العهد الدولي الخاص بالحقوق المدنية والسياسية

الديباجة

إن الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد،
إذ ترى أن الإقرار بما لجميع أعضاء الأسرة البشرية من كرامة أصيلة فيهم، ومن حقوق متساوية وثابتة، يشكل، وفقا للمبادئ المعلنة في ميثاق الأمم المتحدة، أساس الحرية والعدل والسلام في العالم،
وإذ تقر بأن هذه الحقوق تنبثق من كرامة الإنسان الأصيلة فيه،
وإذ تدرك أن السبيل الوحيد لتحقيق المثل الأعلى المتمثل، وفقا للإعلان العالمي لحقوق الإنسان، في أن يكون البشر أحرارا، ومتمتعين بالحرية المدنية والسياسية ومتحررين من الخوف والفاقة، هو سبيل تهيئة الظروف لتمكين كل إنسان من التمتع بحقوقه المدنية والسياسية، وكذلك بحقوقه الاقتصادية والاجتماعية والثقافية،
وإذ تضع في اعتبارها ما على الدول، بمقتضى ميثاق الأمم المتحدة، من الالتزام بتعزيز الاحترام والمراعاة العالميين لحقوق الإنسان وحرياته،
وإذ تدرك أن على الفرد، الذي تترتب عليه واجبات إزاء الأفراد الآخرين وإزاء الجماعة التي ينتمي إليها، مسئولية السعي إلى تعزيز ومراعاة الحقوق المعترف بها في هذا العهد،
قد اتفقت على المواد التالية:

الجزء الأول
المادة 1

1. لجميع الشعوب حق تقرير مصيرها بنفسها. وهى بمقتضى هذا الحق حرة في تقرير مركزها السياسي وحرة في السعي لتحقيق نمائها الاقتصادي والاجتماعي والثقافي.
2. لجميع الشعوب، سعيا وراء أهدافها الخاصة، التصرف الحر بثرواتها ومواردها الطبيعية دونما إخلال بأية التزامات منبثقة عن مقتضيات التعاون الاقتصادي الدولي القائم على مبدأ المنفعة المتبادلة وعن القانون الدولي. ولا يجوز في أية حال حرمان أي شعب من أسباب عيشه الخاصة.
3. على الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد، بما فيها الدول التي تقع على عاتقها مسئولية إدارة الأقاليم غير المتمتعة بالحكم الذاتي والأقاليم المشمولة بالوصاية، أن تعمل على تحقيق حق تقرير المصير وأن تحترم هذا الحق، وفقا لأحكام ميثاق الأمم المتحدة.

الجزء الثاني
المادة 2

1. تتعهد كل دولة طرف في هذا العهد باحترام الحقوق المعترف بها فيه، وبكفالة هذه الحقوق لجميع الأفراد الموجودين في إقليمها والداخلين في ولايتها، دون أي تمييز بسبب العرق، أو اللون، أو الجنس، أو اللغة، أو الدين، أو الرأي سياسيا أو غير سياسي، أو الأصل القومي أو الاجتماعي، أو الثروة، أو النسب، أو غير ذلك من الأسباب.
2. تتعهد كل دولة طرف في هذا العهد، إذا كانت تدابيرها التشريعية أو غير التشريعية القائمة لا تكفل فعلا إعمال الحقوق المعترف بها في هذا العهد، بأن تتخذ، طبقا لإجراءاتها الدستورية ولأحكام هذا العهد، ما يكون ضروريا لهذا الإعمال من تدابير تشريعية أو غير تشريعية.
3. تتعهد كل دولة طرف في هذا العهد:
(أ) بأن تكفل توفير سبيل فعال للتظلم لأي شخص انتهكت حقوقه أو حرياته المعترف بها في هذا العهد، حتى لو صدر الانتهاك عن أشخاص يتصرفون بصفتهم الرسمية،
(ب) بأن تكفل لكل متظلم على هذا النحو أن تبت في الحقوق التي يدعى انتهاكها سلطة قضائية أو إدارية أو تشريعية مختصة، أو أية سلطة مختصة أخرى ينص عليها نظام الدولة القانوني، وبأن تنمى إمكانيات التظلم القضائي،
(ج) بأن تكفل قيام السلطات المختصة بإنفاذ الأحكام الصادرة لمصالح المتظلمين.

المادة 3

تتعهد الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد بكفالة تساوى الرجال والنساء في حق التمتع بجميع الحقوق المدنية والسياسية المنصوص عليها في هذا العهد.

المادة 4

1. في حالات الطوارئ الاستثنائية التي تتهدد حياة الأمة، والمعلن قيامها رسميا، يجوز للدول الأطراف في هذا العهد أن تتخذ، في أضيق الحدود التي يتطلبها الوضع، تدابير لا تتقيد بالالتزامات المترتبة عليها بمقتضى هذا العهد، شريطة عدم منافاة هذه التدابير للالتزامات الأخرى المترتبة عليها بمقتضى القانون الدولي وعدم انطوائها على تمييز يكون مبرره الوحيد هو العرق أو اللون أو الجنس أو اللغة أو الدين أو الأصل الاجتماعي.
2. لا يجيز هذا النص أي مخالفة لأحكام المواد 6 و 7 و 8 (الفقرتين 1 و 2) و 11 و 15 و 16 و 18.
3. على أية دولة طرف في هذا العهد استخدمت حق عدم التقيد أن تعلم الدول الأطراف الأخرى فورا، عن طريق الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة، بالأحكام التي لم تتقيد بها وبالأسباب التي دفعتها إلى ذلك. وعليها، في التاريخ الذي تنهى فيه عدم التقيد، أن تعلمها بذلك مرة أخرى وبالطريق ذاته.

المادة 5

1. ليس في هذا العهد أي حكم يجوز تأويله على نحو يفيد انطواءه على حق لأي دولة أو جماعة أو شخص بمباشرة أي نشاط أو القيام بأي عمل يهدف إلى إهدار أي من الحقوق أو الحريات المعترف بها في هذا العهد أو إلى فرض قيود عليها أوسع من تلك المنصوص عليها فيه.
2. لا يقبل فرض أي قيد أو أي تضييق على أي من حقوق الإنسان الأساسية المعترف أو النافذة في أي بلد تطبيقا لقوانين أو اتفاقيات أو أنظمة أو أعراف، بذريعة كون هذا العهد لا يعترف بها أو كون اعترفه بها في أضيق مدى.

الجزء الثالث
المادة 6

1. الحق في الحياة حق ملازم لكل إنسان. وعلى القانون أن يحمى هذا الحق. ولا يجوز حرمان أحد من حياته تعسفا.
2. لا يجوز في البلدان التي لم تلغ عقوبة الإعدام، أن يحكم بهذه العقوبة إلا جزاء على أشد الجرائم خطورة وفقا للتشريع النافذ وقت ارتكاب الجريمة وغير المخالف لأحكام هذا العهد ولاتفاقية منع جريمة الإبادة الجماعية والمعاقبة عليها. ولا يجوز تطبيق هذه العقوبة إلا بمقتضى حكم نهائي صادر عن محكمة مختصة.
3. حين يكون الحرمان من الحياة جريمة من جرائم الإبادة الجماعية، يكون من المفهوم بداهة أنه ليس في هذه المادة أي نص يجيز لأية دولة طرف في هذا العهد أن تعفى نفسها على أية صورة من أي التزام يكون مترتبا عليها بمقتضى أحكام اتفاقية منع جريمة الإبادة الجماعية والمعاقبة عليها.
4. لأي شخص حكم عليه بالإعدام حق التماس العفو الخاص أو إبدال العقوبة. ويجوز منح العفو العام أو العفو الخاص أو إبدال عقوبة الإعدام في جميع الحالات.
5. لا يجوز الحكم بعقوبة الإعدام على جرائم ارتكبها أشخاص دون الثامنة عشرة من العمر، ولا تنفيذ هذه العقوبة بالحوامل.
6. ليس في هذه المادة أي حكم يجوز التذرع به لتأخير أو منع إلغاء عقوبة الإعدام من قبل أية دولة طرف في هذا العهد.

المادة 7

لا يجوز إخضاع أحد للتعذيب ولا للمعاملة أو العقوبة القاسية أو اللاإنسانية أو الحاطة بالكرامة. وعلى وجه الخصوص، لا يجوز إجراء أية تجربة طبية أو علمية على أحد دون رضاه الحر.

المادة 8

1. لا يجوز استرقاق أحد، ويحظر الرق والاتجار بالرقيق بجميع صورهما.
2. لا يجوز إخضاع أحد للعبودية.
3. (أ) لا يجوز إكراه أحد على السخرة أو العمل الإلزامي،
(ب) لا يجوز تأويل الفقرة 3 (أ) على نحو يجعلها، في البلدان التي تجيز المعاقبة على بعض الجرائم بالسجن مع الأشغال الشاقة، تمنع تنفيذ عقوبة الأشغال الشاقة المحكوم بها من قبل محكمة مختصة،
(ج) لأغراض هذه الفقرة، لا يشمل تعبير “السخرة أو العمل الإلزامي“
“1” الأعمال والخدمات غير المقصودة بالفقرة الفرعية (ب) والتي تفرض عادة على الشخص المعتقل نتيجة قرار قضائي أو قانوني أو الذي صدر بحقه مثل هذا القرار ثم أفرج عنه بصورة مشروطة،
“2” أية خدمة ذات طابع عسكري، وكذلك، في البلدان التي تعترف بحق الاستنكاف الضميري عن الخدمة العسكرية، أية خدمة قومية يفرضها القانون على المستنكفين ضميريا،
“3” أية خدمة تفرض في حالات الطوارئ أو النكبات التي تهدد حياة الجماعة أو رفاهها،
“4” أية أعمال أو خدمات تشكل جزءا من الالتزامات المدنية العادية.

المادة 9

1. لكل فرد حق في الحرية وفى الأمان على شخصه. ولا يجوز توقيف أحد أو اعتقاله تعسفا. ولا يجوز حرمان أحد من حريته إلا لأسباب ينص عليها القانون وطبقا للإجراء المقرر فيه.
2. يتوجب إبلاغ أي شخص يتم توقيفه بأسباب هذا التوقيف لدى وقوعه كما يتوجب إبلاغه سريعا بأية تهمة توجه إليه.
3. يقدم الموقوف أو المعتقل بتهمة جزائية، سريعا، إلى أحد القضاة أو أحد الموظفين المخولين قانونا مباشرة وظائف قضائية، ويكون من حقه أن يحاكم خلال مهلة معقولة أو أن يفرج عنه. ولا يجوز أن يكون احتجاز الأشخاص الذين ينتظرون المحاكمة هو القاعدة العامة، ولكن من الجائز تعليق الإفراج عنهم على ضمانات لكفالة حضورهم المحاكمة في أية مرحلة أخرى من مراحل الإجراءات القضائية، ولكفالة تنفيذ الحكم عند الاقتضاء.
4. لكل شخص حرم من حريته بالتوقيف أو الاعتقال حق الرجوع إلى محكمة لكي تفصل هذه المحكمة دون إبطاء في قانونية اعتقاله، وتأمر بالإفراج عنه إذا كان الاعتقال غير قانوني.
5. لكل شخص كان ضحية توقيف أو اعتقال غير قانوني حق في الحصول على تعويض.

المادة 10

1. يعامل جميع المحرومين من حريتهم معاملة إنسانية، تحترم الكرامة الأصيلة في الشخص الإنساني.
2. (أ) يفصل الأشخاص المتهمون عن الأشخاص المدانين، إلا في ظروف استثنائية، ويكونون محل معاملة على حدة تتفق مع كونهم أشخاصا غير مدانين،
(ب) يفصل المتهمون الأحداث عن البالغين. ويحالون بالسرعة الممكنة إلى القضاء للفصل في قضاياهم.
3. يجب أن يراعى نظام السجون معاملة المسجونين معاملة يكون هدفها الأساسي إصلاحهم وإعادة تأهيلهم الاجتماعي. ويفصل المذنبون الأحداث عن البالغين ويعاملون معاملة تتفق مع سنهم ومركزهم القانوني.

المادة 11

لا يجوز سجن أي إنسان لمجرد عجزه عن الوفاء بالتزام تعاقدي.

المادة 12

1. لكل فرد يوجد على نحو قانوني داخل إقليم دولة ما حق حرية التنقل فيه وحرية اختيار مكان إقامته.
2. لكل فرد حرية مغادرة أي بلد، بما في ذلك بلده.
3. لا يجوز تقييد الحقوق المذكورة أعلاه بأية قيود غير تلك التي ينص عليها القانون، وتكون ضرورية لحماية الأمن القومي أو النظام العام أو الصحة العامة أو الآداب العامة أو حقوق الآخرين وحرياتهم، وتكون متمشية مع الحقوق الأخرى المعترف بها في هذا العهد.
4. لا يجوز حرمان أحد، تعسفا، من حق الدخول إلى بلده.

المادة 13

لا يجوز إبعاد الأجنبي المقيم بصفة قانونية في إقليم دولة طرف في هذا العهد إلا تنفيذا لقرار اتخذ وفقا للقانون، وبعد تمكينه، ما لم تحتم دواعي الأمن القومي خلاف ذلك، من عرض الأسباب المؤيدة لعدم إبعاده ومن عرض قضيته على السلطة المختصة أو على من تعينه أو تعينهم خصيصا لذلك، ومن توكيل من يمثله أمامها أو أمامهم.

المادة 14

1. الناس جميعا سواء أمام القضاء. ومن حق كل فرد، لدى الفصل في أية تهمة جزائية توجه إليه أو في حقوقه والتزاماته في أية دعوى مدنية، أن تكون قضيته محل نظر منصف وعلني من قبل محكمة مختصة مستقلة حيادية، منشأة بحكم القانون. ويجوز منع الصحافة والجمهور من حضور المحاكمة كلها أو بعضها لدواعي الآداب العامة أو النظام العام أو الأمن القومي في مجتمع ديمقراطي، أو لمقتضيات حرمة الحياة الخاصة لأطراف الدعوى، أو في أدنى الحدود التي تراها المحكمة ضرورية حين يكون من شأن العلنية في بعض الظروف الاستثنائية أن تخل بمصلحة العدالة، إلا أن أي حكم في قضية جزائية أو دعوى مدنية يجب أن يصدر بصورة علنية، إلا إذا كان الأمر يتصل بأحداث تقتضي مصلحتهم خلاف ذلك أو كانت الدعوى تتناول خلافات بين زوجين أو تتعلق بالوصاية على أطفال.
2. من حق كل متهم بارتكاب جريمة أن يعتبر بريئا إلى أن يثبت عليه الجرم قانونا.
3. لكل متهم بجريمة أن يتمتع أثناء النظر في قضيته، وعلى قدم المساواة التامة، بالضمانات الدنيا التالية:
(أ) أن يتم إعلامه سريعا وبالتفصيل، وفى لغة يفهمها، بطبيعة التهمة الموجهة إليه وأسبابها،
(ب) أن يعطى من الوقت ومن التسهيلات ما يكفيه لإعداد دفاعه وللاتصال بمحام يختاره بنفسه،
(ج) أن يحاكم دون تأخير لا مبرر له،
(د) أن يحاكم حضوريا وأن يدافع عن نفسه بشخصه أو بواسطة محام من اختياره، وأن يخطر بحقه في وجود من يدافع عنه إذا لم يكن له من يدافع عنه، وأن تزوده المحكمة حكما، كلما كانت مصلحة العدالة تقتضي ذلك، بمحام يدافع عنه، دون تحميله أجرا على ذلك إذا كان لا يملك الوسائل الكافية لدفع هذا الأجر،
(هـ) أن يناقش شهود الاتهام، بنفسه أو من قبل غيره، وأن يحصل على الموافقة على استدعاء شهود النفي بذات الشروط المطبقة في حالة شهود الاتهام،
(د) أن يزود مجانا بترجمان إذا كان لا يفهم أو لا يتكلم اللغة المستخدمة في المحكمة،
(ز) ألا يكره على الشهادة ضد نفسه أو على الاعتراف بذنب.
4. في حالة الأحداث، يراعى جعل الإجراءات مناسبة لسنهم ومواتية لضرورة العمل على إعادة تأهيلهم.
5. لكل شخص أدين بجريمة حق اللجوء، وفقا للقانون، إلى محكمة أعلى كيما تعيد النظر في قرار إدانته وفى العقاب الذي حكم به عليه.
6. حين يكون قد صدر على شخص ما حكم نهائي يدينه بجريمة، ثم ابطل هذا الحكم أو صدر عفو خاص عنه على أساس واقعة جديدة أو واقعة حديثة الاكتشاف تحمل الدليل القاطع على وقوع خطأ قضائي، يتوجب تعويض الشخص الذي أنزل به العقاب نتيجة تلك الإدانة، وفقا للقانون، ما لم يثبت أنه يتحمل، كليا أو جزئيا، المسئولية عن عدم إفشاء الواقعة المجهولة في الوقت المناسب.
7. لا يجوز تعريض أحد مجددا للمحاكمة أو للعقاب على جريمة سبق أن أدين بها أو برئ منها بحكم نهائي وفقا للقانون وللإجراءات الجنائية في كل بلد.

المادة 15

1. لا يدان أي فرد بأية جريمة بسبب فعل أو امتناع عن فعل لم يكن وقت ارتكابه يشكل جريمة بمقتضى القانون الوطني أو الدولي. كما لا يجوز فرض أية عقوبة تكون أشد من تلك التي كانت سارية المفعول في الوقت الذي ارتكبت فيه الجريمة. وإذا حدث، بعد ارتكاب الجريمة أن صدر قانون ينص على عقوبة أخف، وجب أن يستفيد مرتكب الجريمة من هذا التخفيف.
2. ليس في هذه المادة من شئ يخل بمحاكمة ومعاقبة أي شخص على أي فعل أو امتناع عن فعل كان حين ارتكابه يشكل جرما وفقا لمبادئ القانون العامة التي تعترف بها جماعة الأمم.

المادة 16

لكل إنسان، في كل مكان، الحق بأن يعترف له بالشخصية القانونية.

المادة 17

1. لا يحوز تعريض أي شخص، على نحو تعسفي أو غير قانوني، لتدخل في خصوصياته أو شؤون أسرته أو بيته أو مراسلاته، ولا لأي حملات غير قانونية تمس شرفه أو سمعته.
2. من حق كل شخص أن يحميه القانون من مثل هذا التدخل أو المساس.

المادة 18

1. لكل إنسان حق في حرية الفكر والوجدان والدين. ويشمل ذلك حريته في أن يدين بدين ما، وحريته في اعتناق أي دين أو معتقد يختاره، وحريته في إظهار دينه أو معتقده بالتعبد وإقامة الشعائر والممارسة والتعليم، بمفرده أو مع جماعة، وأمام الملأ أو على حدة.
2. لا يجوز تعريض أحد لإكراه من شأنه أن يخل بحريته في أن يدين بدين ما، أو بحريته في اعتناق أي دين أو معتقد يختاره.
3. لا يجوز إخضاع حرية الإنسان في إظهار دينه أو معتقده، إلا للقيود التي يفرضها القانون والتي تكون ضرورية لحماية السلامة العامة أو النظام العام أو الصحة العامة أو الآداب العامة أو حقوق الآخرين وحرياتهم الأساسية.
4. تتعهد الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد باحترام حرية الآباء، أو الأوصياء عند وجودهم، في تأمين تربية أولادهم دينيا وخلقيا وفقا لقناعاتهم الخاصة.

المادة 19

1. لكل إنسان حق في اعتناق آراء دون مضايقة.
2. لكل إنسان حق في حرية التعبير. ويشمل هذا الحق حريته في التماس مختلف ضروب المعلومات والأفكار وتلقيها ونقلها إلى آخرين دونما اعتبار للحدود، سواء على شكل مكتوب أو مطبوع أو في قالب فني أو بأية وسيلة أخرى يختارها.
3. تستتبع ممارسة الحقوق المنصوص عليها في الفقرة 2 من هذه المادة واجبات ومسئوليات خاصة. وعلى ذلك يجوز إخضاعها لبعض القيود ولكن شريطة أن تكون محددة بنص القانون وأن تكون ضرورية:
(أ) لاحترام حقوق الآخرين أو سمعتهم،
(ب) لحماية الأمن القومي أو النظام العام أو الصحة العامة أو الآداب العامة.

المادة 20

1. تحظر بالقانون أية دعاية للحرب.
2. تحظر بالقانون أية دعوة إلى الكراهية القومية أو العنصرية أو الدينية تشكل تحريضا على التمييز أو العداوة أو العنف.

المادة 21

يكون الحق في التجمع السلمي معترفا به. ولا يجوز أن يوضع من القيود على ممارسة هذا الحق إلا تلك التي تفرض طبقا للقانون وتشكل تدابير ضرورية، في مجتمع ديمقراطي، لصيانة الأمن القومي أو السلامة العامة أو النظام العام أو حماية الصحة العامة أو الآداب العامة أو حماية حقوق الآخرين وحرياتهم.

المادة 22

1. لكل فرد حق في حرية تكوين الجمعيات مع آخرين، بما في ذلك حق إنشاء النقابات والانضمام إليها من أجل حماية مصالحه.
2. لا يجوز أن يوضع من القيود على ممارسة هذا الحق إلا تلك التي ينص عليها القانون وتشكل تدابير ضرورية، في مجتمع ديمقراطي، لصيانة الأمن القومي أو السلامة العامة أو النظام العام أو حماية الصحة العامة أو الآداب العامة أو حماية حقوق الآخرين وحرياتهم. ولا تحول هذه المادة دون إخضاع أفراد القوات المسلحة ورجال الشرطة لقيود قانونية على ممارسة هذا الحق.
3. ليس في هذه المادة أي حكم يجيز للدول الأطراف في اتفاقية منظمة العمل الدولية المعقودة عام 1948 بشأن الحرية النقابية وحماية حق التنظيم النقابي اتخاذ تدابير تشريعية من شأنها، أو تطبيق القانون بطريقة من شأنها أن تخل بالضمانات المنصوص عليها في تلك الاتفاقية.

المادة 23

1. الأسرة هي الوحدة الجماعية الطبيعية والأساسية في المجتمع، ولها حق التمتع بحماية المجتمع والدولة.
2. يكون للرجل والمرأة، ابتداء من بلوغ سن الزواج، حق معترف به في التزوج وتأسيس أسرة.
3. لا ينعقد أي زواج إلا برضا الطرفين المزمع زواجهما رضاء كاملا لا إكراه فيه.
4. تتخذ الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد التدابير المناسبة لكفالة تساوى حقوق الزوجين وواجباتهما لدى التزوج وخلال قيام الزواج ولدى انحلاله. وفى حالة الانحلال يتوجب اتخاذ تدابير لكفالة الحماية الضرورية للأولاد في حالة وجودهم.

المادة 24

1. يكون لكل ولد، دون أي تمييز بسبب العرق أو اللون أو الجنس أو اللغة أو الدين أو الأصل القومي أو الاجتماعي أو الثروة أو النسب، حق على أسرته وعلى المجتمع وعلى الدولة في اتخاذ تدابير الحماية التي يقتضيها كونه قاصرا.
2. يتوجب تسجيل كل طفل فور ولادته ويعطى اسما يعرف به.
3. لكل طفل حق في اكتساب جنسية.

المادة 25

يكون لكل مواطن، دون أي وجه من وجوه التمييز المذكور في المادة 2، الحقوق التالية، التي يجب أن تتاح له فرصة التمتع بها دون قيود غير معقولة:
(أ) أن يشارك في إدارة الشؤون العامة، إما مباشرة وإما بواسطة ممثلين يختارون في حرية،
(ب) أن ينتخب وينتخب، في انتخابات نزيهة تجرى دوريا بالاقتراع العام وعلى قدم المساواة بين الناخبين وبالتصويت السري، تضمن التعبير الحر عن إرادة الناخبين،
(ج) أن تتاح له، على قدم المساواة عموما مع سواه، فرصة تقلد الوظائف العامة في بلده.

المادة 26

الناس جميعا سواء أمام القانون ويتمتعون دون أي تمييز بحق متساو في التمتع بحمايته. وفي هذا الصدد يجب أن يحظر القانون أي تمييز وأن يكفل لجميع الأشخاص على السواء حماية فعالة من التمييز لأي سبب، كالعرق أو اللون أو الجنس أو اللغة أو الدين أو الرأي سياسيا أو غير سياسي، أو الأصل القومي أو الاجتماعي، أو الثروة أو النسب، أو غير ذلك من الأسباب.

المادة 27

لا يجوز، في الدول التي توجد فيها أقليات اثنية أو دينية أو لغوية، أن يحرم الأشخاص المنتسبون إلى الأقليات المذكورة من حق التمتع بثقافتهم الخاصة أو المجاهرة بدينهم وإقامة شعائره أو استخدام لغتهم، بالاشتراك مع الأعضاء الآخرين في جماعتهم.

الجزء الرابع
المادة 28

1. تنشأ لجنة تسمى اللجنة المعنية بحقوق الإنسان (يشار إليها في ما يلي من هذا العهد باسم “اللجنة”). وتتألف هذه اللجنة من ثمانية عشر عضوا وتتولى الوظائف المنصوص عليها في ما يلي.
2. تؤلف اللجنة من مواطنين في الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد، من ذوى المناقب الخلقية الرفيعة المشهود لهم بالاختصاص في ميدان حقوق الإنسان، مع مراعاة أن من المفيد أن يشرك فيها بعض الأشخاص ذوى الخبرة القانونية.
3. يتم تعيين أعضاء اللجنة بالانتخاب، وهم يعملون فيها بصفتهم الشخصية.

المادة 29

1. يتم انتخاب أعضاء اللجنة بالاقتراع السري من قائمة أشخاص تتوفر لهم المؤهلات المنصوص عليها في المادة 28، تكون قد رشحتهم لهذا الغرض الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد.
2. لكل دولة طرف في هذا العهد أن ترشح، من بين مواطنيها حصرا، شخصين على الأكثر.
3. يحوز ترشيح الشخص ذاته أكثر من مرة.

المادة 30

1. يجرى الانتخاب الأول في موعد لا يتجاوز ستة أشهر من بدء نفاذ هذا العهد.
2. قبل أربعة أشهر على الأقل من موعد أي انتخاب لعضوية اللجنة، في غير حالة الانتخاب لملء مقعد يعلن شغوره وفقا للمادة 34، يوجه الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة إلى الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد رسالة خطية يدعوها فيها إلى تقديم أسماء مرشحيها لعضوية اللجنة في غضون ثلاثة أشهر.
3. يضع الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة قائمة أسماء جميع المرشحين على هذا النحو، بالترتيب الألفبائي ومع ذكر الدولة الطرف التي رشحت كلا منهم، ويبلغ هذه القائمة إلى الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد قبل شهر على الأقل من موعد كل انتخاب.
4. ينتخب أعضاء اللجنة في اجتماع تعقده الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد، بدعوة من الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة، في مقر الأمم المتحدة. وفى هذا الاجتماع، الذي يكتمل النصاب فيه بحضور ممثلي ثلثي الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد، يفوز في الانتخاب لعضوية اللجنة أولئك المرشحون الذين حصلوا على أكبر عدد من الأصوات وعلى الأغلبية المطلقة لأصوات ممثلي الدول الأطراف الحاضرين والمقترعين.

المادة 31

1. لا يجوز أن تضم اللجنة أكثر من واحد من مواطني أية دولة.
2. يراعى، في الانتخاب لعضوية اللجنة، عدالة التوزيع الجغرافي وتمثيل مختلف الحضارات والنظم القانونية الرئيسية.

المادة 32

1. يكون انتخاب أعضاء اللجنة لولاية مدتها أربع سنوات. ويجوز أن يعاد انتخابهم إذا أعيد ترشيحهم. إلا أن ولاية تسعة من الأعضاء المنتخبين في الانتخاب الأول تنقضي بانتهاء سنتين، ويتم تحديد هؤلاء الأعضاء التسعة فورا انتهاء الانتخاب الأول، بأن يقوم رئيس الاجتماع المنصوص عليه في الفقرة 4 من المادة 30 باختيار أسمائهم بالقرعة.
2. تتم الانتخابات اللازمة عند انقضاء الولاية وفقا للمواد السالفة من هذا الجزء من هذا العهد.

المادة 33

‏ 1. إذا انقطع عضو في اللجنة، بإجماع رأى أعضائها الآخرين، عن الاضطلاع بوظائفه لأي سبب غير الغياب ذي الطابع المؤقت، يقوم رئيس اللجنة بإبلاغ ذلك إلى الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة، فيعلن الأمين العام حينئذ شغور مقعد ذلك العضو.
2. في حالة وفاة أو استقالة عضو في اللجنة، يقوم رئيس اللجنة فورا بإبلاغ ذلك إلى الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة، فيعلن الأمين العام حينئذ شغور مقعد ذلك العضو ابتداء من تاريخ وفاته أو من تاريخ نفاذ استقالته.

المادة 34

1. إذا أعلن شغور مقعد ما طبقا للمادة 33، وكانت ولاية العضو الذي يجب استبداله لا تنقضي خلال الأشهر الستة التي تلي إعلان شغور مقعده، يقوم الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة بإبلاغ ذلك إلى الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد، التي يجوز لها، خلال مهلة شهرين، تقديم مرشحين وفقا للمادة 29 من أجل ملء المقعد الشاغر.
2. يضع الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة قائمة بأسماء جميع المرشحين على هذا النحو، بالترتيب الألفبائي، ويبلغ هذه القائمة إلى الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد. وإذ ذاك يجرى الانتخاب اللازم لملء المقعد الشاغر طبقا للأحكام الخاصة بذلك من هذا الجزء من هذا العهد.
3. كل عضو في اللجنة انتخب لملء مقعد أعلن شغوره طبقا للمادة 33 يتولى مهام العضوية فيها حتى انقضاء ما تبقى من مدة ولاية العضو الذي شغر مقعده في اللجنة بمقتضى أحكام تلك المادة.

المادة 35

يتقاضى أعضاء اللجنة، بموافقة الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة، مكافآت تقتطع من موارد الأمم المتحدة بالشروط التي تقررها الجمعية العامة، مع أخذ أهمية مسؤوليات اللجنة بعين الاعتبار.

المادة 36

يوفر الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة ما يلزم من موظفين وتسهيلات لتمكين اللجنة من الاضطلاع الفعال بالوظائف المنوطة بها بمقتضى هذا العهد.

المادة 37

1. يتولى الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة دعوة اللجنة إلى عقد اجتماعها الأول في مقر الأمم المتحدة.
2. بعد اجتماعها الأول، تجتمع اللجنة في الأوقات التي ينص عليها نظامها الداخلي.
3. تعقد اللجنة اجتماعاتها عادة في مقر الأمم المتحدة أو في مكتب الأمم المتحدة بجنيف.

المادة 38

يقوم كل عضو من أعضاء اللجنة، قبل توليه منصبه، بالتعهد رسميا، في جلسة علنية، بالقيام بمهامه بكل تجرد ونزاهة.

المادة 39

1. تنتخب اللجنة أعضاء مكتبها لمدة سنتين. ويجوز أن يعاد انتخابهم.
2. تتولى اللجنة بنفسها وضع نظامها الداخلي، ولكن مع تضمينه الحكمين التاليين:
(أ) يكتمل النصاب بحضور اثني عشر عضوا،
(ب) تتخذ قرارات اللجنة بأغلبية أصوات أعضائها الحاضرين.

المادة 40

1. تتعهد الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد بتقديم تقارير عن التدابير التي اتخذتها والتي تمثل إعمالا للحقوق المعترف بها فيه، وعن التقدم المحرز في التمتع بهذه الحقوق، وذلك:
(أ) خلال سنة من بدء نفاذ هذا العهد إزاء الدول الأطراف المعنية،
(ب) ثم كلما طلبت اللجنة إليها ذلك.
2. تقدم جميع التقارير إلى الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة، الذي يحيلها إلى اللجنة للنظر فيها. ويشار وجوبا في التقارير المقدمة إلى ما قد يقوم من عوامل ومصاعب تؤثر في تنفيذ أحكام هذا العهد.
3. للأمين العام للأمم المتحدة، بعد التشاور مع اللجنة، أن يحيل إلى الوكالات المتخصصة المعنية نسخا من أية أجزاء من تلك التقارير قد تدخل في ميدان اختصاصها.
4. تقوم اللجنة بدراسة التقارير المقدمة من الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد. وعليها أن توافي هذه الدول بما تضعه هي من تقارير، وبأية ملاحظات عامة تستنسبها. وللجنة أيضا أن توافي المجلس الاقتصادي والاجتماعي بتلك الملاحظات مشفوعة بنسخ من التقارير التي تلقتها من الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد.
5. للدول الأطراف في هذا العهد أن تقدم إلى اللجنة تعليقات على أية ملاحظات تكون قد أبديت وفقا للفقرة 4 من هذه المادة.

المادة 41

1. لكل دولة طرف في هذا العهد أن تعلن في أي حين، بمقتضى أحكام هذه المادة، أنها تعترف باختصاص اللجنة في استلام ودراسة بلاغات تنطوي على ادعاء دولة طرف بأن دولة طرفا أخرى لا تفي بالالتزامات التي يرتبها عليها هذا العهد. ولا يجوز استلام ودراسة البلاغات المقدمة بموجب هذه المادة إلا إذا صدرت عن دولة طرف أصدرت إعلانا تعترف فيه، في ما يخصها، باختصاص اللجنة. ولا يجوز أن تستلم اللجنة أي بلاغ يهم دولة طرفا لم تصدر الإعلان المذكور. ويطبق الإجراء التالي على البلاغات التي يتم استلامها وفق لأحكام هذه المادة:
(أ) إذا رأت دولة طرف في هذا العهد إن دولة طرفا أخرى تتخلف عن تطبيق أحكام هذا العهد، كان لها أن تسترعى نظر هذه الدولة الطرف، في بلاغ خطى، إلى هذا التخلف. وعلى الدولة المستلمة أن تقوم، خلال ثلاثة أشهر من استلامها البلاغ، بإيداع الدولة المرسلة، خطيا، تفسيرا أو بيانا من أي نوع آخر يوضح المسألة وينبغي أن ينطوي، بقدر ما يكون ذلك ممكنا ومفيدا، على إشارة إلى القواعد الإجرائية وطرق التظلم المحلية التي استخدمت أو الجاري استخدامها أو التي لا تزال متاحة،
(ب) فإذا لم تنته المسألة إلى تسوية ترضى كلتا الدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين خلال ستة أشهر من تاريخ تلقى الدولة المستلمة للبلاغ الأول، كان لكل منهما أن تحيل المسألة إلى اللجنة بإشعار توجهه إليها وإلى الدولة الأخرى،
(ج) لا يجوز أن تنظر اللجنة في المسألة المحالة إليها إلا بعد الإستيثاق من أن جميع طرق التظلم المحلية المتاحة قد لجئ إليها واستنفدت، طبقا لمبادئ القانون الدولي المعترف بها عموما. ولا تنطبق هذه القاعدة في الحالات التي تستغرق فيها إجراءات التظلم مددا تتجاوز الحدود المعقولة،
(د) تعقد اللجنة جلسات سرية لدى بحثها الرسائل في إطار هذه المادة،
(هـ) على اللجنة، مع مراعاة أحكام الفقرة الفرعية (ج)، أن تعرض مساعيها الحميدة على الدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين، بغية الوصول إلى حل ودي للمسألة على أساس احترام حقوق الإنسان والحريات الأساسية المعترف بها في هذا العهد،
(و) للجنة، في أية مسألة محالة إليها، أن تدعو الدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين المشار إليهما في الفقرة الفرعية (ب) إلى تزويدها بأية معلومات ذات شأن.
(ز) للدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين المشار إليهما في الفقرة الفرعية (ب) حق إيفاد من يمثلها لدى اللجنة أثناء نظرها في المسألة، وحق تقديم الملاحظات شفويا و/أو خطيا،
(ح) على اللجنة أن تقدم تقريرا في غضون اثني عشر شهرا من تاريخ تلقيها الإشعار المنصوص عليه في الفقرة الفرعية (ب):
“1” فإذا تم التوصل إلى حل يتفق مع شروط الفقرة الفرعية (هـ)، قصرت اللجنة تقريرها على عرض موجز للوقائع وللحل الذي تم التوصل إليه،
“2” وإذا لم يتم التوصل إلى حل يتفق مع شروط الفقرة الفرعية (هـ)، قصرت اللجنة تقريرها على عرض موجز للوقائع، وضمت إلى التقرير المذكرات الخطية ومحضر البيانات الشفوية المقدمة من الدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين.
ويجب، في كل مسألة، إبلاغ التقرير إلى الدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين.
2. يبدأ نفاذ أحكام هذه المادة متى قامت عشر من الدول الإطراف في هذا العهد بإصدار إعلانات في إطار الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة. وتقوم الدول الأطراف بإيداع هذه الإعلانات لدى الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة، الذي يرسل صورا منها إلى الدول الأطراف الأخرى. وللدولة الطرف أن تسحب إعلانها في أي وقت بإخطار ترسله إلى الأمين العام. ولا يخل هذا السحب بالنظر في أية مسألة تكون موضوع بلاغ سبق إرساله في إطار هذه المادة، ولا يجوز استلام أي بلاغ جديد من أية دولة طرف بعد تلقى الأمين العام الإخطار بسحب الإعلان، ما لم تكن الدولة الطرف المعنية قد أصدرت إعلانا جديدا.

المادة 42

1. (أ) إذا تعذر على اللجنة حل مسألة أحيلت إليها وفقا للمادة 41 حلا مرضيا للدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين جاز لها، بعد الحصول مسبقا على موافقة الدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين، تعيين هيئة توفيق خاصة (يشار إليها في ما يلي باسم “الهيئة”) تضع مساعيها الحميدة تحت تصرف الدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين بغية التوصل إلى حل ودي للمسألة على أساس احترام أحكام هذا العهد،
(ب) تتألف الهيئة من خمسة أشخاص تقبلهم الدولتان الطرفان المعنيتان. فإذا تعذر وصول الدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين خلال ثلاثة اشهر إلى اتفاق على تكوين الهيئة كلها أو بعضها، تنتخب اللجنة من بين أعضائها بالاقتراع السري وبأكثرية الثلثين، أعضاء الهيئة الذين لم يتفق عليهم.
2. يعمل أعضاء الهيئة بصفتهم الشخصية. ويجب ألا يكونوا من مواطني الدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين أو من مواطني أية دولة لا تكون طرفا في هذا العهد أو تكون طرفا فيه ولكنها لم تصدر الإعلان المنصوص عليه في المادة 41.
3. تنتخب الهيئة رئيسها وتضع النظام الداخلي الخاص بها.
4. تعقد اجتماعات الهيئة عادة في مقر الأمم المتحدة أو في مكتب الأمم المتحدة بجنيف. ولكن من الجائز عقدها في أي مكان مناسب آخر قد تعينه الهيئة بالتشاور مع الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة ومع الدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين.
5. تقوم الأمانة المنصوص عليها في المادة 36 بتوفير خدماتها، أيضا، للهيئات المعينة بمقتضى هذه المادة.
6. توضع المعلومات التي تلقتها اللجنة وجمعتها تحت تصرف الهيئة، التي يجوز لها أن تطلب إلي الدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين تزويدها بأية معلومات أخرى ذات صلة بالموضوع.
7. تقوم الهيئة، بعد استنفادها نظر المسألة من مختلف جوانبها، ولكن على أي حال خلال مهلة لا تتجاوز اثني عشر شهرا بعد عرض المسألة عليها، بتقديم تقرير إلى رئيس اللجنة لإنهائه إلى الدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين:
(أ) فإذا تعذر على الهيئة إنجاز النظر في المسألة خلال اثني عشر شهرا، قصرت تقريرها على إشارة موجزة إلى المرحلة التي بلغتها من هذا النظر،
(ب) وإذا تم التوصل إلى حل ودي للمسألة على أساس احترام حقوق الإنسان المعترف بها في هذا العهد، قصرت الهيئة تقريرها على عرض موجز للوقائع وللحل الذي تم التوصل إليه،
(ج) وإذا لم يتم التوصل إلى حل تتوفر له شروط الفقرة الفرعية (ب)، ضمنت الهيئة تقريرها النتائج التي وصلت إليها بشأن جميع المسائل الوقائعية المتصلة بالقضية المختلف عليها بين الدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين، وآراءها بشأن إمكانيات حل المسألة حلا وديا، وكذلك المذكرات الخطية ومحضر الملاحظات الشفوية المقدمة من الدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين،
(د) إذا قدمت الهيئة تقريرها في إطار الفقرة (ج) تقوم الدولتان الطرفان المعنيتان، في غضون ثلاثة أشهر من استلامهما هذا التقرير، بإبلاغ رئيس اللجنة هل تقبلان أم لا تقبلان مضامين تقرير الهيئة.
8. لا تخل أحكام هذه المادة بالمسؤوليات المنوطة باللجنة في المادة 41.
9. تتقاسم الدولتان الطرفان المعنيتان بالتساوي سداد جميع نفقات أعضاء اللجنة على أساس تقديرات يضعها الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة.
10. للأمين العام للأمم المتحدة سلطة القيام، عند اللزوم، بدفع نفقات أعضاء الهيئة قبل سداد الدولتين الطرفين المعنيتين لها وفقا للفقرة 9 من هذه المادة.

المادة 43

يكون لأعضاء اللجنة ولأعضاء هيئات التوفيق الخاصة الذين قد يعينون وفقا للمادة 42، حق التمتع بالتسهيلات والامتيازات والحصانات المقررة للخبراء المكلفين بمهمة للأمم المتحدة المنصوص عليها في الفروع التي تتناول ذلك من اتفاقية امتيازات الأمم المتحدة وحصاناتها.

المادة 44

تنطبق الأحكام المتعلقة بتنفيذ هذا العهد دون إخلال بالإجراءات المقررة في ميدان حقوق الإنسان في أو بمقتضى الصكوك التأسيسية والاتفاقيات الخاصة بالأمم المتحدة والوكالات المتخصصة، ولا تمنع الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد من اللجوء إلى إجراءات أخرى لتسوية نزاع ما طبقا للاتفاقات الدولية العمومية أو الخاصة النافذة فيما بينها.

المادة 45

تقدم اللجنة إلى الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة، عن طريق المجلس الاقتصادي والاجتماعي، تقريرا سنويا عن أعمالها.

الجزء الخامس
المادة 46

ليس في أحكام هذا العهد ما يجوز تأويله على نحو يفيد إخلاله بما في ميثاق الأمم المتحدة ودساتير الوكالات المتخصصة من أحكام تحدد المسئوليات الخاصة بكل من هيئات الأمم المتحدة والوكالات المتخصصة بصدد المسائل التي يتناولها هذا العهد.

المادة 47

ليس في أي من أحكام هذا العهد ما يجوز تأويله على نحو يفيد إخلاله بما لجميع الشعوب من حق أصيل في التمتع والانتفاع الكاملين، بملء الحرية، بثرواتها ومواردها الطبيعية.

الجزء السادس
المادة 48

1. هذا العهد متاح لتوقيع أية دولة عضو في الأمم المتحدة أو عضو في أية وكالة من وكالاتها المتخصصة، وأية دولة طرف في النظام الأساسي لمحكمة العدل الدولية، وأية دولة أخرى دعتها الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة إلى أن تصبح طرفا في هذا العهد.
2. يخضع هذا العهد للتصديق. وتودع صكوك التصديق لدى الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة.
3. يتاح الانضمام إلى هذا العهد لأية دولة من الدول المشار إليها في الفقرة 1 من هذه المادة.
4. يقع الانضمام بإيداع صك انضمام لدى الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة.
5. يخطر الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة جميع الدول التي وقعت هذا العهد أو انضمت إليه بإيداع كل صك من صكوك التصديق أو الانضمام.

المادة 49

1. يبدأ نفاذ هذا العهد بعد ثلاث أشهر من تاريخ إيداع صك الانضمام أو التصديق الخامس والثلاثين لدى الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة.
2. أما الدول التي تصدق هذا العهد أو تنضم إليه بعد أن يكون قد تم إيداع صك التصديق أو الانضمام الخامس والثلاثين فيبدأ نفاذ هذا العهد إزاء كل منها بعد ثلاث أشهر من تاريخ إيداعها صك تصديقها أو صك انضمامها.

المادة 50

تنطبق أحكام هذا العهد، دون أي قيد أو استثناء على جميع الوحدات التي تتشكل منها الدول الاتحادية.

المادة 51

1. لأية دولة طرف في هذا العهد أن تقترح تعديلا عليه تودع نصه لدى الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة. وعلى أثر ذلك يقوم الأمين العام بإبلاغ الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد بأية تعديلات مقترحة، طالبا إليها إعلامه عما إذا كانت تحبذ عقد مؤتمر للدول الأطراف للنظر في تلك المقترحات والتصويت عليها. فإذا حبذ عقد المؤتمر ثلث الدول الأطراف على الأقل عقده الأمين العام برعاية الأمم المتحدة. وأي تعديل تعتمده أغلبية الدول الأطراف الحاضرة والمقترعة في المؤتمر يعرض على الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة لإقراره.
2. يبدأ نفاذ التعديلات متى أقرتها الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة وقبلتها أغلبية ثلثي الدول الأطراف في هذا العهد، وفقا للإجراءات الدستورية لدى كل منها.
3. متى بدأ نفاذ التعديلات تصبح ملزمة للدول الأطراف التي قبلتها، بينما تظل الدول الأطراف الأخرى ملزمة بأحكام هذا العهد وبأي تعديل سابق تكون قد قبلته.

المادة 52

بصرف النظر عن الإخطارات التي تتم بمقتضى الفقرة 5 من المادة 48، يخطر الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة جميع الدول المشار إليها في الفقرة 1 من المادة المذكورة بما يلي:
(أ) التوقيعات والتصديقات والإنضمامات المودعة طبقا للمادة 48،
(ب) تاريخ بدء نفاذ هذا العهد بمقتضى المادة 49، وتاريخ بدء نفاذ أية تعديلات تتم في إطار المادة 51.

المادة 53

1. يودع هذا العهد، الذي تتساوى في الحجية نصوصه بالأسبانية والإنكليزية والروسية والصينية والفرنسية، في محفوظات الأمم المتحدة.
2. يقوم الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة بإرسال صور مصدقة من هذا العهد إلى جميع الدول المشار إليها في المادة 48.

Preamble

The States Parties to the present Covenant,

Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Recognizing that these rights derive from the inherent dignity of the human person,

Recognizing that, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ideal of free human beings enjoying civil and political freedom and freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his civil and political rights, as well as his economic, social and cultural rights,

Considering the obligation of States under the Charter of the United Nations to promote universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and freedoms,

Realizing that the individual, having duties to other individuals and to the community to which he belongs, is under a responsibility to strive for the promotion and observance of the rights recognized in the present Covenant,

Agree upon the following articles:

PART I

Article 1

1. All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
2. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence.
3. The States Parties to the present Covenant, including those having responsibility for the administration of Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories, shall promote the realization of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

PART II

Article 2

1. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
2. Where not already provided for by existing legislative or other measures, each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to take the necessary steps, in accordance with its constitutional processes and with the provisions of the present Covenant, to adopt such laws or other measures as may be necessary to give effect to the rights recognized in the present Covenant.
3. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes:

(a) To ensure that any person whose rights or freedoms as herein recognized are violated shall have an effective remedy, notwithstanding that the violation has been committed by persons acting in an official capacity;

(b) To ensure that any person claiming such a remedy shall have his right thereto determined by competent judicial, administrative or legislative authorities, or by any other competent authority provided for by the legal system of the State, and to develop the possibilities of judicial remedy;

(c) To ensure that the competent authorities shall enforce such remedies when granted.

Article 3

The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all civil and political rights set forth in the present Covenant.

Article 4

1 . In time of public emergency which threatens the life of the nation and the existence of which is officially proclaimed, the States Parties to the present Covenant may take measures derogating from their obligations under the present Covenant to the extent strictly required by the exigencies of the situation, provided that such measures are not inconsistent with their other obligations under international law and do not involve discrimination solely on the ground of race, colour, sex, language, religion or social origin.

2. No derogation from articles 6, 7, 8 (paragraphs I and 2), 11, 15, 16 and 18 may be made under this provision.
3. Any State Party to the present Covenant availing itself of the right of derogation shall immediately inform the other States Parties to the present Covenant, through the intermediary of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, of the provisions from which it has derogated and of the reasons by which it was actuated. A further communication shall be made, through the same intermediary, on the date on which it terminates such derogation.

Article 5

1. Nothing in the present Covenant may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms recognized herein or at their limitation to a greater extent than is provided for in the present Covenant.
2. There shall be no restriction upon or derogation from any of the fundamental human rights recognized or existing in any State Party to the present Covenant pursuant to law, conventions, regulations or custom on the pretext that the present Covenant does not recognize such rights or that it recognizes them to a lesser extent.

PART III

Article 6

1. Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.
2. In countries which have not abolished the death penalty, sentence of death may be imposed only for the most serious crimes in accordance with the law in force at the time of the commission of the crime and not contrary to the provisions of the present Covenant and to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This penalty can only be carried out pursuant to a final judgement rendered by a competent court.
3. When deprivation of life constitutes the crime of genocide, it is understood that nothing in this article shall authorize any State Party to the present Covenant to derogate in any way from any obligation assumed under the provisions of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
4. Anyone sentenced to death shall have the right to seek pardon or commutation of the sentence. Amnesty, pardon or commutation of the sentence of death may be granted in all cases.
5. Sentence of death shall not be imposed for crimes committed by persons below eighteen years of age and shall not be carried out on pregnant women.
6. Nothing in this article shall be invoked to delay or to prevent the abolition of capital punishment by any State Party to the present Covenant.

Article 7

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no one shall be subjected without his free consent to medical or scientific experimentation.

Article 8

1. No one shall be held in slavery; slavery and the slave-trade in all their forms shall be prohibited.
2. No one shall be held in servitude.

3.

(a) No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour;

(b) Paragraph 3 (a) shall not be held to preclude, in countries where imprisonment with hard labour may be imposed as a punishment for a crime, the performance of hard labour in pursuance of a sentence to such punishment by a competent court;

(c) For the purpose of this paragraph the term “forced or compulsory labour” shall not include:

(i) Any work or service, not referred to in subparagraph (b), normally required of a person who is under detention in consequence of a lawful order of a court, or of a person during conditional release from such detention;

(ii) Any service of a military character and, in countries where conscientious objection is recognized, any national service required by law of conscientious objectors;

(iii) Any service exacted in cases of emergency or calamity threatening the life or well-being of the community;

(iv) Any work or service which forms part of normal civil obligations.

Article 9

1. Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.
2. Anyone who is arrested shall be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for his arrest and shall be promptly informed of any charges against him.
3. Anyone arrested or detained on a criminal charge shall be brought promptly before a judge or other officer authorized by law to exercise judicial power and shall be entitled to trial within a reasonable time or to release. It shall not be the general rule that persons awaiting trial shall be detained in custody, but release may be subject to guarantees to appear for trial, at any other stage of the judicial proceedings, and, should occasion arise, for execution of the judgement.
4. Anyone who is deprived of his liberty by arrest or detention shall be entitled to take proceedings before a court, in order that that court may decide without delay on the lawfulness of his detention and order his release if the detention is not lawful.
5. Anyone who has been the victim of unlawful arrest or detention shall have an enforceable right to compensation.

Article 10

1. All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.

2.

(a) Accused persons shall, save in exceptional circumstances, be segregated from convicted persons and shall be subject to separate treatment appropriate to their status as unconvicted persons;

(b) Accused juvenile persons shall be separated from adults and brought as speedily as possible for adjudication.

3. The penitentiary system shall comprise treatment of prisoners the essential aim of which shall be their reformation and social rehabilitation. Juvenile offenders shall be segregated from adults and be accorded treatment appropriate to their age and legal status.

Article 11

No one shall be imprisoned merely on the ground of inability to fulfil a contractual obligation.

Article 12

1. Everyone lawfully within the territory of a State shall, within that territory, have the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose his residence.
2. Everyone shall be free to leave any country, including his own.
3. The above-mentioned rights shall not be subject to any restrictions except those which are provided by law, are necessary to protect national security, public order (ordre public), public health or morals or the rights and freedoms of others, and are consistent with the other rights recognized in the present Covenant.
4. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter his own country.

Article 13

An alien lawfully in the territory of a State Party to the present Covenant may be expelled therefrom only in pursuance of a decision reached in accordance with law and shall, except where compelling reasons of national security otherwise require, be allowed to submit the reasons against his expulsion and to have his case reviewed by, and be represented for the purpose before, the competent authority or a person or persons especially designated by the competent authority.

Article 14

1. All persons shall be equal before the courts and tribunals. In the determination of any criminal charge against him, or of his rights and obligations in a suit at law, everyone shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law. The press and the public may be excluded from all or part of a trial for reasons of morals, public order (ordre public) or national security in a democratic society, or when the interest of the private lives of the parties so requires, or to the extent strictly necessary in the opinion of the court in special circumstances where publicity would prejudice the interests of justice; but any judgement rendered in a criminal case or in a suit at law shall be made public except where the interest of juvenile persons otherwise requires or the proceedings concern matrimonial disputes or the guardianship of children.
2. Everyone charged with a criminal offence shall have the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.
3. In the determination of any criminal charge against him, everyone shall be entitled to the following minimum guarantees, in full equality: (a) To be informed promptly and in detail in a language which he understands of the nature and cause of the charge against him;

(b) To have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence and to communicate with counsel of his own choosing;

(c) To be tried without undue delay;

(d) To be tried in his presence, and to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing; to be informed, if he does not have legal assistance, of this right; and to have legal assistance assigned to him, in any case where the interests of justice so require, and without payment by him in any such case if he does not have sufficient means to pay for it;

(e) To examine, or have examined, the witnesses against him and to obtain the attendance and examination of witnesses on his behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him;

(f) To have the free assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand or speak the language used in court;

(g) Not to be compelled to testify against himself or to confess guilt.

4. In the case of juvenile persons, the procedure shall be such as will take account of their age and the desirability of promoting their rehabilitation.
5. Everyone convicted of a crime shall have the right to his conviction and sentence being reviewed by a higher tribunal according to law.
6. When a person has by a final decision been convicted of a criminal offence and when subsequently his conviction has been reversed or he has been pardoned on the ground that a new or newly discovered fact shows conclusively that there has been a miscarriage of justice, the person who has suffered punishment as a result of such conviction shall be compensated according to law, unless it is proved that the non-disclosure of the unknown fact in time is wholly or partly attributable to him.
7. No one shall be liable to be tried or punished again for an offence for which he has already been finally convicted or acquitted in accordance with the law and penal procedure of each country.

Article 15

1 . No one shall be held guilty of any criminal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a criminal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time when the criminal offence was committed. If, subsequent to the commission of the offence, provision is made by law for the imposition of the lighter penalty, the offender shall benefit thereby.

2. Nothing in this article shall prejudice the trial and punishment of any person for any act or omission which, at the time when it was committed, was criminal according to the general principles of law recognized by the community of nations.

Article 16

Everyone shall have the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 17

1. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his honour and reputation.
2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 18

1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.
3. Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
4. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.

Article 19

1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.
3. The exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this article carries with it special duties and responsibilities. It may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary:

(a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others;

(b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals.

Article 20

1. Any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law.
2. Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.

Article 21

The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Article 22

1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
2. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those which are prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. This article shall not prevent the imposition of lawful restrictions on members of the armed forces and of the police in their exercise of this right.
3. Nothing in this article shall authorize States Parties to the International Labour Organisation Convention of 1948 concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize to take legislative measures which would prejudice, or to apply the law in such a manner as to prejudice, the guarantees provided for in that Convention.

Article 23

1. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
2. The right of men and women of marriageable age to marry and to found a family shall be recognized.
3. No marriage shall be entered into without the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
4. States Parties to the present Covenant shall take appropriate steps to ensure equality of rights and responsibilities of spouses as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. In the case of dissolution, provision shall be made for the necessary protection of any children.

Article 24

1. Every child shall have, without any discrimination as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, national or social origin, property or birth, the right to such measures of protection as are required by his status as a minor, on the part of his family, society and the State.
2. Every child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have a name.
3. Every child has the right to acquire a nationality.

Article 25

Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:

(a) To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives;

(b) To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors;

(c) To have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country.

Article 26

All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Article 27

In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language.

PART IV

Article 28

1. There shall be established a Human Rights Committee (hereafter referred to in the present Covenant as the Committee). It shall consist of eighteen members and shall carry out the functions hereinafter provided.
2. The Committee shall be composed of nationals of the States Parties to the present Covenant who shall be persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights, consideration being given to the usefulness of the participation of some persons having legal experience.
3. The members of the Committee shall be elected and shall serve in their personal capacity.

Article 29

1. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot from a list of persons possessing the qualifications prescribed in article 28 and nominated for the purpose by the States Parties to the present Covenant.
2. Each State Party to the present Covenant may nominate not more than two persons. These persons shall be nationals of the nominating State.
3. A person shall be eligible for renomination.

Article 30

1. The initial election shall be held no later than six months after the date of the entry into force of the present Covenant.
2. At least four months before the date of each election to the Committee, other than an election to fill a vacancy declared in accordance with article 34, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall address a written invitation to the States Parties to the present Covenant to submit their nominations for membership of the Committee within three months.
3. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall prepare a list in alphabetical order of all the persons thus nominated, with an indication of the States Parties which have nominated them, and shall submit it to the States Parties to the present Covenant no later than one month before the date of each election.
4. Elections of the members of the Committee shall be held at a meeting of the States Parties to the present Covenant convened by the Secretary General of the United Nations at the Headquarters of the United Nations. At that meeting, for which two thirds of the States Parties to the present Covenant shall constitute a quorum, the persons elected to the Committee shall be those nominees who obtain the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of States Parties present and voting.

Article 31

1. The Committee may not include more than one national of the same State.
2. In the election of the Committee, consideration shall be given to equitable geographical distribution of membership and to the representation of the different forms of civilization and of the principal legal systems.

Article 32

1. The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of four years. They shall be eligible for re-election if renominated. However, the terms of nine of the members elected at the first election shall expire at the end of two years; immediately after the first election, the names of these nine members shall be chosen by lot by the Chairman of the meeting referred to in article 30, paragraph 4.
2. Elections at the expiry of office shall be held in accordance with the preceding articles of this part of the present Covenant.

Article 33

1. If, in the unanimous opinion of the other members, a member of the Committee has ceased to carry out his functions for any cause other than absence of a temporary character, the Chairman of the Committee shall notify the Secretary-General of the United Nations, 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 Chairman shall immediately notify the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall declare the seat vacant from the date of death or the date on which the resignation takes effect.

Article 34

1. When a vacancy is declared in accordance with article 33 and if the term of office of the member to be replaced does not expire within six months of the declaration of the vacancy, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall notify each of the States Parties to the present Covenant, which may within two months submit nominations in accordance with article 29 for the purpose of filling the vacancy.
2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall prepare a list in alphabetical order of the persons thus nominated and shall submit it to the States Parties to the present Covenant. The election to fill the vacancy shall then take place in accordance with the relevant provisions of this part of the present Covenant.
3. A member of the Committee elected to fill a vacancy declared in accordance with article 33 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.

Article 35

The members of the Committee shall, with the approval of the General Assembly of the United Nations, receive emoluments from United Nations resources on such terms and conditions as the General Assembly may decide, having regard to the importance of the Committee’s responsibilities.

Article 36

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

Article 37

1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene the initial meeting of the Committee at the Headquarters of the United Nations.
2. After its initial meeting, the Committee shall meet at such times as shall be provided in its rules of procedure.
3. The Committee shall normally meet at the Headquarters of the United Nations or at the United Nations Office at Geneva.

Article 38

Every member of the Committee shall, before taking up his duties, make a solemn declaration in open committee that he will perform his functions impartially and conscientiously.

Article 39

1. The Committee shall elect its officers for a term of two years. They may be re-elected.
2. The Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure, but these rules shall provide, inter alia, that:

(a) Twelve members shall constitute a quorum;

(b) Decisions of the Committee shall be made by a majority vote of the members present.

Article 40

1. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to submit reports on the measures they have adopted which give effect to the rights recognized herein and on the progress made in the enjoyment of those rights: (a) Within one year of the entry into force of the present Covenant for the States Parties concerned;

(b) Thereafter whenever the Committee so requests.

2. All reports shall be submitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall transmit them to the Committee for consideration. Reports shall indicate the factors and difficulties, if any, affecting the implementation of the present Covenant.
3. The Secretary-General of the United Nations may, after consultation with the Committee, transmit to the specialized agencies concerned copies of such parts of the reports as may fall within their field of competence.
4. The Committee shall study the reports submitted by the States Parties to the present Covenant. It shall transmit its reports, and such general comments as it may consider appropriate, to the States Parties. The Committee may also transmit to the Economic and Social Council these comments along with the copies of the reports it has received from States Parties to the present Covenant.
5. The States Parties to the present Covenant may submit to the Committee observations on any comments that may be made in accordance with paragraph 4 of this article.

Article 41

1. A State Party to the present Covenant may at any time declare under this article that it recognizes the competence of the Committee to receive and consider communications to the effect that a State Party claims that another State Party is not fulfilling its obligations under the present Covenant. Communications under this article may be received and considered only if submitted by a State Party which has made a declaration recognizing in regard to itself the competence of the Committee. No communication shall be received by the Committee if it concerns a State Party which has not made such a declaration. Communications received under this article shall be dealt with in accordance with the following procedure:

(a) If a State Party to the present Covenant considers that another State Party is not giving effect to the provisions of the present Covenant, it may, by written communication, bring the matter to the attention of that State Party. Within three months after the receipt of the communication the receiving State shall afford the State which sent the communication an explanation, or any other statement in writing clarifying the matter which should include, to the extent possible and pertinent, reference to domestic procedures and remedies taken, pending, or available in the matter;

(b) If the matter is not adjusted to the satisfaction of both States Parties concerned within six months after the receipt by the receiving State of the initial communication, either State shall have the right to refer the matter to the Committee, by notice given to the Committee and to the other State;

(c) The Committee shall deal with a matter referred to it only after it 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. This shall not be the rule where the application of the remedies is unreasonably prolonged;

(d) The Committee shall hold closed meetings when examining communications under this article;

(e) Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (c), the Committee shall make available its good offices to the States Parties concerned with a view to a friendly solution of the matter on the basis of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms as recognized in the present Covenant;

(f) In any matter referred to it, the Committee may call upon the States Parties concerned, referred to in subparagraph (b), to supply any relevant information;

(g) The States Parties concerned, referred to in subparagraph (b), 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;

(h) The Committee shall, within twelve months after the date of receipt of notice under subparagraph (b), submit a report:

(i) If a solution within the terms of subparagraph (e) is reached, the Committee shall confine its report to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached;

(ii) If a solution within the terms of subparagraph (e) is not reached, the Committee shall confine its report to a brief statement of the facts; the written submissions and record of the oral submissions made by the States Parties concerned shall be attached to the report. In every matter, the report shall be communicated to the States Parties concerned.

2. The provisions of this article shall come into force when ten States Parties to the present Covenant have made declarations under paragraph I of this article. Such declarations shall be deposited by the States Parties with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall transmit copies thereof to the other States Parties. A declaration may be withdrawn at any time by notification to the Secretary-General. Such a withdrawal shall not prejudice the consideration of any matter which is the subject of a communication already transmitted under this article; no further communication by any State Party shall be received after the notification of withdrawal of the declaration has been received by the Secretary-General, unless the State Party concerned has made a new declaration.

Article 42

1.

(a) If a matter referred to the Committee in accordance with article 41 is not resolved to the satisfaction of the States Parties concerned, the Committee may, with the prior consent of the States Parties concerned, appoint an ad hoc Conciliation Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission). The good offices of the Commission shall be made available to the States Parties concerned with a view to an amicable solution of the matter on the basis of respect for the present Covenant;

(b) The Commission shall consist of five persons acceptable to the States Parties concerned. If the States Parties concerned fail to reach agreement within three months on all or part of the composition of the Commission, the members of the Commission concerning whom no agreement has been reached shall be elected by secret ballot by a two-thirds majority vote of the Committee from among its members.

2. The members of the Commission shall serve in their personal capacity. They shall not be nationals of the States Parties concerned, or of a State not Party to the present Covenant, or of a State Party which has not made a declaration under article 41.
3. The Commission shall elect its own Chairman and adopt its own rules of procedure.
4. The meetings of the Commission shall normally be held at the Headquarters of the United Nations or at the United Nations Office at Geneva. However, they may be held at such other convenient places as the Commission may determine in consultation with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the States Parties concerned.
5. The secretariat provided in accordance with article 36 shall also service the commissions appointed under this article.
6. The information received and collated by the Committee shall be made available to the Commission and the Commission may call upon the States Parties concerned to supply any other relevant information.
7. When the Commission has fully considered the matter, but in any event not later than twelve months after having been seized of the matter, it shall submit to the Chairman of the Committee a report for communication to the States Parties concerned:

(a) If the Commission is unable to complete its consideration of the matter within twelve months, it shall confine its report to a brief statement of the status of its consideration of the matter;

(b) If an amicable solution to the matter on tie basis of respect for human rights as recognized in the present Covenant is reached, the Commission shall confine its report to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached;

(c) If a solution within the terms of subparagraph (b) is not reached, the Commission’s report shall embody its findings on all questions of fact relevant to the issues between the States Parties concerned, and its views on the possibilities of an amicable solution of the matter. This report shall also contain the written submissions and a record of the oral submissions made by the States Parties concerned;

(d) If the Commission’s report is submitted under subparagraph (c), the States Parties concerned shall, within three months of the receipt of the report, notify the Chairman of the Committee whether or not they accept the contents of the report of the Commission.

8. The provisions of this article are without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Committee under article 41.
9. The States Parties concerned shall share equally all the expenses of the members of the Commission in accordance with estimates to be provided by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
10. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be empowered to pay the expenses of the members of the Commission, if necessary, before reimbursement by the States Parties concerned, in accordance with paragraph 9 of this article.

Article 43

The members of the Committee, and of the ad hoc conciliation commissions which may be appointed under article 42, shall be entitled to the facilities, privileges and immunities of experts on mission for the United Nations as laid down in the relevant sections of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

Article 44

The provisions for the implementation of the present Covenant shall apply without prejudice to the procedures prescribed in the field of human rights by or under the constituent instruments and the conventions of the United Nations and of the specialized agencies and shall not prevent the States Parties to the present Covenant from having recourse to other procedures for settling a dispute in accordance with general or special international agreements in force between them.

Article 45

The Committee shall submit to the General Assembly of the United Nations, through the Economic and Social Council, an annual report on its activities.

PART V

Article 46

Nothing in the present Covenant shall be interpreted as impairing the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and of the constitutions of the specialized agencies which define the respective responsibilities of the various organs of the United Nations and of the specialized agencies in regard to the matters dealt with in the present Covenant.

Article 47

Nothing in the present Covenant shall be interpreted as impairing the inherent right of all peoples to enjoy and utilize fully and freely their natural wealth and resources.

PART VI

Article 48

1. The present Covenant is open for signature by any State Member of the United Nations or member of any of its specialized agencies, by any State Party to the Statute of the International Court of Justice, and by any other State which has been invited by the General Assembly of the United Nations to become a Party to the present Covenant.
2. The present Covenant is subject to ratification. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
3. The present Covenant shall be open to accession by any State referred to in paragraph 1 of this article.
4. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
5. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States which have signed this Covenant or acceded to it of the deposit of each instrument of ratification or accession.

Article 49

1. The present Covenant shall enter into force three months after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the thirty-fifth instrument of ratification or instrument of accession.
2. For each State ratifying the present Covenant or acceding to it after the deposit of the thirty-fifth instrument of ratification or instrument of accession, the present Covenant shall enter into force three months after the date of the deposit of its own instrument of ratification or instrument of accession.

Article 50

The provisions of the present Covenant shall extend to all parts of federal States without any limitations or exceptions.

Article 51

1. Any State Party to the present Covenant may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall thereupon communicate any proposed amendments to the States Parties to the present Covenant with a request that they notify him whether they favour a conference of States Parties for the purpose of considering and voting upon the proposals. In the event that at least one third of the States Parties favours such a conference, the Secretary-General shall convene the conference under the auspices of the United Nations. Any amendment adopted by a majority of the States Parties present and voting at the conference shall be submitted to the General Assembly of the United Nations for approval.
2. Amendments shall come into force when they have been approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations and accepted by a two-thirds majority of the States Parties to the present Covenant in accordance with their respective constitutional processes. 3. When amendments come into force, they shall be binding on those States Parties which have accepted them, other States Parties still being bound by the provisions of the present Covenant and any earlier amendment which they have accepted.

Article 52

1. Irrespective of the notifications made under article 48, paragraph 5, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States referred to in paragraph I of the same article of the following particulars:

(a) Signatures, ratifications and accessions under article 48;

(b) The date of the entry into force of the present Covenant under article 49 and the date of the entry into force of any amendments under article 51.

Article 53

1. The present Covenant, of which the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the United Nations.
2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit certified copies of the present Covenant to all States referred to in article 48.

 

 

Preamble

The States Parties to the present Covenant,

Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Recognizing that these rights derive from the inherent dignity of the human person,

Recognizing that, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ideal of free human beings enjoying civil and political freedom and freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his civil and political rights, as well as his economic, social and cultural rights,

Considering the obligation of States under the Charter of the United Nations to promote universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and freedoms,

Realizing that the individual, having duties to other individuals and to the community to which he belongs, is under a responsibility to strive for the promotion and observance of the rights recognized in the present Covenant,

Agree upon the following articles:

PART I

Article 1

1. All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
2. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence.
3. The States Parties to the present Covenant, including those having responsibility for the administration of Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories, shall promote the realization of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

PART II

Article 2

1. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
2. Where not already provided for by existing legislative or other measures, each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to take the necessary steps, in accordance with its constitutional processes and with the provisions of the present Covenant, to adopt such laws or other measures as may be necessary to give effect to the rights recognized in the present Covenant.
3. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes:

(a) To ensure that any person whose rights or freedoms as herein recognized are violated shall have an effective remedy, notwithstanding that the violation has been committed by persons acting in an official capacity;

(b) To ensure that any person claiming such a remedy shall have his right thereto determined by competent judicial, administrative or legislative authorities, or by any other competent authority provided for by the legal system of the State, and to develop the possibilities of judicial remedy;

(c) To ensure that the competent authorities shall enforce such remedies when granted.

Article 3

The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all civil and political rights set forth in the present Covenant.

Article 4

1 . In time of public emergency which threatens the life of the nation and the existence of which is officially proclaimed, the States Parties to the present Covenant may take measures derogating from their obligations under the present Covenant to the extent strictly required by the exigencies of the situation, provided that such measures are not inconsistent with their other obligations under international law and do not involve discrimination solely on the ground of race, colour, sex, language, religion or social origin.

2. No derogation from articles 6, 7, 8 (paragraphs I and 2), 11, 15, 16 and 18 may be made under this provision.
3. Any State Party to the present Covenant availing itself of the right of derogation shall immediately inform the other States Parties to the present Covenant, through the intermediary of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, of the provisions from which it has derogated and of the reasons by which it was actuated. A further communication shall be made, through the same intermediary, on the date on which it terminates such derogation.

Article 5

1. Nothing in the present Covenant may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms recognized herein or at their limitation to a greater extent than is provided for in the present Covenant.
2. There shall be no restriction upon or derogation from any of the fundamental human rights recognized or existing in any State Party to the present Covenant pursuant to law, conventions, regulations or custom on the pretext that the present Covenant does not recognize such rights or that it recognizes them to a lesser extent.

PART III

Article 6

1. Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.
2. In countries which have not abolished the death penalty, sentence of death may be imposed only for the most serious crimes in accordance with the law in force at the time of the commission of the crime and not contrary to the provisions of the present Covenant and to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This penalty can only be carried out pursuant to a final judgement rendered by a competent court.
3. When deprivation of life constitutes the crime of genocide, it is understood that nothing in this article shall authorize any State Party to the present Covenant to derogate in any way from any obligation assumed under the provisions of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
4. Anyone sentenced to death shall have the right to seek pardon or commutation of the sentence. Amnesty, pardon or commutation of the sentence of death may be granted in all cases.
5. Sentence of death shall not be imposed for crimes committed by persons below eighteen years of age and shall not be carried out on pregnant women.
6. Nothing in this article shall be invoked to delay or to prevent the abolition of capital punishment by any State Party to the present Covenant.

Article 7

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no one shall be subjected without his free consent to medical or scientific experimentation.

Article 8

1. No one shall be held in slavery; slavery and the slave-trade in all their forms shall be prohibited.
2. No one shall be held in servitude.

3.

(a) No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour;

(b) Paragraph 3 (a) shall not be held to preclude, in countries where imprisonment with hard labour may be imposed as a punishment for a crime, the performance of hard labour in pursuance of a sentence to such punishment by a competent court;

(c) For the purpose of this paragraph the term “forced or compulsory labour” shall not include:

(i) Any work or service, not referred to in subparagraph (b), normally required of a person who is under detention in consequence of a lawful order of a court, or of a person during conditional release from such detention;

(ii) Any service of a military character and, in countries where conscientious objection is recognized, any national service required by law of conscientious objectors;

(iii) Any service exacted in cases of emergency or calamity threatening the life or well-being of the community;

(iv) Any work or service which forms part of normal civil obligations.

Article 9

1. Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.
2. Anyone who is arrested shall be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for his arrest and shall be promptly informed of any charges against him.
3. Anyone arrested or detained on a criminal charge shall be brought promptly before a judge or other officer authorized by law to exercise judicial power and shall be entitled to trial within a reasonable time or to release. It shall not be the general rule that persons awaiting trial shall be detained in custody, but release may be subject to guarantees to appear for trial, at any other stage of the judicial proceedings, and, should occasion arise, for execution of the judgement.
4. Anyone who is deprived of his liberty by arrest or detention shall be entitled to take proceedings before a court, in order that that court may decide without delay on the lawfulness of his detention and order his release if the detention is not lawful.
5. Anyone who has been the victim of unlawful arrest or detention shall have an enforceable right to compensation.

Article 10

1. All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.

2.

(a) Accused persons shall, save in exceptional circumstances, be segregated from convicted persons and shall be subject to separate treatment appropriate to their status as unconvicted persons;

(b) Accused juvenile persons shall be separated from adults and brought as speedily as possible for adjudication.

3. The penitentiary system shall comprise treatment of prisoners the essential aim of which shall be their reformation and social rehabilitation. Juvenile offenders shall be segregated from adults and be accorded treatment appropriate to their age and legal status.

Article 11

No one shall be imprisoned merely on the ground of inability to fulfil a contractual obligation.

Article 12

1. Everyone lawfully within the territory of a State shall, within that territory, have the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose his residence.
2. Everyone shall be free to leave any country, including his own.
3. The above-mentioned rights shall not be subject to any restrictions except those which are provided by law, are necessary to protect national security, public order (ordre public), public health or morals or the rights and freedoms of others, and are consistent with the other rights recognized in the present Covenant.
4. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter his own country.

Article 13

An alien lawfully in the territory of a State Party to the present Covenant may be expelled therefrom only in pursuance of a decision reached in accordance with law and shall, except where compelling reasons of national security otherwise require, be allowed to submit the reasons against his expulsion and to have his case reviewed by, and be represented for the purpose before, the competent authority or a person or persons especially designated by the competent authority.

Article 14

1. All persons shall be equal before the courts and tribunals. In the determination of any criminal charge against him, or of his rights and obligations in a suit at law, everyone shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law. The press and the public may be excluded from all or part of a trial for reasons of morals, public order (ordre public) or national security in a democratic society, or when the interest of the private lives of the parties so requires, or to the extent strictly necessary in the opinion of the court in special circumstances where publicity would prejudice the interests of justice; but any judgement rendered in a criminal case or in a suit at law shall be made public except where the interest of juvenile persons otherwise requires or the proceedings concern matrimonial disputes or the guardianship of children.
2. Everyone charged with a criminal offence shall have the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.
3. In the determination of any criminal charge against him, everyone shall be entitled to the following minimum guarantees, in full equality: (a) To be informed promptly and in detail in a language which he understands of the nature and cause of the charge against him;

(b) To have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence and to communicate with counsel of his own choosing;

(c) To be tried without undue delay;

(d) To be tried in his presence, and to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing; to be informed, if he does not have legal assistance, of this right; and to have legal assistance assigned to him, in any case where the interests of justice so require, and without payment by him in any such case if he does not have sufficient means to pay for it;

(e) To examine, or have examined, the witnesses against him and to obtain the attendance and examination of witnesses on his behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him;

(f) To have the free assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand or speak the language used in court;

(g) Not to be compelled to testify against himself or to confess guilt.

4. In the case of juvenile persons, the procedure shall be such as will take account of their age and the desirability of promoting their rehabilitation.
5. Everyone convicted of a crime shall have the right to his conviction and sentence being reviewed by a higher tribunal according to law.
6. When a person has by a final decision been convicted of a criminal offence and when subsequently his conviction has been reversed or he has been pardoned on the ground that a new or newly discovered fact shows conclusively that there has been a miscarriage of justice, the person who has suffered punishment as a result of such conviction shall be compensated according to law, unless it is proved that the non-disclosure of the unknown fact in time is wholly or partly attributable to him.
7. No one shall be liable to be tried or punished again for an offence for which he has already been finally convicted or acquitted in accordance with the law and penal procedure of each country.

Article 15

1 . No one shall be held guilty of any criminal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a criminal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time when the criminal offence was committed. If, subsequent to the commission of the offence, provision is made by law for the imposition of the lighter penalty, the offender shall benefit thereby.

2. Nothing in this article shall prejudice the trial and punishment of any person for any act or omission which, at the time when it was committed, was criminal according to the general principles of law recognized by the community of nations.

Article 16

Everyone shall have the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 17

1. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his honour and reputation.
2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 18

1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.
3. Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
4. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.

Article 19

1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.
3. The exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this article carries with it special duties and responsibilities. It may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary:

(a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others;

(b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals.

Article 20

1. Any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law.
2. Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.

Article 21

The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Article 22

1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
2. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those which are prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. This article shall not prevent the imposition of lawful restrictions on members of the armed forces and of the police in their exercise of this right.
3. Nothing in this article shall authorize States Parties to the International Labour Organisation Convention of 1948 concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize to take legislative measures which would prejudice, or to apply the law in such a manner as to prejudice, the guarantees provided for in that Convention.

Article 23

1. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
2. The right of men and women of marriageable age to marry and to found a family shall be recognized.
3. No marriage shall be entered into without the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
4. States Parties to the present Covenant shall take appropriate steps to ensure equality of rights and responsibilities of spouses as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. In the case of dissolution, provision shall be made for the necessary protection of any children.

Article 24

1. Every child shall have, without any discrimination as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, national or social origin, property or birth, the right to such measures of protection as are required by his status as a minor, on the part of his family, society and the State.
2. Every child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have a name.
3. Every child has the right to acquire a nationality.

Article 25

Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:

(a) To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives;

(b) To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors;

(c) To have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country.

Article 26

All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Article 27

In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language.

PART IV

Article 28

1. There shall be established a Human Rights Committee (hereafter referred to in the present Covenant as the Committee). It shall consist of eighteen members and shall carry out the functions hereinafter provided.
2. The Committee shall be composed of nationals of the States Parties to the present Covenant who shall be persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights, consideration being given to the usefulness of the participation of some persons having legal experience.
3. The members of the Committee shall be elected and shall serve in their personal capacity.

Article 29

1. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot from a list of persons possessing the qualifications prescribed in article 28 and nominated for the purpose by the States Parties to the present Covenant.
2. Each State Party to the present Covenant may nominate not more than two persons. These persons shall be nationals of the nominating State.
3. A person shall be eligible for renomination.

Article 30

1. The initial election shall be held no later than six months after the date of the entry into force of the present Covenant.
2. At least four months before the date of each election to the Committee, other than an election to fill a vacancy declared in accordance with article 34, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall address a written invitation to the States Parties to the present Covenant to submit their nominations for membership of the Committee within three months.
3. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall prepare a list in alphabetical order of all the persons thus nominated, with an indication of the States Parties which have nominated them, and shall submit it to the States Parties to the present Covenant no later than one month before the date of each election.
4. Elections of the members of the Committee shall be held at a meeting of the States Parties to the present Covenant convened by the Secretary General of the United Nations at the Headquarters of the United Nations. At that meeting, for which two thirds of the States Parties to the present Covenant shall constitute a quorum, the persons elected to the Committee shall be those nominees who obtain the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of States Parties present and voting.

Article 31

1. The Committee may not include more than one national of the same State.
2. In the election of the Committee, consideration shall be given to equitable geographical distribution of membership and to the representation of the different forms of civilization and of the principal legal systems.

Article 32

1. The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of four years. They shall be eligible for re-election if renominated. However, the terms of nine of the members elected at the first election shall expire at the end of two years; immediately after the first election, the names of these nine members shall be chosen by lot by the Chairman of the meeting referred to in article 30, paragraph 4.
2. Elections at the expiry of office shall be held in accordance with the preceding articles of this part of the present Covenant.

Article 33

1. If, in the unanimous opinion of the other members, a member of the Committee has ceased to carry out his functions for any cause other than absence of a temporary character, the Chairman of the Committee shall notify the Secretary-General of the United Nations, 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 Chairman shall immediately notify the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall declare the seat vacant from the date of death or the date on which the resignation takes effect.

Article 34

1. When a vacancy is declared in accordance with article 33 and if the term of office of the member to be replaced does not expire within six months of the declaration of the vacancy, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall notify each of the States Parties to the present Covenant, which may within two months submit nominations in accordance with article 29 for the purpose of filling the vacancy.
2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall prepare a list in alphabetical order of the persons thus nominated and shall submit it to the States Parties to the present Covenant. The election to fill the vacancy shall then take place in accordance with the relevant provisions of this part of the present Covenant.
3. A member of the Committee elected to fill a vacancy declared in accordance with article 33 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.

Article 35

The members of the Committee shall, with the approval of the General Assembly of the United Nations, receive emoluments from United Nations resources on such terms and conditions as the General Assembly may decide, having regard to the importance of the Committee’s responsibilities.

Article 36

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

Article 37

1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene the initial meeting of the Committee at the Headquarters of the United Nations.
2. After its initial meeting, the Committee shall meet at such times as shall be provided in its rules of procedure.
3. The Committee shall normally meet at the Headquarters of the United Nations or at the United Nations Office at Geneva.

Article 38

Every member of the Committee shall, before taking up his duties, make a solemn declaration in open committee that he will perform his functions impartially and conscientiously.

Article 39

1. The Committee shall elect its officers for a term of two years. They may be re-elected.
2. The Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure, but these rules shall provide, inter alia, that:

(a) Twelve members shall constitute a quorum;

(b) Decisions of the Committee shall be made by a majority vote of the members present.

Article 40

1. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to submit reports on the measures they have adopted which give effect to the rights recognized herein and on the progress made in the enjoyment of those rights: (a) Within one year of the entry into force of the present Covenant for the States Parties concerned;

(b) Thereafter whenever the Committee so requests.

2. All reports shall be submitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall transmit them to the Committee for consideration. Reports shall indicate the factors and difficulties, if any, affecting the implementation of the present Covenant.
3. The Secretary-General of the United Nations may, after consultation with the Committee, transmit to the specialized agencies concerned copies of such parts of the reports as may fall within their field of competence.
4. The Committee shall study the reports submitted by the States Parties to the present Covenant. It shall transmit its reports, and such general comments as it may consider appropriate, to the States Parties. The Committee may also transmit to the Economic and Social Council these comments along with the copies of the reports it has received from States Parties to the present Covenant.
5. The States Parties to the present Covenant may submit to the Committee observations on any comments that may be made in accordance with paragraph 4 of this article.

Article 41

1. A State Party to the present Covenant may at any time declare under this article that it recognizes the competence of the Committee to receive and consider communications to the effect that a State Party claims that another State Party is not fulfilling its obligations under the present Covenant. Communications under this article may be received and considered only if submitted by a State Party which has made a declaration recognizing in regard to itself the competence of the Committee. No communication shall be received by the Committee if it concerns a State Party which has not made such a declaration. Communications received under this article shall be dealt with in accordance with the following procedure:

(a) If a State Party to the present Covenant considers that another State Party is not giving effect to the provisions of the present Covenant, it may, by written communication, bring the matter to the attention of that State Party. Within three months after the receipt of the communication the receiving State shall afford the State which sent the communication an explanation, or any other statement in writing clarifying the matter which should include, to the extent possible and pertinent, reference to domestic procedures and remedies taken, pending, or available in the matter;

(b) If the matter is not adjusted to the satisfaction of both States Parties concerned within six months after the receipt by the receiving State of the initial communication, either State shall have the right to refer the matter to the Committee, by notice given to the Committee and to the other State;

(c) The Committee shall deal with a matter referred to it only after it 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. This shall not be the rule where the application of the remedies is unreasonably prolonged;

(d) The Committee shall hold closed meetings when examining communications under this article;

(e) Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (c), the Committee shall make available its good offices to the States Parties concerned with a view to a friendly solution of the matter on the basis of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms as recognized in the present Covenant;

(f) In any matter referred to it, the Committee may call upon the States Parties concerned, referred to in subparagraph (b), to supply any relevant information;

(g) The States Parties concerned, referred to in subparagraph (b), 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;

(h) The Committee shall, within twelve months after the date of receipt of notice under subparagraph (b), submit a report:

(i) If a solution within the terms of subparagraph (e) is reached, the Committee shall confine its report to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached;

(ii) If a solution within the terms of subparagraph (e) is not reached, the Committee shall confine its report to a brief statement of the facts; the written submissions and record of the oral submissions made by the States Parties concerned shall be attached to the report. In every matter, the report shall be communicated to the States Parties concerned.

2. The provisions of this article shall come into force when ten States Parties to the present Covenant have made declarations under paragraph I of this article. Such declarations shall be deposited by the States Parties with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall transmit copies thereof to the other States Parties. A declaration may be withdrawn at any time by notification to the Secretary-General. Such a withdrawal shall not prejudice the consideration of any matter which is the subject of a communication already transmitted under this article; no further communication by any State Party shall be received after the notification of withdrawal of the declaration has been received by the Secretary-General, unless the State Party concerned has made a new declaration.

Article 42

1.

(a) If a matter referred to the Committee in accordance with article 41 is not resolved to the satisfaction of the States Parties concerned, the Committee may, with the prior consent of the States Parties concerned, appoint an ad hoc Conciliation Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission). The good offices of the Commission shall be made available to the States Parties concerned with a view to an amicable solution of the matter on the basis of respect for the present Covenant;

(b) The Commission shall consist of five persons acceptable to the States Parties concerned. If the States Parties concerned fail to reach agreement within three months on all or part of the composition of the Commission, the members of the Commission concerning whom no agreement has been reached shall be elected by secret ballot by a two-thirds majority vote of the Committee from among its members.

2. The members of the Commission shall serve in their personal capacity. They shall not be nationals of the States Parties concerned, or of a State not Party to the present Covenant, or of a State Party which has not made a declaration under article 41.
3. The Commission shall elect its own Chairman and adopt its own rules of procedure.
4. The meetings of the Commission shall normally be held at the Headquarters of the United Nations or at the United Nations Office at Geneva. However, they may be held at such other convenient places as the Commission may determine in consultation with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the States Parties concerned.
5. The secretariat provided in accordance with article 36 shall also service the commissions appointed under this article.
6. The information received and collated by the Committee shall be made available to the Commission and the Commission may call upon the States Parties concerned to supply any other relevant information.
7. When the Commission has fully considered the matter, but in any event not later than twelve months after having been seized of the matter, it shall submit to the Chairman of the Committee a report for communication to the States Parties concerned:

(a) If the Commission is unable to complete its consideration of the matter within twelve months, it shall confine its report to a brief statement of the status of its consideration of the matter;

(b) If an amicable solution to the matter on tie basis of respect for human rights as recognized in the present Covenant is reached, the Commission shall confine its report to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached;

(c) If a solution within the terms of subparagraph (b) is not reached, the Commission’s report shall embody its findings on all questions of fact relevant to the issues between the States Parties concerned, and its views on the possibilities of an amicable solution of the matter. This report shall also contain the written submissions and a record of the oral submissions made by the States Parties concerned;

(d) If the Commission’s report is submitted under subparagraph (c), the States Parties concerned shall, within three months of the receipt of the report, notify the Chairman of the Committee whether or not they accept the contents of the report of the Commission.

8. The provisions of this article are without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Committee under article 41.
9. The States Parties concerned shall share equally all the expenses of the members of the Commission in accordance with estimates to be provided by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
10. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be empowered to pay the expenses of the members of the Commission, if necessary, before reimbursement by the States Parties concerned, in accordance with paragraph 9 of this article.

Article 43

The members of the Committee, and of the ad hoc conciliation commissions which may be appointed under article 42, shall be entitled to the facilities, privileges and immunities of experts on mission for the United Nations as laid down in the relevant sections of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

Article 44

The provisions for the implementation of the present Covenant shall apply without prejudice to the procedures prescribed in the field of human rights by or under the constituent instruments and the conventions of the United Nations and of the specialized agencies and shall not prevent the States Parties to the present Covenant from having recourse to other procedures for settling a dispute in accordance with general or special international agreements in force between them.

Article 45

The Committee shall submit to the General Assembly of the United Nations, through the Economic and Social Council, an annual report on its activities.

PART V

Article 46

Nothing in the present Covenant shall be interpreted as impairing the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and of the constitutions of the specialized agencies which define the respective responsibilities of the various organs of the United Nations and of the specialized agencies in regard to the matters dealt with in the present Covenant.

Article 47

Nothing in the present Covenant shall be interpreted as impairing the inherent right of all peoples to enjoy and utilize fully and freely their natural wealth and resources.

PART VI

Article 48

1. The present Covenant is open for signature by any State Member of the United Nations or member of any of its specialized agencies, by any State Party to the Statute of the International Court of Justice, and by any other State which has been invited by the General Assembly of the United Nations to become a Party to the present Covenant.
2. The present Covenant is subject to ratification. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
3. The present Covenant shall be open to accession by any State referred to in paragraph 1 of this article.
4. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
5. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States which have signed this Covenant or acceded to it of the deposit of each instrument of ratification or accession.

Article 49

1. The present Covenant shall enter into force three months after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the thirty-fifth instrument of ratification or instrument of accession.
2. For each State ratifying the present Covenant or acceding to it after the deposit of the thirty-fifth instrument of ratification or instrument of accession, the present Covenant shall enter into force three months after the date of the deposit of its own instrument of ratification or instrument of accession.

Article 50

The provisions of the present Covenant shall extend to all parts of federal States without any limitations or exceptions.

Article 51

1. Any State Party to the present Covenant may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall thereupon communicate any proposed amendments to the States Parties to the present Covenant with a request that they notify him whether they favour a conference of States Parties for the purpose of considering and voting upon the proposals. In the event that at least one third of the States Parties favours such a conference, the Secretary-General shall convene the conference under the auspices of the United Nations. Any amendment adopted by a majority of the States Parties present and voting at the conference shall be submitted to the General Assembly of the United Nations for approval.
2. Amendments shall come into force when they have been approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations and accepted by a two-thirds majority of the States Parties to the present Covenant in accordance with their respective constitutional processes. 3. When amendments come into force, they shall be binding on those States Parties which have accepted them, other States Parties still being bound by the provisions of the present Covenant and any earlier amendment which they have accepted.

Article 52

1. Irrespective of the notifications made under article 48, paragraph 5, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States referred to in paragraph I of the same article of the following particulars:

(a) Signatures, ratifications and accessions under article 48;

(b) The date of the entry into force of the present Covenant under article 49 and the date of the entry into force of any amendments under article 51.

Article 53

1. The present Covenant, of which the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the United Nations.
2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit certified copies of the present Covenant to all States referred to in article 48.