Human Rights Committee Opens One Hundred and Thirty-Eighth Session

The Human Rights Committee this morning opened its one hundred and thirty-eighth session in Geneva, during which it will examine the reports of Brazil, Burundi, Colombia, Cyprus, Lesotho, the State of Palestine and Uganda, on their implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  The Committee adopted its agenda and programme of work for the session.

Tania María Abdo Rocholl, Chair of the Committee, in opening remarks, declared the one hundred and thirty-eighth session of the Human Rights Committee open, welcoming Simon Walker to deliver a statement to the group.

Simon Walker Chief, Rule of Law and Democracy Section, Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures, and Right to Development Division, and Representative of the Secretary-General, underscored the importance of the treaty body system and how his Section provided legal guidance.  Views and concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee were significant in this respect, as the work of the Rule of Law and Democracy Section spanned areas including transitional justice, safety of journalists and the administration of justice, which all related to the Covenant.  E-justice in the criminal system and drug policy and human rights were of particular concern currently.  Though digital technology expedited some processes in the administration of justice, it also could exacerbate injustice, by denying due process rights, failing to spot signs of torture, and affecting the right to life in death penalty cases. 

Drug use continued to increase worldwide, highlighting the ineffectiveness of a punitive approach to prevention.  Further, 35 countries continued to apply the death penalty for drug offences while others imposed rehabilitation programmes akin to arbitrary detention.  A groundswell of public opinion shifting from a punitive to a human rights, decriminalization and harm reduction approach to drug policy was notable, and the Section would welcome the opportunity to brief the Committee on recent developments in the field.  A report on e-justice would be released in 2024.  There were many challenges for the Treaty Body system, including long-overdue reports and refusals of visits for Experts and Special Reporters.  The implementation of the eight-year predicable calendar of reviews of State party’s reports, as well as the digital uplift, would strengthen the treaty body system, but this was dependent on the human, technical and financial resources that the General Assembly would make available.  Mr. Walker wished the Committee a productive session.

Hélène Tigroudja, Chair of the Working Group on Individual Communications, presented the report on its activities for the one hundred and thirty-eighth session.  The Working Group had considered 30 drafts decisions dating between 2014-2020 from 20 States. Issues addressed included torture, maltreatment in detention, discrimination based on sexual orientation and freedom of expression.  The Working Group would submit to the plenary nine communications deemed inadmissible, one with two options, four of non-violation, 20 of violation, and three that needed to be concluded by the Group during the Plenary.  The Working Group would also present a proposal to highlight countries violating the Optional protocol’s measures for temporary protection during the plenary.  The Report was then adopted.

Tania María Abdo Rocholl noted with regret that the dialogue on Somalia would not take place during this session.  It would be moved to March 2024.

All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found at the session’s webpage. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings is available here.

The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. on Monday, 26 June, to begin its consideration of the initial report of Brazil (CCPR/C/BRA/3).

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