Human Rights Committee
131st session
1–26 March 2021
Item 3 of the provisional agenda
Adoption of the agenda
Annotated provisional agenda *
Provisional agenda
1.Solemn declaration by the newly elected members of the Committee in accordance with article 38 of the Covenant.
2.Election of the Chair and other officers of the Committee.
3.Adoption of the agenda.
4.Organizational and other matters, including the adoption of the report of the working group on individual communications.
5.Meeting with representatives of United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations.
6.Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 40 of the Covenant.
7.Follow-up to concluding observations on State party reports.
8.Follow-up to Views under the Optional Protocol to the Covenant.
9.Consideration of communications under the first Optional Protocol to the Covenant.
10.Adoption of the annual report to the General Assembly.
Annotations
1.Solemn declaration by the newly elected members of the Committee in accordance with article 38 of the Covenant
In accordance with article 38 of the Covenant and rule 14 of the rules of procedure, the members of the Committee elected at the thirty-eighth meeting of States parties to the Covenant, held on 17 September 2020, will make the following solemn declaration:
“I solemnly undertake to discharge my duties as a member of the Human Rights Committee independently, impartially and conscientiously.”
2.Election of the Chair and other officers of the Committee
In accordance with article 39 (1) of the Covenant and rule 16 of the rules of procedure, the Committee will elect from among its members a Chair, three Vice-Chairs and a Rapporteur. Pursuant to rule 18 of the rules of procedure, the officers of the Committee will be elected for a term of two years. Pursuant to rule 60 of the rules of procedure, elections will 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.
3.Adoption of the agenda
Under rule 8 of the Committee’s rules of procedure, 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 16. Under this item, the Committee will adopt the agenda for the session.
In accordance with rule 6 of the rules of procedure, the present provisional agenda has been prepared by the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee. In accordance with rule 9, the Committee may revise the agenda during a session and may, as appropriate, add, defer or delete items.
4.Organizational and other matters, including the adoption of the report of the working group on individual communications
The 131st session of the Committee will be held online from 1 to 26 March 2021. The first meeting will be convened on Monday, 1 March, at 4 p.m.
Pursuant to rule 35 of the Committee’s rules of procedure, the meetings of the Committee will be held in public, unless the Committee decides otherwise or it is apparent from the relevant provisions of the Covenant or the Optional Protocol that the meetings should be held in private.
Under the present item, the Committee will consider miscellaneous issues relevant to the Committee’s business.
5.Meeting with representatives of United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations
At each session, the Committee hears representatives of United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations. Accordingly, the following meetings have been scheduled: on 1 March, on Finland, with United Nations organizations and specialized agencies, from 5 to 5.30 p.m., and with the national human rights institution and non-governmental organizations, from 5.30 to 6 p.m.; and on 8 March, on Kenya, with United Nations organizations and specialized agencies, from 4 to 4.30 p.m., and with the national human rights institution and non-governmental organizations, from 4.30 to 6 p.m.
6.Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 40 of the Covenant
The reports of Finland and Kenya will be considered during the 131st session of the Committee. A tentative schedule for the consideration of the reports, prepared in consultation with the Committee, is given below.
Schedule for consideration of reports under article 40 of the Covenant
|
State |
Report |
Date |
|
Finland |
Seventh periodic report(CCPR/C/FIN/7) |
Tuesday, 2 March, afternoonWednesday, 3 March, afternoonThursday, 4 March, afternoon |
|
Kenya |
Fourth periodic report (CCPR/C/KEN/4) |
Tuesday, 9 March, afternoonWednesday, 10 March, afternoonThursday, 11 March, afternoon |
In accordance with rule 68 of the Committee’s rules of procedure, representatives of States parties may be present at the meetings of the Committee when their reports are examined. Accordingly, the Secretary-General has informed the States parties concerned of the dates on which their respective reports are scheduled for consideration by the Committee at its 131st session.
Country report task forces will examine and adopt lists of issues prior to reporting for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Fiji, Grenada, Iceland, Malawi, Nepal, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles and the United Republic of Tanzania.
7.Follow-up to concluding observations on State party reports
The Special Rapporteur for follow-up on concluding observations will provide a progress report on her activities.
8.Follow-up to Views under the Optional Protocol to the Covenant
The Special Rapporteur for follow-up on Views will provide a progress report on his or her activities.
9.Consideration of communications under the first Optional Protocol to the Covenant
Mindful of the provisions under rule 107 of the Committee’s rules of procedure, the working group on individual communications will meet online prior to the 131st session, from 22 to 26 February 2021.
In accordance with the provisions of chapter XVIII of its rules of procedure, the Committee will consider communications that have been or appear to have been submitted to it under the Optional Protocol.
A total of 1,407 communications were pending before the Committee as at 16 December 2020.
In accordance with article 5 (3) of the Optional Protocol and rule 110 of the Committee’s rules of procedure, the present agenda item will be considered in closed meetings.