the vote before them.

Rule 58

Elections shall be held by secret ballot, unless the Committee decides otherwise in the case of an election to fill a place for which there is only one candidate.

Rule 59

1.When only one person or member is to be elected and no candidate obtains the required majority in the first ballot, a second ballot shall be taken, which shall be restricted to the two candidates who obtained the greatest number of votes.

2.If the second ballot is inconclusive and a majority vote of members present is required, a third ballot shall be taken in which votes may be cast for any eligible candidate. If the third ballot is inconclusive, the next ballot shall be restricted to the two candidates who obtained the greatest number of votes in the third ballot and so on, with unrestricted and restricted ballots alternating, until a person or member is elected.

3.If the second ballot is inconclusive and a two‑thirds majority is required, the balloting shall be continued until one candidate secures the necessary two‑thirds majority. In the next three ballots, votes may be cast for any eligible candidate. If three such unrestricted ballots are inconclusive, the next three ballots shall be restricted to the two candidates who obtained the greatest number of votes in the third unrestricted ballot, and the following three ballots shall be unrestricted, and so on until a person or member is elected.

Rule 60

When two or more elective places are to be filled at one time under the same conditions, those candidates obtaining the required majority in the first ballot shall be elected. If the number of candidates obtaining such majority is less than the number of persons or members to be elected, there shall be additional ballots to fill the remaining places, the voting being restricted to the candidates obtaining the greatest number of votes in the previous ballot, whose number shall not be more than twice the number of places remaining to be filled; however, after the third inconclusive ballot, votes may be cast for any eligible candidate. If three such unrestricted ballots are inconclusive, the next three ballots shall be restricted to the candidates who obtained the greatest number of votes in the third of the unrestricted ballots, whose number shall not be more than twice the number of places remaining to be filled; the following three ballots shall be unrestricted, and so on until all the places have been filled.

Rule 61

If a vote is equally divided on a matter other than an election, the proposal shall be regarded as rejected.

XI.Subsidiary bodies

Rule 62

1.The Committee may, taking into account the provisions of the Covenant and the Protocol, set up such subcommittees and other ad hoc subsidiary bodies as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions, and define their composition and powers.

2.Subject to the provisions of the Covenant and the Protocol and unless the Committee decides otherwise, each subsidiary body shall elect its own officers and may adopt its own rules of procedure. Failing such rules, the present rules of procedure shall apply mutatis mutandis.

XII.Annual report of the Committee

Rule 63

As prescribed in article 45 of the Covenant, the Committee shall submit to the General Assembly of the United Nations, through the Economic and Social Council, an annual report on its activities, including a summary of its activities under the Protocol as prescribed in article 6 thereof.

XIII.Distribution of reports and other official documents of the Committee

Rule 64

1.Without prejudice to the provisions of rule 36 of these rules of procedure and subject to paragraphs 2 and 3 of the present rule, reports, formal decisions and all other official documents of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies shall be documents of general distribution unless the Committee decides otherwise.

2.All reports, formal decisions and other official documents of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies relating to articles 41 and 42 of the Covenant and to the Protocol shall be distributed by the secretariat to all members of the Committee, to the States parties concerned and, as may be decided by the Committee, to members of its subsidiary bodies and to others concerned.

3.Reports and additional information submitted by States parties pursuant to article 40 of the Covenant shall be documents of general distribution. The same applies to other information provided by a State party unless the State party concerned requests otherwise.

XIV.Amendments

Rule 65

These rules of procedure may be amended by a decision of the Committee, without prejudice to the relevant provisions of the Covenant and the Protocol.

Part II

Rules relating to the functions of the Committee

XV.Reports from states parties under article 40 of the Covenant

Rule 66

1.The States parties to the Covenant shall submit reports on the measures they have adopted which give effect to the rights recognized in the Covenant and on the progress made in the enjoyment of those rights. Reports shall indicate the factors and difficulties, if any, affecting the implementation of the Covenant.

2.Requests for submission of a report under article 40, paragraph 1 (b), of the Covenant may be made in accordance with the periodicity decided by the Committee or at any other time the Committee may deem appropriate. In the case of an exceptional situation when the Committee is not in session, a request may be made through the Chairperson, acting in consultation with the members of the Committee.

3.Whenever the Committee requests States parties to submit reports under article 40, paragraph 1 (b), of the Covenant, it shall determine the dates by which such reports shall be submitted.

4.The Committee may, through the Secretary-General, inform the States parties of its wishes regarding the form and content of the reports to be submitted under article 40 of the Covenant.

Rule 67

1.The Secretary-General may, after consultation with the Committee, transmit to the specialized agencies concerned copies of such parts of the reports of States members of those agencies as may fall within their field of competence.

2.The Committee may invite the specialized agencies to which the Secretary‑General has transmitted parts of the reports to submit comments on those parts within such time limits as it may specify.

Rule 68

1.The Committee shall, through the Secretary-General, notify the States parties of the opening date, duration and place of the session at which their respective reports will be examined. Representatives of the States parties may be present at the meetings of the Committee when their reports are examined. The Committee may also inform a State party from which it decides to seek further information that it may authorize its representative to be present at a specified meeting. Such a representative should be able to answer questions which may be put to that representative by the Committee and make statements on reports already submitted by the State party concerned, and may also submit additional information from that State party.

2.If a State party has submitted a report but fails to send any representative to the session at which it has been notified that its report will be examined, the Committee may, at its discretion, notify the State party through the Secretary-General that at the session originally specified, or at a later one that is indicated, it intends to examine the report and present its concluding observations under rule 71, paragraph 3, of the present rules of procedure. These concluding observations will specify the date of the following periodic report that shall be submitted under rule 66 of the present rules.

Rule 69

1.At each session the Secretary-General shall notify the Committee of all cases of non‑submission of reports or additional information requested under rules 66 and 71 of these rules. In such cases the Committee may transmit to the State party concerned, through the Secretary-General, a reminder concerning the submission of the report or additional information.

2.If, after the reminder referred to in paragraph 1 of this rule, the State party does not submit the report or additional information required under rules 66 and 71 of these rules, the Committee shall so state in the annual report which it submits to the General Assembly of the United Nations through the Economic and Social Council.

Rule 70

1.In cases where the Committee has been notified under rule 69, paragraph 1, of these rules of the failure of a State to submit under rule 66, paragraph 3, any report under article 40, paragraph 1 (a) or (b), of the Covenant and has sent the corresponding reminders to the State party, the Committee may, at its discretion, notify the State party through the Secretary-General that it intends, on a date or at a session specified in the notification, to examine in a public session the measures taken by the State party to give effect to the rights recognized in the Covenant, and to proceed by adopting concluding observations.

2.Where the Committee acts under paragraph 1 of this rule, it shall transmit to the State party, well in advance of the date or session specified, a list of issues as to the main matters to be examined.

3. The concluding observations shall be communicated to the State party, in accordance with rule 71, paragraph 3, of these rules, and made public. The State party shall present its next report within two years of the adoption of the concluding observations.

Rule 71

1.When considering a report submitted by a State party under article 40 of the Covenant, the Committee shall first satisfy itself that the report provides all the information required under rule 66 of these rules.

2.If a report of a State party under article 40 of the Covenant, in the opinion of the Committee, does not contain sufficient information, the Committee may request that State to furnish the additional information which is required, indicating by what date the said information should be submitted.

3.On the basis of its examination of any report or information supplied by a State party, the Committee may make appropriate concluding observations which shall be communicated to the State party, together with notification of the date by which the next report under article 40 of the Covenant shall be submitted.

4.No member of the Committee shall participate in the examination of State party reports or the discussion and adoption of concluding observations if they involve the State party in respect of which he or she was elected to the Committee.

5.The Committee may request the State party to give priority to such aspects of its concluding observations as it may specify.

Rule 72

Where the Committee has specified, under rule 71, paragraph 5, of these rules, that priority should be given to certain aspects of its concluding observations on a State party’s report, it shall establish a procedure for considering replies by the State party on those aspects and deciding what consequent action, including the date set for the next periodic report, may be appropriate.

Rule 73

The Committee shall communicate, through the Secretary-General, to States parties the general comments it has adopted under article 40, paragraph 4, of the Covenant.

XVI.Procedure for the consideration of communications received under article 41 of the Covenant

Rule 74

1.A communication under article 41 of the Covenant may be referred to the Committee by either State party concerned by notice given in accordance with paragraph 1 (b) of that article.

2.The notice referred to in paragraph 1 of this rule shall contain or be accompanied by information regarding:

(a)Steps taken to seek adjustment of the matter in accordance with article 41, paragraphs 1 (a) and (b), of the Covenant, including the text of the initial communication and of any subsequent written explanations or statements by the States parties concerned which are pertinent to the matter;

(b)Steps taken to exhaust domestic remedies;

(c)Any other procedure of international investigation or settlement resorted to by the States parties concerned.

Rule 75

The Secretary-General shall maintain a permanent register of all communications received by the Committee under article 41 of the Covenant.

Rule 76

The Secretary-General shall inform the members of the Committee without delay of any notice given under rule 74 of these rules and shall transmit to them as soon as possible copies of the notice and relevant information.

Rule 77

1.The Committee shall examine communications under article 41 of the Covenant at closed meetings.

2.The Committee may, after consultation with the States parties concerned, issue communiqués, through the Secretary‑General, for the use of the information media and the general public regarding the activities of the Committee at its closed meetings.

Rule 78

A communication shall not be considered by the Committee unless:

(a)Both States parties concerned have made declarations under article 41, paragraph 1, of the Covenant that are applicable to the communication;

(b)The time limit prescribed in article 41, paragraph 1 (b), of the Covenant has expired;

(c)The Committee has ascertained that all available domestic remedies have been invoked and exhausted in the matter in conformity with the generally recognized principles of international law, or that the application of the remedies is unreasonably prolonged.

Rule 79

Subject to the provisions of rule 78 of these rules, the Committee shall proceed to make its good offices available to the States parties concerned with a view to a friendly resolution of the matter on the basis of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms as recognized in the Covenant.

Rule 80

The Committee may, through the Secretary-General, request the States parties concerned, or either of them, to submit additional information or observations orally or in writing. The Committee shall indicate a time limit for the submission of such written information or observations.

Rule 81

1.The States parties concerned shall have the right to be represented when the matter is being considered in the Committee and to make submissions orally and/or in writing.

2.The Committee shall, through the Secretary-General, notify the States parties concerned as early as possible of the opening date, duration and place of the session at which the matter will be examined.

3.The procedure for making oral and/or written submissions shall be decided by the Committee, after consultation with the States parties concerned.

Rule 82

1.Within 12 months after the date on which the Committee received the notice referred to in rule 74 of these rules, the Committee shall adopt a report in accordance with article 41, paragraph 1 (h), of the Covenant.

2.The provisions of paragraph 1 of rule 81 of these rules shall not apply to the deliberations of the Committee concerning the adoption of the report.

3.The Committee’s report shall be communicated, through the Secretary‑General, to the States parties concerned.

Rule 83

If a matter referred to the Committee in accordance with article 41 of the Covenant is not resolved to the satisfaction of the States parties concerned, the Committee may, with their prior consent, proceed to apply the procedure prescribed in article 42 of the Covenant.

XVII.Procedure for the consideration of communications received under the optional protocol

A.Transmission of communications to the Committee

Rule 84

1.The Secretary-General shall bring to the attention of the Committee, in accordance with the present rules, communications which are or appear to be submitted for consideration by the Committee under article 1 of the Optional Protocol.

2.The Secretary-General, when necessary, may request clarification from the author of a communication as to whether the author wishes to have the communication submitted to the Committee for consideration under the Optional Protocol. In case there is still doubt as to the wish of the author, the Committee shall be seized of the communication.

3.No communication shall be received by the Committee or included in a list under rule 85 if it concerns a State which is not a party to the Optional Protocol.

Rule 85

1.The Secretary-General shall prepare lists of the communications submitted to the Committee in accordance with rule 84 above, with a brief summary of their contents, and shall circulate such lists to the members of the Committee at regular intervals. The Secretary-General shall also maintain a permanent register of all such communications.

2.The full text of any communication brought to the attention of the Committee shall be made available to any member of the Committee upon request by that member.

Rule 86

1.The Secretary-General may request clarification from the author of a communication concerning the applicability of the Optional Protocol to his communication, in particular regarding:

(a)The name, address, age and occupation of the author and the verification of the author’s identity;

(b)The name of the State party against which the communication is directed;

(c)The object of the communication;

(d)The provision or provisions of the Covenant alleged to have been violated;

(e)The facts of the claim;

(f)Steps taken by the author to exhaust domestic remedies;

(g)The extent to which the same matter is being examined under another procedure of international investigation or settlement.

2.When requesting clarification or information, the Secretary-General shall indicate an appropriate time limit to the author of the communication with a view to avoiding undue delays in the procedure under the Optional Protocol.

3.The Committee may approve a questionnaire for the purpose of requesting the above‑mentioned information from the author of the communication.

4.The request for clarification referred to in paragraph 1 of the present rule shall not preclude the inclusion of the communication in the list provided for in rule 85, paragraph 1, of these rules.

Rule 87

For each registered communication the Secretary-General shall as soon as possible prepare and circulate to the members of the Committee a summary of the relevant information obtained.

B.General provisions regarding the consideration of communications by the Committee or its subsidiary bodies

Rule 88

Meetings of the Committee or its subsidiary bodies during which communications under the Optional Protocol will be examined shall be closed. Meetings during which the Committee may consider general issues such as procedures for the application of the Optional Protocol may be public if the Committee so decides.

Rule 89

The Committee may issue communiqués, through the Secretary-General, for the use of the information media and the general public regarding the activities of the Committee at its closed meetings.

Rule 90

1.A member shall not take part in the examination of a communication by the Committee:

(a)If the State party in respect of which he or she was elected to the Committee is a party to the case;

(b)If the member has any personal interest in the case; or

(c)If the member has participated in any capacity in the making of any decision on the case covered by the communication.

2.Any question which may arise under paragraph 1 above shall be decided by the Committee.

Rule 91

If, for any reason, a member considers that he or she should not take part or continue to take part in the examination of a communication, the member shall inform the Chairperson of his or her withdrawal.

Rule 92

The Committee may, prior to forwarding its Views on the communication to the State party concerned, inform that State of its Views as to whether interim measures may be desirable to avoid irreparable damage to the victim of the alleged violation. In doing so, the Committee shall inform the State party concerned that such expression of its Views on interim measures does not imply a determination on the merits of the communication.

C.Procedure to determine admissibility

Rule 93

1.The Committee shall decide as soon as possible and in accordance with the following rules whether the communication is admissible or is inadmissible under the Optional Protocol.

2.A working group established under rule 95, paragraph 1, of these rules may also declare a communication admissible when it is composed of five members and all the members so decide.

3.A working group established under rule 95, paragraph 1, of these rules of procedure may decide to declare a communication inadmissible, when it is composed of at least five members and all the members so agree. The decision will be transmitted to the Committee plenary, which may confirm it without formal discussion. If any Committee member requests a plenary discussion, the plenary will examine the communication and take a decision.

Rule 94

1.Communications shall be dealt with in the order in which they are received by the secretariat, unless the Committee or a working group established under rule 95, paragraph 1, of these rules decides otherwise.

2.Two or more communications may be dealt with jointly if deemed appropriate by the Committee or a working group established under rule 95, paragraph 1, of these rules.

Rule 95

1.The Committee may establish one or more working groups to make recommendations to the Committee regarding the fulfilment of the conditions of admissibility laid down in articles 1, 2, 3 and 5, paragraph 2, of the Optional Protocol.

2.The rules of procedure of the Committee shall apply as far as possible to the meetings of the working group.

3.The Committee may designate special rapporteurs from among its members to assist in the handling of communications.

Rule 96

With a view to reaching a decision on the admissibility of a communication, the Committee, or a working group established under rule 95, paragraph 1, of these rules shall ascertain:

(a)That the communication is not anonymous and that it emanates from an individual, or individuals, subject to the jurisdiction of a State party to the Optional Protocol;

(b)That the individual claims, in a manner sufficiently substantiated, to be a victim of a violation by that State party of any of the rights set forth in the Covenant. Normally, the communication should be submitted by the individual personally or by that individual’s representative; a communication submitted on behalf of an alleged victim may, however, be accepted when it appears that the individual in question is unable to submit the communication personally;

(c)That the communication does not constitute an abuse of the right of submission. An abuse of the right of submission is not, in principle, a basis of a decision of inadmissibility ratione temporis on grounds of delay in submission. However, a communication may constitute an abuse of the right of submission, when it is submitted after 5 years from the exhaustion of domestic remedies by the author of the communication, or, where applicable, after 3 years from the conclusion of another procedure of international investigation or settlement, unless there are reasons justifying the delay taking into account all the circumstances of the communication;

(d)That the communication is not incompatible with the provisions of the Covenant;

(e)That the same matter is not being examined under another procedure of international investigation or settlement;

(f)That the individual has exhausted all available domestic remedies.

Rule 97

1.As soon as possible after the communication has been received, the Committee, a working group established under rule 95, paragraph 1, of these rules or a special rapporteur designated under rule 95, paragraph 3, shall request the State party concerned to submit a written reply to the communication.

2.Within six months the State party concerned shall submit to the Committee written explanations or statements that shall relate both to the communication’s admissibility and its merits as well as to any remedy that may have been provided in the matter, unless the Committee, working group or special rapporteur has decided, because of the exceptional nature of the case, to request a written reply that relates only to the question of admissibility. A State party that has been requested to submit a written reply that relates only to the question of admissibility is not precluded thereby from submitting, within six months of the request, a written reply that shall relate both to the communication’s admissibility and its merits.

3.A State party that has received a request for a written reply under paragraph 1 both on admissibility and on the merits of the communication may apply in writing, within two months, for the communication to be rejected as inadmissible, setting out the grounds for such inadmissibility. Submission of such an application shall not extend the period of six months given to the State party to submit its written reply to the communication, unless the Committee, a working group established under rule 95, paragraph 1, of these rules or a special rapporteur designated under rule 95, paragraph 3, decides to extend the time for submission of the reply, because of the special circumstances of the case, until the Committee has ruled on the question of admissibility.

4.The Committee, a working group established under rule 95, paragraph 1, of these rules or a special rapporteur designated under rule 95, paragraph 3, may request the State party or the author of the communication to submit, within specified time limits, additional written information or observations relevant to the question of admissibility of the communication or its merits.

5.A request addressed to a State party under paragraph 1 of this rule shall include a statement of the fact that such a request does not imply that any decision has been reached on the question of admissibility.

6.Within fixed time limits, each party may be afforded an opportunity to comment on submissions made by the other party pursuant to this rule.

Rule 98

1.Where the Committee decides that a communication is inadmissible under the Optional Protocol it shall as soon as possible communicate its decision, through the Secretary‑General, to the author of the communication and, where the communication has been transmitted to a State party concerned, to that State party.

2.If the Committee has declared a communication inadmissible under article 5, paragraph 2, of the Optional Protocol, this decision may be reviewed at a later date by the Committee upon a written request by or on behalf of the individual concerned containing information to the effect that the reasons for inadmissibility referred to in article 5, paragraph 2, no longer apply.

D.Procedure for the consideration of communications on the merits

Rule 99

1.In those cases in which the issue of admissibility is decided before receiving the State party’s reply on the merits, if the Committee or a working group established under rule 95, paragraph 1, of these rules decides that the communication is admissible, that decision and all other relevant information shall be submitted, through the Secretary-General, to the State party concerned. The author of the communication shall also be informed, through the Secretary‑General, of the decision.

2.Within six months, the State party concerned shall submit to the Committee written explanations or statements clarifying the matter under consideration and the remedy, if any, that may have been taken by that State party.

3.Any explanations or statements submitted by a State party pursuant to this rule shall be communicated, through the Secretary-General, to the author of the communication, who may submit any additional written information or observations within fixed time limits.

4.Upon consideration of the merits, the Committee may review a decision that a communication is admissible in the light of any explanations or statements submitted by the State party pursuant to this rule.

Rule 100

1.In those cases in which the parties have submitted information relating both to the questions of admissibility and the merits, or in which a decision on admissibility has already been taken and the parties have submitted information on the merits, the Committee shall consider the communication in the light of all written information made available to it by the individual and the State party concerned and shall formulate its Views thereon. Prior thereto, the Committee may refer the communication to a working group established under rule 95, paragraph 1, of these rules or to a special rapporteur designated under rule 95, paragraph 3, to make recommendations to the Committee.

2.The Committee shall not decide on the merits of the communication without having considered the applicability of all the admissibility grounds referred to in the Optional Protocol.

3.The Views of the Committee shall be communicated to the individual and to the State party concerned.

Rule 101

1.The Committee shall designate a Special Rapporteur for follow-up on Views adopted under article 5, paragraph 4, of the Optional Protocol, for the purpose of ascertaining the measures taken by States parties to give effect to the Committee’s Views.

2.The Special Rapporteur may make such contacts and take such action as appropriate for the due performance of the follow-up mandate. The Special Rapporteur shall make such recommendations for further action by the Committee as may be necessary.

3.The Special Rapporteur shall regularly report to the Committee on follow‑up activities.

4.The Committee shall include information on follow-up activities in its annual report.

E.Rules concerning confidentiality

Rule 102

1.Communications under the Optional Protocol shall be examined by the Committee and a working group established pursuant to rule 95, paragraph 1, of these rules in closed session. Oral deliberations and summary records shall remain confidential.

2.All working documents issued for the Committee, the Working Group established pursuant to rule 95, paragraph 1, or the Special Rapporteur designated pursuant to rule 95, paragraph 3, by the secretariat, including summaries of communications prepared prior to registration, the list of summaries of communications and all drafts prepared for the Committee, its Working Group established pursuant to rule 95, paragraph 1, or the Special Rapporteur designated pursuant to rule 95, paragraph 3, shall remain confidential, unless the Committee decides otherwise.

3.Paragraph 1 above shall not affect the right of the author of a communication or the State party concerned to make public any submissions or information bearing on the proceedings. However, the Committee, the Working Group established pursuant to rule 95, paragraph 1, or the Special Rapporteur designated pursuant to rule 95, paragraph 3, may, as deemed appropriate, request the author of a communication or the State party concerned to keep confidential the whole or part of any such submissions or information.

4.When a decision has been taken on the confidentiality pursuant to paragraph 3 above, the Committee, the Working Group established pursuant to rule 95, paragraph 1, or the Special Rapporteur designated pursuant to rule 95, paragraph 3, may decide that all or part of the submissions and other information, such as the identity of the author, may remain confidential after the Committee’s decision on inadmissibility, the merits or discontinuance has been adopted.

5.Subject to paragraph 4 above, the Committee’s decisions on inadmissibility, the merits and discontinuance shall be made public. The decisions of the Committee or the Special Rapporteur designated pursuant to rule 95, paragraph 3, under rule 92 of these rules shall be made public. No advance copies of any decision by the Committee shall be issued.

6.The secretariat is responsible for the distribution of the Committee’s final decisions. It shall not be responsible for the reproduction and the distribution of submissions concerning communications.

Rule 103

Information furnished by the parties within the framework of follow-up to the Committee’s Views is not subject to confidentiality, unless the Committee decides otherwise. Decisions of the Committee relating to follow-up activities are equally not subject to confidentiality, unless the Committee decides otherwise.

F.Individual opinions

Rule 104

Any member of the Committee who has participated in a decision may request that his or her individual opinion be appended to the Committee’s Views or decision.