ABSTRACT
Formuchofthe35-yearhistoryofthetreatybodysystem,itwasconsidered bysometreatybodymembersthatthetreatiessimplydidnotauthorise theissuanceofcommentsonanyState?Ththeextentthattheypermittedthe treatybodiestoissuecollectivecomments,suchcommentsweretobeconfined togeneralobservationsapplicableforallStatesParties.AsPhilipAlstonhas putit:'[i)ntheearlyyearsoftheUNtreaty-monitoringsystemitwasargued bysomeStates.andinvariablysupportedbytheexpertsfromthoseStates,that theobjectiveoftheexercisewastoavoidevaluationatallcosts.Inotherwords theconstructivedialogueshouldhavenoconclusion'.4Thatsuchviewswere notsharedbyallcommitteemembersmatteredlittlesincethecommitteeshad, fromtheoutset,agreedrulesofprocedurewherebytheywouldadoptdecisions byconsensus.5
