ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews some developments in order to illustrate the practice of one important quasi-judicial treaty body; the Human Rights Committee which functions under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the first Optional Protocol thereto. Nationally and internationally, the principle of awarding reparations is recognized, but differences of view still prevail with regard to scope, content, and modalities. The Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power was finally adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in resolution 40/34 of 29 November 1985. A good number of universal and regional human rights instruments contain special provisions concerning the right of every individual to an "effective remedy" by competent national tribunals for acts violating human rights. Reparation is first and foremost the rendering of justice to individual persons and groups whose rights have been violated and who are therefore entitled to remedy and redress.
