Elena A. Baylis (1999), 'General Comment 24: Confronting the Problem of Reservations to Human Rights Treaties', Berkeley Journal of International Law, 17, pp. 277-329.

Theideaof"humanrights"becameawatchwordofinternationalpoliticsin thewakeoftheatrocitiesofWorldWarII.Sincethattime,thegeneralconcept ofauniversal,inalienablesetofrightshasbeengivenlegalcontentthroughthe developmentofinternationaltreatiesdefiningthoserightsandpurportingtobind thetreaties'signatoriestorespectthem.However,inrealitythesetreatieshave notprovedtobebinding.Stateshavesignedthetreatiesandthenfloutedtheir preceptswithimpunity. 1

TheUnitedNationsHumanRightsCommittee(hereinafter"Committee") haslongfacedsuchanenforcementprobleminitsadministrationoftheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(hereinafter"Covenant").Asthe Covenant'sadministrator,itistheCommittee'sresponsibilitytoreviewthe statesparties'compliancewiththeCovenant.RatherthanagreeingtotheCovenantasitiswritten,manystateshavesubmittedreservationsindicatingthatthey donotconsenttoparticularCovenantprovisions.Bycreatingsuchreservations, statespartiescanremainintechnicalcompliancewiththeCovenantwhileengaginginpracticesthattheCovenantcondemns.Bythe1990s,suchreservationshadbecomesocommonplaceandcomprehensivethatoftenstatesdidnot infactagreetoanychangeintheirlawsorpoliciesbysigningtheCovenant.