ABSTRACT

The Covenant established the Human Rights Committee as the principal international organ of its implementation. This body consists of eighteen individual members who are charged with carrying out the functions stipulated in the Covenant and the first Optional Protocol thereto. In practice, although many members have had antecedent Government connections such as having held cabinet or Government posts, ambassadorships, parliamentary membership, membership of other United Nations committees and other official posts, no allegations of any partiality have ever emerged. In regard to States Parties to the Optional Protocol, the Human Rights Committee is competent to receive and consider communications from individuals who claim to be victims of a violation by a State which is a party to the Covenant and to the Protocol of any of the rights set forth in the Covenant. The Human Rights Committee plays a pivotal role in each of the implementation systems established collectively by the Covenant and the Optional Protocol.