International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights_full Text

8/3/2019 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights_full Text

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INTERNATIONAL COVENANTON CIVIL

AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

V NIT ED NATIONS1967


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INTERNATIONAL COVENANT O N CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

The States Parties to the present Covenant,Considering that. In accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter

of the United Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal andinalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation offreedom, justice and peace in the world,

Recognizing that these rights derive from the inherent dignity of thehuman person.

Recognizing that, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Rights, the ideal of free human beings enjoying civil and political freedomand freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if conditions are createdwhereby everyone may enjoy his civil and political rights, as well as his economic,social and cultural rights.

Considering the obligation of States under the Charter of the United Nationsto promote universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and freedoms,

Realizing that the individual, having duties to other individuals and tothe community t o which he belongs, is under a responsibility to strive for thepromotion and observance of the rights recognized in the present Covenant,

Agree upon the following articles:

PART I

Article 11. All peoples have the right of self-determimtion, "By virtue of that

right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue theireconomic, social and cultural development.

2. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural amltland resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of internationaleconomic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and inteimtiomllaw. In no case laay a people be deprived of its own meahs of subsistence.


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3. The States Parties to the present Covenant, including those havingresponsibility for the administration of Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories,shall promote the realization of the right of self-deterrairiation, and shall respectthat right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

PART II

Article 21. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to

ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject t o its Jurisdictionthe rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind,such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, nationalor social origin, property, birth or other status.

2. Where not already provided for by existing legislative or other measures,each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to take the necessary steps,in accordance with its constitutional processes and with the provisions of thepresent Covenant, to adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessaryto give effect to the rights recognized in the present Covenant.

5. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes:(a) To ensure thet any person whose rights or freedoms as herein recognized

are violated sholl have an effective remedy, notwithstanding that the violationhas been committed by persons acting in an officiai capacity;

(b) To ensure that any person claiming such a remedy shall have his rightthereto determined by competent judicial, administrative or legislativeauthorities, or by any other competent authority provided for by the legal systemof the State, and to develop the possibilities of Judicial remedy;

(c) To ensure that the competent authoritiee shall enforce such remedieswhen granted.


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The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure the equalright of men and women to the enjoyment of all civil and political rights setforth in the present Covenant.

Article k1. In time of public emergency which threatens the life of the nation and

the existence of which is officially proclaimed, the States Parties to the presentCovenant may take measures derogating from their obligations under the presentCovenant to the extent strictly required by the exigencies of the situation,provided that such measures are not inconsistent with their other obligationsunder international law and do not involve discrimination solely on the ground ofrace, colour, sex, language, religion or social origin.

2. No derogation from articles 6, 7, 8 (paragraphs 1 and 2), 11, 15, l6and l8 may be made under this provision.

5. Any State Party to the present Covenant availing itself of the right ofderogation shall immediately inform the other States Parties to the presentCovenant, through the intermediary of the Secretary-General of the United Nations,of the provisions from which it has derogated and of the reasons by which itwas actuated. A further communication shall be made, through the same Intermediary,on the date on which it terminates such derogation.

Article 51. Nothing in the present Covenant may be interpreted as implying for

any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or perform anyact aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms recognieed hereinor at their limitation to a greater extent than is provided for in the presentCovenant.


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2. There shall be no restriction upon or derogation from any of thefundamental human rights recognized or existing in any State Party to the presentCovenant pursuant to law, conventions, regulations or custom on the pretextthat the present Covenant does not recognize such rights or that it recognizesthem to a lesser extent.

PART III

Article 61, Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall

be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.2, In countries which have not abolished the death penalty, sentence of

death may be imposed only for the most serious crimes in accordance with the lawin force at the time of the commission of the crime and not contrary to theprovisions of the present Covenant and t o the Convention on the Prevention andPunishment of the Crime of Genocide. This penalty can only be carried outpursuant to a final Judgement rendered by a competent court.

3, Vihen deprivation of life constitutes the crime of genocide, it isuBclerstood that nothing in this article shall authorize any State Party t o thepresent Covenant to derogate in any way from any obligation assumed under theprovisions of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime ofGenocide.

k* Anyone sentenced to death shall have the right to seek pardon orcoranutation of the sentence. Amnesty, pardon or commutation of the sentenceof death may be granted in all cases.

5, Sentence of death shall not be imposed for crimes committed by personsbelowf eighteen years of age and shall not be carried out on pregnant women,

6. Nothing in this article shall be invoked to delay or to prevent theabolition of capital punishment by any State Party to the present Covenant.


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No one shall subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degradingtreatment or punishment. In particular, no one shall be subjected withouthis free consent to medical or scientific experimentation.

Article 81. No one shall be held in slavery; slavery and the slave-trade in all

their forms shall be prohibited.2. No one shall be held in servitude.3. (a) No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour;

(b) Paragraph 5 (a) shall not he held to preclude, in countries vhereimprisonment with hard labour may be imposed as a punishment for a crime, theperformance of hard labour in pursuance of a sentence to such punishment by acompetent court;

() For the purpose of this paragraph the term "forced or compulsorylabour" shall not include:

(i) Any work or service, not referred to in sub-paragraph (b), normallyrequired of a person who is under detention in consequence of alawful order of a court, or of a person during conditional releasefrom such detention;

(ii) Any service of a military character and, in countries where conscientiousobjection is recognized, any national service required by law ofconscientious objectors;

(iii) Any service exacted in cases of emergency or calamity threatening thelife or well-being of the community;

(iv) Any work or service which forms part of normal civil obligations.

Article 91. Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall

subjected to arbitrary arfet or detention. No one shall be deprived of his


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liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as areestablished by law.

2. Anyone who is arrested shall be informed, at the time of arrest, of thereasons for his arrest and shall be promptly informed of any charges against him.

3. Anyone arrested or detained on a criminal charge shall be broughtpromptly before a judge or other officer authorized by law to exercise judicialpower and shall be entitled to trial within a reasonable tine or to release. Itshall not be the general rule that persons awaiting trial shall be detained incustody, but release may be subject to guarantees to appear for trial, at anyother stage of the judicial proceedings, and, should occasion arise, for executionof the judgement.

4-. Anyone who is deprived of his liberty by arrest or detention shall beentitled to take proceedings before a court, in order that that court may decidewithout delay on the lawfulness of his detention and order his release if thedetention is nob lawful.

5. Anyone who has been the victim of unlawful arrest or detention shallhave an enforceable right to compensation.

Article 101. All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and

with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.2. (a) Accused persons shall, save in exceptional circumstances, be

segregated from convicted persons and shall be subject to separate treatmentappropriate to bheir status as unconvicted persons;

(b) Accused juvenile persons shall be separated from adults and broughtas speedily as possible for adjudication.

3. The penitentiary system shall comprise treatment of prisoners theessential aim of which shall be their reformation and social rehabilitation.Juvenile offenders shall be segregated from adults and be accorded treatmentappropriate to their age and legal status.


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No one shall be imprisoned merely on the ground of inability to fulfil acontractual obligation.

Article 121. Everyone lawfully within the territory of a State shall, within that

territory, have the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose hisresidence.

2. Everyone shall be free to leave any country, including his own.3. The above-mentioned rights shall not be subject to any restrictions

except those which are provided by law, are necessary to protect nationalsecurity, public order (ordre public), public health or morals or the rightsand freedoms of others, and are consistent wi^h the other rights recognized inthe present Covenant.

4-. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter his owncountry.

Article 13An alien lawfully in the territory of a State Party to the present Covenant

may be expelled therefrom only in pursuance of a decision reached in accordancewith law and shall, except where compelling reasons of national security otherwiserequire, be allowed to submit the reasons against his expulsion and to have hiscase reviewed by, and be represented for the purpose before, the competent authorityor a person or persons especially designated by the competent authority.

Article1. All persons shall be equal before the courts and tribunals. In the

determination of any criminal charge against him, or of his rights and obligationsin a suit at law, everyone shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by a


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competent, independent and impartliil tribunal established by lav. The Press andthe public may be excluded from all or part of a trial for reasons of morals,public order (ordre public) or national security in a democratic society, orwhen the interest of tlie private lives of the parties so requires, or to the extentstrictly necessary in tlhe opinion of the court in special circumstances wherepublicity Vould prejudice the interests of justice; but any judgement renderedin a criminal case or in a suit at law shall be made public except where theinterest of juvenile prsons otherwise requires or the proceedings concernmatrimonial disputs o' the guardianship of children.

2, Everyone charged with a criminal offence shall have the right to bepresumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.

5. In the determination of any criminal charge against him, everyone shallbe entitled to the following minimum guarantees, in full equality:

(a) To be informed promptly and in detail in a language which he understandsof the nature and caus of the charge against him;

(b) To have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defenceand to communicate with counsel of his own choosing;

(c) To be tried without undue delay;(d) To be tried in his presence, and to defend himself in person or through

legal assistance of hife own choosing; t o be informed, if he does not have legalassistance, of this right; and to have legal assistance assigned to him, in anycase where the interests of justice so require, and without payment by him in anysuch case if he does not have sufficient means to pay for it;

(e) To examine, or have examined, the witnesses against him and to obtainthe attendance and examination of witnesses on his behalf under the same conditionsas witnesses against him;

(f) To have the free assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understandor speak the language used in court;

( 5 ) Hot to be compelled to testify aKainst himself or to confess guilt.


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I4-. In the case of Juvenile persons, the procedure shall be such as vil l takeaccount of their age and the desirability of promoting their rehabilitation.

5. Everyone convicted of a crime shall have the right to his convictionand sentence being reviewed by a higher tribunal according to law.

6. When a person has by a final decision been convicted of a criminaloffence and when subsequently his conviction has been reversed or he has beenpardoned on the ground that a new or newly discovered fact shows conclusivelythat there has been a miscarriage of Justice, the person who has sufferedpunishment as a result of such conviction shall be compensated according to law,unless it is proved that the non-disclosure of the unknown fact in time is whollyor partly attributable to him.

7. No one shall be liable to be tried or punished again for an offence foiwhich he has already been finally convicted or acquitted in accordance with thelaw and penal procedure of each country.

Article 151. No one shall be held guilty of any criminal offence on account of any

act or omission which did not constitute a criminal offence, under national orinternational law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavierpenalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time when the criminaloffence was conmitted. If, subsequent to the commission of the offence, provisionis made by law for the imposition of a lighter penalty, the offender shall benefitthereby.

2. Nothing in this article shall prejudice the trial and punishment of anyperson for any act or omission which, at the time when it was committed, wascriminal according to the general principles of law recognized by the comnunityof nations.

Article 16Everyone shall have the right to recognition everywhere as a person before

the law.


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1. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with hisprivacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his honourand reputation.

2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against suchinterference or attacks.

Article 181. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and

religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion orbelief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with othersand in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship,/', practice and teaching.

2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom tohave or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.

Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only tosuch limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect publicsafety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.

U, The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respectfor the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure thereligious and moral education of their children in conformity with their ownconvictions.

Article 19

1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall

include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds,regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form ofart, or through any other media of his choice.


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5. The exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this articlecarries with it special duties and responsibilities. It may therefore be subjectto certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law andare necessary:

(a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others;(b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public),

or of public health or morals.

Article 201. Any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law.2. Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes

incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.

Article 21The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized. No restrictions may be

placed on the exercise of this right other than those imposed in conformity withthe law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of nationalsecurity or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of publichealth or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Article 221. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of association with others,

including the right to form and Join trade unions for the protection of hisinterests.

2. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other thanthose which are prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic society inthe interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public),the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights andfreedoms of others. This article shall not prevent the imposition of lawfulrestrictions on members of the armed forces and of the police in their exerciseof this right.


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5. Nothing in this article shall authorize States Parties to theInternational Labour Organisation Convention of concerning Freedom ofAssociation and Protection of the Right to Organize to take legislative measureswhich would prejudice, or to apply the law in such a manner as to prejudice, theguarantees provided for in that Convention.

Article 231. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is

entitled to protection by society and the State.2. The right of men and women of marriageable age to marry and to found a

family shall be recognized.5, No marriage shall be entered into without the free and full consent of

the intending spouses.k. States Parties to the present Covenant shall take appropriate steps to

ensure equality of rights and responsibilities of spouses as to marriage, duringmarriage and at its dissolution. In the case of dissolution, provision shall bemade for the necessary protection of any children.

Article 2h1, Every child shall have, without any discrimination as to race, colour,

sex, language, religion, national or social origin, property or biirth, the rightto such measures of protection as axe required by his status as a m inor, on thepart of his family, society and the State.

2. Every child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall havea name.5. Every child has the right to acquire a nationality.

Article 25Evesry citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the

distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:


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(a) To take part In the conduct of public affairs, (directly or throughfreely chosen representatives;

(b) To vote and to be elected at genuine? periodic elections vhich shall beby universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secr


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-Ik-5. The members of the Committee shall be elected and shall serve in their

personal capacity.

Article 291. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot from a list

of persons possessing the qualifications prescribed in article 28 and nominatedfor the purpose by the States Parties to the present Covenant.

2. Each State Party to the present Covenant may nominate not more than twopersons. These persons shall be nationals of the nominating State.

5. A person shall be eligible for renoraination.

Article 301. The initial election shall be held no later than six months after the date

of the entry into force of the present Covenant.2. At least four months before the date of each election to the Committee,

other than an election to fill a vacancy declared in accordance with articlethe Secretary-General of the United Kations shall address a written invitation to theStates Parties to the present Covenant to submit their nominations for membershipof the Committee within three months.

5 . The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall prepare a list inalphabetical order of all the persons thus no ml mt ed , with an indication of theStates Parties which have nominated them, and shall submit it to the States Partiesto the present Covenant no later than one month before the date of each election.

h. Elections of the members of the Committee shall be held at a meeting of theStates Parties to the present Covenant convened by the Secretary-General of theUnited Nations at the Headquarters of the United Nations, At that meeting, forwhich two thirds of the States Parties to the present Covenant shall constitute aquorum, the persons elected to the Committee shall be those nominees who obtainthe largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of therepresentatives of States Parties present and voting.


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1. The Committee may not include more than one national of the same State.2. In the election of the Committee, consideration shall be given to equitablegeographical distribution of membership and to the representation of the different

forms of civilization and of the principal legal systems.

Article 321. The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of four years.

They shall be eligible for re-election if renominated. However, the terras of nineof the members elected at the first election shall expire at the end of two years;immediately after the first election, the names of these nine members shall bechosen by lot by the Chairman of the meeting referred to in article 50,paragraph 14-.

2. Elections at the expiry of office shall be held in accordance with thepreceding articles of this part of the present Covenant.

Article1. If, in the unanimous opinion of the other members, a member of the

Committee has ceased t o carry out his functions for any cause other than absenceof a temporary character, the Chairman of the Committee shall notify the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall then declare the seat of that member tobe vfccant.

2. In the event of the death or the resignation of a member of the Committee,the Chairman shall immediately notify the Secretary-General of the United Nations,who shall declare the seat vacant from the date of death or the date on which theresignation takes effect.

Article 3U1, When a vacancy is declared in accordance with article 35 and if the term

of office of the member to be replaced does not expire within six months of the


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declaration of the vacancy, the Secretary-Genera J. of the United Nations shallnotify each of the States Parties to the present Covenant, which may within twomonths submit nominations in accordance with article 29 for the purpose of fillingthe vacancy.

2. The Secretarj'-General of the United Nations shall prepare a list inalphabetical order of the persons thus nominated and shall submit it to the StatesParties to the present Covenant. The election to fill the vacancy shall then takeplace in accordance with the relevant provisions of this part of the present Covenant.

5. A member of the Committee elected to fill a vacancy declared in accordancewith article 55 shall hold office for the remainder of the terra of the member wbovacated the seat on the Committee under the provisions of that article.

Article 53The members of the Committee shall, with the approval of the General Assembly

of the United Nations, receive emoluments from United Nations resources on suchterms and conditions as the General Assembly may decide, having regard to theimportance of the Committee's responsibilities.

Article 56The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the necessary staff

and facilities for the effective performance of the functions of the Committeeunder the present Covenant.

Article 571, The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene the initial

meeting of the Committee at the Headquarters of the United Nations.2. After its initial meeting, the Committee shall meet at such times as

shall be provided in its rules of procedure.5 . The Committee shall normally meet at the Headquarters of the United Nations

or at the United Nations Office at Geneva.


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Every member of the Committee shall, before taking up his duties, make asolemn declaration in open committee that he will perform his functions impartiallyand conscientiously.

Article1- The Committee shall elect its officers for a term of two years. They may

be re-elected.2. The Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure, but these rules

shall provide, inter alia, that:(a) Twelve members shall constitute a quorum;(b) Decisions of the Committee shall be made by a majority vote of the

members present.

Article UO1. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to submit reports on

the measures they have adopted which give effect to the rights recognized hereinand on the progress made in the enjoyment of those rights:

(a) Within one year of the entry, into force of the present Covenant for theStates Parties concerned;

(b) Thereafter whenever the Committee so requests.2. All reports shall be submitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations,

who shall transmit them to the Committee for consideration. Reports shall indica-.ethe factors and difficulties, if any, affecting the implementation of the presem:Covenant.

5. The Secretary-General of the United Nations may, after consultation withthe Committee, transmit to the specialized agencies concerned copies of such partsof the reports as may fall within their field of competence,

h. The Committee shall study the reports submitted by the States Parties to thepresent Covenant. It shall transmit its reports, and such general comments as it


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may consider appropriate, to the States Parties. The Committee may also transmit tothe Economic and Social Council these comments along with the copies of the reportsit has received from States Parties to the present Covenant.

5. The States Parties to the present Covenant may submit to the Committeeobservations on any comments that may be made in accordance with paragraph ofthis article.

Article kl1. A State Party to the present Covenant may at any time declare under this

article that it recognizes the competence of the Committee to receive and considercommunications to the effect that a State Party claims that another State Partyis not fulfilling its obligations under the present Covenant. Communications underthis article may be received and considered only if submitted by a State Partywhich has made a declaration recognizing in regard to itself the competence of theCommittee. No communication shall be received by the Committee if it concerns aState Party which has not made such a declaration. Communications received underthis article shall be dealt with in accordance with the following procedure:

(a) If a State Party to the present Covenant considers that another StateParty is not giving effect to the provisions of the present Covenant, it may, bywritten communication, bring the matter to the attention of that State Party.Within three months after the receipt of the communication, the receiving Stateshall afford the State which sent the communication an explanation or any otherstatement in writing clarifying the matter, which should include, to the extentpossible and pertinent, reference to domestic procedures and remedies taken,pending, or available in the matter.

(b) If the matter is not adjusted to the satisfaction of both States Partiesconcerned within six months after the receipt by the receiving State of the initialcommunication, either State shall have the right to refer the matter to theCommittee, by notice given to the Committee and to the other State.


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(c) The Committee shall deal with a matter referred to it only after it hasascertained that all available domestic remedies have been invoked and exhaustedin the matter, in conformity vith th e generally recognized principles ofinternational law. This shall not be the rule where the application of theremedies is unreasonably prolonged.

(d) The Comaiittee shall hold closed meetings when examining communicationsunder this article,

(e) Subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (c), the Committee shallmake available its good offices to the States Parties concerned with a view toa friendly solution of the matter on the basis of respect for human rights andfundamental freedoms as recognized in the present Covenant.

(f) In any matter referred to it, the Committee may call upon the StatesParties concerned, referred to in sub-paragraph (b), to supply any relevantInformation.

(g ) The States Parties concerned, referred to in sub-paragraph (b), shallhave the right to be represented when the matter is being considered in theCommittee and to make submissions orally and/or in writing.

(h) The Committee shall, within twelve months after the date of receipt ofnotice under sub-paragraph (b), submit a report:

(i) If a solution within the terms of sub-paragraph () isreached, the Committee shall confine its report to abrief statement of the facts and of the solution reached;

(ii) If a solution within the terms of sub-paragraph (e) isnot reached, the Committee shall confine its report toa brief statement of the facts; the written submissions andrecord of the oral submissions made by the States Partiesconcerned shall be attached t o the report.

In every matter, the report shall be communicated to the States Parties concerned.2. The provisions of this article shall cane into force when ten States Parties

to the present Covenant have made declarations under paragraph 1 of this article.


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Such declarations shall be deposited by the States Parties with the Secretary-Generalof the United Nations, who shall transmit copies thereof to the other States Parties,A declaration may be withdrawn at any time by notification to the Secretary-General,Such a withdrawal shall not prejudice the consideration of any matter which is thesubject of a communication already transmitted under this article; no furthercommunication by any State Party shall be received after the notification ofwithdrawal of the declaration has been received by the Secretary-General, unlessthe State Party concerned has made a new declaration.

Article k21. (a) If a matter referred to the Committee in accordance with article li-1 is

not resolved to the satisfaction of the States Parties concerned, the Committee may,with the prior consent of the States Parties concerned, appoint an ad hoc ConciliationCommission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission). The good offices of theCommission shall be made available to the States Parties concerned with a view to anamicable solution of the matter on the basis of respect for the present Covenant;

(b) The Commission shall consist of five persons acceptable to the StatesParties concerned. If the States Parties concerned fail to reach agreement withinthree months on all or part of the composition of the Commission the membere of theCommission concerning whom no agreement has been reached shall be elected by secretballot by a two-thirds majority vote of the Committee from among its members.

2. The members of the Commission shall serve in their personal capacity. Theyshall not be nationals of the States Parties concerned, or of a State not party tothe present Covenant, or of a State Party which has not made a declaration underarticle Ul.

5. The Cotanission shall elect its own Chairman and adopt its own rules ofprocedure.

4-. The meetings of the Commission shall normally be held at the Headquartersof the United Nations or at the United Nations Office at Geneva. However, they maybe held at such other convenient places as the Commission may determine in consultationwith the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the States Parties concerned.


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5. The secretariat provided in accordance with article 56 shall also servicethe conmissions appointed under this article.

6. The information received and collated by the Committee shall be madeavailable to the Commission and the Commission may call upon the States Partiesconcerned to supply any other relevant information.

7 . When the Camnission has fully considered the matter, but in any event notlater than twelve months after having been seized of the matter, it shall submitto the Chairmah of the Committee a report for communication to the States Partiesconcerned.

(a) If the Commission is unable to complete its consideration of the matterwithin twelve months, it shall confine its report to a brief statement of thestatus of its Consideration of the matter;

(b) If an amicable solution to the matter on the basis of respect for humanrights as recognized in the present Covenant is reached, the Commission shallconfine its report to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached.

(c) If a solution within the terras of sub-paragraph (b) is not reached, theCommission's report shall embody its findings on all questions of fact relevant tothe issues between the States Parties concerned, and its views on the possibilitiesof an amicable solution of the matter. This report shall also contain thewritten submissions and a record of the oral submissions made by the StatesParties concerned.

(d) If the Commission's report is submitted under sub-paragraph (c), theStates Parties concerned shall, within three months of the receipt of the report,notify the Chairman of the Committee whether or not they accept the contents of thereport of the Commission.

8. The provisions of this article are without prejudice to the responsibilitiesof the Committee under article 4-1.

9 . The States Parties concerned shall share equally all the expenses of themembers of the Commission in accordance with estimates to be provided by the

Hi- evie nited Nations.


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LO. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be empowered to pay theexpenses of the members of the Commission, if necessary, before reimbursement bythe States Parties concerned, in accordance with paragraph 9 of this article.

Article k"The members of the Committee, and of the ad hoc conciliation commissions which

may be appointed under article 42, shall be entitled to the facilities, privilegesand imnmnities of experts on mission for the United Nations as laid down in therelevant sections of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of theUnited Nations.

Article kkThe provisions for the implementation of the present Covenant shall apply

without prejudice to the procedures prescribed in the field of human rights by orunder the constituent instruments and the conventions of the United Nations and ofthe specialized agencies and shall not prevent the States Parties to the presentCovenant from having recourse to other procedures for settling a dispute inaccordance with general or special international agreements in force between them.

ArticleThe Committee shall submit to the General Assembly of the United Nations through

the Economic and Social Council, an annual report on its activities.

PART V

Article k6Nothing in the present Covenant shall be interpreted as impairing the provisions

of the Charter of the United Nations and of the constitutions of the specializedagencies which define the respective responsibilities of the various organs of theUnited Nations and of the specialized agencies in regard to the matters dealt within the present Covenant.


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Nothing in the present Covenant shall be interpreted as impairing the inherentright of all peoples to enjoy and utilize fully and freely their natural wealth andresources.

PART VI

Article Ue1. The present Covenant is open for signature by any State Member of the United

lit ions or member pf any of its speci.alized agencies, by any State Party to theStatute of the International Court of Justice, and by any other State which hasbeen invited by the General Assembly of the United Nations to become a party tothe present Covenant.

2. The present Covenant is sub^ ect to ratification. Instruments of ratificationshall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

5. The present Covenant shall be open to accession by any State referred to inparagraph 1 of this article.

h. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accessionwith the Secretary-General of the United Nations,

5. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall in f om all States whichhave signed this Covenant or acceded to it of the deposit of each instrument ofi-atification or accession.

Article

1. The present Covenant shall enter into force three months after the date ofthe deposit with th Secretary-General of the United Nations of the thirty-fifthinstrument of ratification or instrument of accession.

2, For each State ratifying the present Covenant or acceding to it after thedeposit of the thirty-fifth instrument of ratification or instrument of accession,the present Covenant shall enter into force three months after the date of thedeposit of its own instrument of ratification or instrument of accession.


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The provisions of the present Covenant shall extnd to all parts of federalStates without any litnitations or exceptions.

Article 311. Any State Ptirty to the pfesent Covenant may propose an amendment and file

it with the Secretary General of the United Nations. The Secretary-General of theUnited Nations shall thereupon communicate any proposed amendments to the StatesParties to the present Covenant with a request that they notify him whether theyfavour a conference of States Parties for the purpose of considering and voting uponthe propasis. In thfe event that t least one third of the States Partiesfavours Siuch a conferfence^ the Sectetary-General shall convene the conferenceunder thei auspices of the United Ntions Any amendment adopted by a majority ofthe Statis Parties prsent and voting at the conference shall be submitted to theGeneral Assembly of tke United Nations for approval.

2, Amendments fehall come inio force when they have been approved by theGeneral Assembly of tiie United Nations and accepted by a two-thirds majority of theStates Parties to the present Covehant in accordance with their respectiveconstitutional processes,

5. Whe n amendmlfents come intb force, they shall be binding on those States Partieswhich ha-Ve accepted tbem, other States Parties still being bound by the provisionsof the present Covenant and any earlier amendment which they have accepted.

Article 32Irrespective of the notifications wade under article paragraph 5, the

Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States referred to inparagraph 1 of the same article of the following particulars:

(a) Signatures, ratifications and accessions under article(b) The date of the entry into force of the present Covenant under article h^

and the date of the entry into force of any amendments under article 51,


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-25-

Artlcle 331. The present Covenant, of which the Chinese, English, French, Russian and

Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of theUnited Nations.

2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit certified copiesof the present Covenant to all States referred to in article 8,

IN FAITH WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto by theirrespective Governments, have signed the present Covenant, opened for signatxure atNew York, on the nineteenth day of December, one thousand nine hundred and sixty-six.


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P A C T E I N T E R N A T I O N A LR E L A T I F A U X D R O I TS C I V I L S

E T P O L I T I Q U E S

i

I\ AT ION s UNIES1967


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PACT E IN TE RM TI OK AL BEIATIF AUX POICRS CIVILE E T POLIIQIJES

Les Etats parties au prsent Pacte,Considrant que, conforpment aux principes noncs d ^ s la Chart des Nations

Unies, la reconnaissance de la dignit inhrente tous le^ membres de la famillehumaine et de leurs droits gaux et inalinables constitue le fondement de la libert,de la Justice et de la paix dans le monde,

Reconnaissant que ces droits dcoulent de la dignit |,nhrente personnehumaine,

Reconnaissant que, conformment la Dclaration universelle des droits de l'homme,l*idal de l*etre humain libre, jouissant des liberts civ;jLles et politiques et librde la crainte et de la misre, ne peut tre ralis que si des conditions permetti.nt chacun de jouir de ses droits civils et politiques, aussi \)ien que de ses droitsconomiques, sociaux et culturels, sont cres.

Considra nt q ue la Charte des Nations Unie e i mpose aujc Etats l'o bliga tion depromouvoir le respect universel et effectif des droite et des liberts de l*homme,>

Prenant en considration le fait que l'individu a des devoirs envers autioii etenvers la collectivit laquelle il appartient et est tenu de s'efforcer de promouvoiret de respecter les droits reconnus dans le prsent Pacte,

Sont convenus des articles suivants :

PREMIERE PARTIEArticle premier

1. Tous les peuples ont le droit de dispos er d'eux-m mes. En vertu de ce droit,ils dterminent librement leur statut politique et assurent librement leur dvelop-pement conomique, social et culturel.

2. Pou r atte indre leurs fins, tous les peuples peuvent d ispos er libreijient deleurs richesses et de leurs ressources naturelles, sans prjudice des obligations qui


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dcoulent de la coopration conomique internationale, fonde sur le principe del'intrt mutuel, et du droit internation al. En aucun cas, un peuple ne pourra trepriv de ses propres moyens de subsistance.

3 . Les Etats parties au prsent Pacte, y compris ceux qui ont la responsabilitd'administrer des territoires non autonomes et des territoires sous tutelle, sont tenusde faciliter la ralisation du droit des peuples disposer d'eux-mmes, et de respecterce droit, conformment aux dispositions de la Charte des Nations Unies.

DEUXIEME PARTIEArticle g

1. Les Etats parties au prsent Pacte s'engagent respecter et garantir tous les individus se trouvant sur leur territoire et relevant de leur comptence lesdroits reconnus dans le prsent Pacte, sans distinction aucune, notamment de race, decouleur, de sexe, de langue, de religion, d'opinion politique ou de toute autreopinion, d'origine nationale ou sociale, de fortune, de naissance ou de toute autresituation.

2. Les Etats parties au prsent Pacte s'engagent prendre, en accord avec leursprocdures constitutionnelles et avec les dispositions du prsent Pacte, les arran-gements devant permettre l'adoption de telles mesures d'ordre lgislatif ou autre,propres donner effet aux droits reconnus dans le prsent Pacte qui ne seraient pasdj en vigueur.

3 . Les Etats parties au prsent Pacte s'engagent :a) GSarantir que tout e pers onne dont les droits et libert s reconnus dans le

prsent Pacte auront t viols disposera d'un recours utile, alors mme que la violatioaurait t commise par des personnes agissant dans l'exercice de leurs fonctionsofficielles;


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b ) Garantir que l'autorit comptente, judiciaire, administrative ou lgislativeou toute autre autorit comptente selon la lgislation de l*Etat, statuera sur lesdroits de la personne qui fo m e le recours et dvelopper les possibilits de recoursjuridictionnel!

) Garantir la bonn e suite donne par les autorits comptentes tout recoursqui aura t reconnu Justifi.

Article 3Les Etats parties au prsent Pacte s'engagent assurer le droit gal des hommes

et des femmes de jouir de tous les droits civils et politiques noncs dans le prsentPacte.

Arti cle it-1. Dans le cas o un danger public exception nel menace l'existence de la nation

et est proclam par un acte officiel, les lt.ats parties au prsent Pacte peuventprendre, dans la stricte mesure o la situation l'exige, des mesures drogeant auxobligations prvues dans le pissent Pacte, sous rserve que ces mesures ne soient pasincompatibles avec les autres obligations que leur impose le droit international etqu'elles n'entranent pas une discrimination fonde uniquement sur la race, la couleur,le sexe, la langue, la religion ou l'origine sociale.

2. la disposition prcdente n'autorise aucune drogation aux articles 6, 7, 8(par. 1 et 2), 11, 15, 16 et l8.

3 Les Etats parties au prsent Pacte qui usent du droit de drogation doivent^par l'entremise du Secrtaire gnral de l'Organisation des Mations Unies, signaleraussitt aux autres Etats parties les dispositions auxquelles ils ont drog ainsi que


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droger d'a ucune manire une obligation quelconque assumie en vertu ds dispositionsde la Convention pour la prvention et la rpression du crime de gnocide

Tout condamn mort a le droit de solliciter la grace ou la commutation dela peine . L'amnistie, la grce ou la commutation de la peine de mort peuvent dans tousles cas etre accordes.

5. Une sentence de mort ne peut tre impose pour des crimes commis par despersonnes ges de moins de l8 ans et ne peut tre excute contre des femmes enceintes.

6. Aucune disposition du prsent articl e ne peut tre invoque pour retarder ouempcher l'abolition de la peine capitale par un Etat partie au prsent Pacte.

Article 7Nul ne sera soumis la torture ni des peines ou traitements cruels, inhumains

ou dgrad ants. En particulier, il est interdit de soumettre une personne sans sonlibre consentement une exprience mdicale ou scientifique.

Article 81. Nul ne sera tenu en esclavage; l*esclavage et la traite des esclaves, sous

toutes leurs formes, sont interdits.2. Nul ne sera tenu en servitude .3. a) Nul ne sera astreint accom plir un travail forc ou obligatoire;b ) L*alina a du prsent paragraphe ne saurait tre interprt comme interdisant,

dans les pays o certains crimes peuvent tre punis de dtention accompagne de travauxforcs, l'accomplissement d'une peine de travaux forcs, inflige par un tribunalcomptent;

c) N'est pas considr comme "travail forc ou obligatoire" au sens du prsentparagraphe :


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i) Tout travail ou service, non vis l*alina b, normalement requis d*unindividu qui est dtenu en vertu d*une dcision de justice rgulire ouqui, ayant fait l'objet d*une telle dcision, est libr conditionnelleme

ii) tout service de caractre militaire et , dans les pays o l'objection deconscience est admise, tout service national exig des objecteurs deconscience en vertu de la loi;

iii) Tout service exig dans les cas de force majeure ou de sinistres quimenacent la vie ou le bien-tre de la communaut;

iv) Tout travail ou tout service formant partie des obligations civiquesnormales

Article 91. Tout individu a droit la libert et la scurit de sa personne . Nul ne

peut faire l'objet d'une arrestation ou d'une dtention arbitraires. 1 ne peut trepriv de sa libert, si ce n'est pour des motifs et conformment la procdure prvuspar la loi.

2. Tout individu arrt sera informe, au momen t de son arrestati on, des raisons

de cette arrestation et recevra notification, dans le plus court dlai, de toute accu-sation porte contre lui.

3. Tout individu arrt ou dtenu du chef d'une infraction pnale sera traduitdans le DIUS court dlai devant un juge ou une a utre autorit habilite peir la loi exercer des fonctions judiciaires, et devra tre jug dans un dlai raisonnable oulibr . La dtention de personnes qui attenden t de passer en jugement ne doit pas trede rgle, mais la mise en libert peut tre subordonne des garanties assurant lacomparution de l'intress l'audience, tous les autres actes de la procdure et, lecas chant, pour l'excution du jugement.


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Quiconque se trouve priv de sa libert par arrestation ou dtention a ledroit d'introduire un recours devant un tribunal afin que celui-ci statue sans dlaisur la lgalit de sa dtention et ordonne sa libration si la dtention est illgale.

5. Tout individu victime d'arrestation ou de dtention illgales a droit rparation.

Article 101. Toute personne prive de sa libert est traite avec humait et avec le

respect de la dignit inhrente la personne humaine.2. a) Les prvenus sont, sauf dans des circonstances exceptionnelles, spars

des condamns et sont soumis un rgime distinct, appropri leur condition depersonnes non condamnes;

b) Les jeunes prvenus sont spars des adultes et il est dcid de leur casaussi rapidement que possible.

3 . Le rgime pnitentiaire comporte un traitement des condamnes dont le butessenti el est leur amendemen t et leur reclassement social. Les jeunes dlinquantssont sparas des adultes et soumis un rgime appropri leur ge et leur statutlgal.

Article 11Nul ne peut tre emprisonn pour la seule raison qu'il n'est pas en mesure

d'excuter une obligation contractuelle.

Article 121. Quiconque se trouve lgalement sur le territoire d'un Etat a le droit d'y

circuler librement et d'y choisir librement sa rsidence.


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2. Toute personne est libre de quitter nimporte quel pays, y compris le sien.3. Les droits mentionns ci-dessus ne peuvent tre l'objet de restrictions que

si celles-ci sont prvues par la loi, ncessaires pour protger la scurit nationale,l'ordre public, la sant ou la moralit publiques, ou les droits et liberts d'autrui,et compatibles avec les autres droits reconnus par le prsent Pacte.

Nul ne peut tre arbitrairement priv du droit d'entrer dans son propre pays.

Article 13Un tranger qui se trouve lgalement sur le territoire d'un Etat partie au prsent

Pacte ne peut en tre expuls qu'en excution d'une dcision prise conformment laloi et, moins que des raisons imprieuses de scurit nationale ne s'y opposent, ildoit avoir la possibilit de faire valoir les raisons qui militent contre son expulsiont de faire examiner son cas par l'autorit comptente, ou par une ou plusieurspersonnes spcialement dsignes par ladite autorit, en se faisant reprsenter cettefin.

Article Ik1. bus sont gaux devant les tribunaux et les cours de Justice . Ibute personne

a droit ce que sa cause soit entendue quitablement et publiquement par un tribunalcomptent, indpendant et impartial, tabli par 1E. loi, qui dcidera soit du bien-fondde toute accusation en matir e pnale dirige contre elle, soit des contestations surses droits et obligations de caractre civil. Le huis clos peut tre prononc pendantla totalit ou une partie du procs soit dans l'Intrt de s bonnes moeurs, de l'ordrepublic ou de la scurit nationale dans une socit dmocratique, soit lorsque l'intrtde la vie prive des parties en cause l'exige, eolt encore dans la mesure le tribunall'estimera absolument ncessaire, lorsqu^en raison de s circonstances particulires de


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laffaire la 1111 nuirait aux intrts de la justice; cependant, tout jugementrendu en matire pnale ou civile sera public, sa uf si l'intrt de mineurs exige qu'ilen soit autrement ou si le procs porte sur des diffrends matrimoniaux ou sur latutelle des enfants.

2. Toute personne accuse d'une infraction pnale est prsume innocente jusqu'ce que sa culpabilit ait t lgalement tablie.

3. toute person ne accus e d'une infractio n pnale a droit, en pleine galit ,au moins aux garanties suivantes :

a) A tre informe, dans le plus court dlai, dans une langue qu'elle comprendet de faon dtaille, de la nature et des motifs de l'accusation porte contre elle;

b) A disposer du temps et des facilits ncessaires la prparation de sadfense et commuiiiquet avec le conseil de son choix;

_c) A tre Juge sans retard excessif;d) A tre prsente au procs et se dfendre elle-mme ou avoir l'assistance

d'un dfenseur de son choix; si elle n'a pas de dfenseur, tre informe de son droitd'en avoir un, et, chaque fois que l'intrt de la Justice l'exige, se voir attribuerd'office un dfenseur, sans frais, si elle n'a pas les moyens de le rmunrer;

e) A interroger ou faire Interroger les tmoins charge et obtenir la compa-rution et l4nterrogatoire des tmoins dcharge dans les mmes conditions que lestmoins charge;

f) A se faire assister gratuitement d*un interprte si elle ne comprend pas oune parle pas la langue employe l'audience;

ja;) A ne pas tre force de tmoi gner contre elle -mme ou de s'avo uer co upab le.If. La procdure applicable aux Jeunes gens qui ne sont pas encore majeurs au

regard de la loi pnale tiendra compte de leur ge et de l'intrt que prsente leurrducation.


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5- Toute personne dclare coupable d*une infraction a le droit de faire examinerpar une Juridiction suprieure la dclaration de culpabilit et la condamnation, confor-mment la loi.

6. Lorsqu'une condamnation pnale dfinitive est ultrieurement annule ou lorsquela grce est accorde parce qu'un fait nouveau ou nouvellement rvl prouve qu'il s'estproduit une erreur judiciaire, la personne qui a subi une peine raison de cettecondamnation sera indemnise, conformment la loi, moins qu'il ne soit prouv que lanon-rvltion en temps utile du fait inconnu lui est imputable en tout ou partie.

7. Nul ne peut tre poursuivi ou puni en raison d'une infraction pour laquelleil a dj t acquitt ou condamn par un jugement dfinitif conformment la loi et la procdure pnale de chaque pays.

Article1. Nul ne sera condamn pour des actions ou omissions qui ne constituaient pas

un acte dlictueux d'aprs le droit national ou international au moment o elles ontt commises. De mme , il ne sera inflig aucune peine plus forte que celle qui taitapplicable au moment o l'infraction a t commise. Si, postrieurement cetteinfraction, la loi prvoit l'appl ication d'xine peine plus lgre, le dlinquant doiten bnficier.

2. Rien dans le prsent article ne s'oppose au jugement ou la condamnati on detout individu en raison d'actes ou omissions qui, au moment o ils ont t commis,taient tenus pour criminels, d'aprs les principes gnraux de droit reconnus parl'ensemble des nations.

Article 1 6Chacun a droit la reconnaissance en tous lieux de sa personnalit juridique.


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1. Nul ne sera 1*objet d*immixtions arbitrair es ou illgales dans sa vie prive,sa famille, son domicile ou sa correspondance, ni d'atteintes illgales son honneuret sa rputation.

2, Toute personne a droit la protecti on de la loi contre de telles immixtionsou de telles atteintes.

Article 18! Toute personne a droit la libert de pense, de conscience et de religion;

ce droit implique la libert d'avoir ou d'adopter une religion ou une conviction deson choix, ainsi que la libert de manifester sa religion ou sa conviction, indivi-duellement ou en commun, tant en public qu'en priv, par le culte et l'accomplissementdes rites, les pratiques et l'enseignement.

2. Nul ne subira de contrainte pouvant porter atteinte sa libert d'avoir oud'adopter une religion ou une conviction de son choix.

3. La libert de manifes ter sa religion ou ses convictions ne peut faire l'objetque des seules restrictions prvues par la loi et qui sont ncessaires la protectionde la scurit, de l'ordre et de la sant publique, ou de la morale ou des liberts etdroits fondamentaux d'autrui.

1+. Les Etats parties au prsent Pacte s'engagent respecter la libert desparents et, le cas chant, des tuteurs lgaux, de faire assurer l'ducation religieuseet morale de leurs enfants conformment leurs propres convictions.

Article 191. Nul ne peut etre inquit pour ses opini ons.


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2. Toute person ne a drcbit la libert d*ejcpresslon; ce droit compr end la libertde rechercher, de recevoir et de rpandra des informations et des ides de toute espce,sans considration de frontires, eous une forme orale, crite, imprime ou artistique,ou par tout autre tnoyen de sort choix.

3' L'ex erci ce des liberts prvue au paragr aphe 2 du prsent artic le comportedes de\^irs spcia'^ et des responsabilits spcidle s. Il peut en consquence tresoumifl certai nes r estri ctions qui doivent to utefois tre expressme nt fix es par laloi et qui sont nt^essaires :

a) Au respect des droite ou de la rput ation d*autruijlb) A la sauvegarde de l scurit nationale, de l'ordre public, de la sant ou

de la moralit publiq ues.

Article 20It Toute propagande en ii'aveur de It i guerre est interdite par la loi.2. Itou-c app el la hain nationale^ raciale ou religieuse qui constitu e une

incitation la discrimination, l'hostilit ou la violence est interdit par la loi.

Article 21Le droit de runion pacifique est reconn u. L*exercice de ce droit ne peut faire

l'objet 'que des seules restrictions impose conformment la loi et qui sontncessaires dans une socit dmocratique, dans l'intrt de la scurit nationale, dela sret publique, de l'ordre public ou pour protger la sant ou la moralit publiques,ou les droits et les liberts d'autrui.

Article 221. Toute personne a le droit de s'associer librement avec d'autres, y compris le

droit de constituer des syndicats et d'y adhrer pour la protection de ses intrts.


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2. L*exercice de ce dreit ne peut faire l'objet que des seules restrictionsprvues par la loi et qui sont ncessaires dans une socit dmocratique, dans l'intrtde la scurit nationale, de la sret publique, de l'ordre public, ou pour protger lasant ou la moralit publiques ou les droits et les liberts d'aut rui. Le prsentarticle n'empche pas de soumettre des restrictions lgales l'exercice de ce droitpar les membres des forces armes et de la police.

3 . Aucune disposition du prsent article ne permet aux Etats parties laConvention de de l'Organisation internationale du Travail concernant la libertsyndicale et la protection du droit syndical de prendre des mesures lgislativesportant atteinte - ou d'appliquer la loi de faon porter atteinte - aux garantiesprvues dans ladite convention.

Article 231. La famille est l'lment naturel et fondamental de la socit et a droit

la protection de la socit et de l'Etat.2. Le droit de se marie r et de fonder une famille est reconnu l'homme et la

femme partir de l'ge nubile.3 . Nul mariag e ne peut tre conclu sans le libre et plein consentement des

futurs poux.if. Les Eitats parti es au parsent Pact e prendro nt les mesure s appro pri es p oUr

assurer l'galit de droits et de responsabilits des poux au regard du mariage, durantle mariag e et lors de sa dissoluti on. En cas de dissolution, des dispositions serontprises afin d'assurer aux enfants la protection ncessaire.

Article 2 k1. Tout enfant, sans discrimination aucune fonde sur la race, la couleur, le

sexe, la langue, la religion, l'origine nationale ou sociale, la fortune ou la nalseancej


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a droit, de la part de sa famille, de la socit et de l'Etat, aux mesures de protectioqu*exige sa condition de min eur.

2 Ibut enfan t doit tre enreg istr inmidiatement apr s sa naissa nce et avoi run nom,

3. Tout enfant a le droit d'acqur ir une nation alit.

ArticleTout citoyen a le droit et la possibilit, sans aucune des discriminations vises

l'article 2 et sans restrictions draisonnables :a) De prendre part la directio n des affaires publiques, soit directement, soit

par l'intermdiaire de reprsentants librement choisis;b) De voter et d'tre lu, au cours d'lections priodiques, honntes, au suffra

universel et gal et au scrutin secret, assurant l'expression libre de la volont deslecteurs;

) D'accder, dans des conditions gnrales d'galit , aux fonctions publiquesde son pays.

Article 2 6Toutes les personnes sont gales devant la loi et ont droit sans discrimination

une gale protection de la loi . A cet gard , la loi doit interdire toute discrimi-nation et garantir toutes les personnes une protection gale et efficace contretoute discrimination, notamment de race, de couleur, de sexe, de langue, de religion,d'opinion politique et de toute autre opinion, d'origine nationale ou sociale, defortune, de naissance ou de toute autre situation.

- Ik -


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Article 27Dans les Etats o il existe des minorits ethniques, religieuses ou linguistiques,

les personnes appartenant ces minorits ne peuvent tre prives du droit d'avoir,en commun avec les autres membres de leur groupe, leur propre vie culturelle, deprofesser et de pratiquer leur propre religion, ou d'employer leur propre langue,

QUATRIEME PARTIEArticle 2 8

1. Il est institu un Comit des" droits de l'homme (ci-aprs dnomm le Comitdans le prsent Pacte)* Ce comit est compos de dix-huit membres et a les fonctionsdfinies ci-dessous.

2. Le Comit est compos de ressortissants des Etats parties au prsent Pacte,qui doivent tre des personnalits de haute moralit et possdant une comptencereconnue dans le domaine des droits de l'homme. Il sera tenu compte de l'intrt queprsente la participation aux travaux du Comit de quelques personnes ayant uneexprience juridique.

3 . Les membres du Comit sont lus et sigent titre individuel.Article 29

1. Les membr es du Comit sont lus au scrutin secret sur une liste de personnesrunissant les conditions prvues l'article 28, et prsentes cet effet par lesEtats parties au prsent Pacte.

2. Chaque Etat partie au prsent Pacte peut prsenter deux personnes au plus.Ces personnes doivent tre des ressortissants de l'Etat qui les prsente.

3 . La mme personne peut tre prsente nouveau.


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1. La premire lection aura H e u au plus tard six mole aprs la date de l'entreen vigueur du prsent Pacte.

2. Quatre mois au moins avant la date de toute lection au Comit, autre qu'unelecti on en vue de pourvoir une vacance dclare conformment l'article leSecrtaire gnral de l'Organisation des Nations Unies invite par crit les Etats partieau prsent Pacte dsigner, dans un dlai de trois mois, les candidats qu'ils proposentcomme membres du Comit,

3 Le Secrta ire gn ral de l'Or ganis atio n des Ifetions Unies dresse la listealphabtique de toutes les personnes ainsi prsentes en mentionnant les Itats partiesqui les ont prsentes et la communique aux Etats parties au prsent Pacte au plus tardun mois avant la date de chaque lection,

if. Les mem bre s du Comit sont lus au cours d'une runion des Etats parti esconvoque par le Secrtaire gnral de l'Organisation des Nations Unies au Sige del'O rga nis atio n, A cett e runion , o le quoaruni est constitu par les deux tiers desEtats parties au prsent Pacte, sont lus membres du Comit les candidats qui obtiennentle plus grand nombre de voix et la majorit absolue des votes des reprsentants desEtats parties prsents et votants.

Article 311, Le Comit ne peut comprendre plus d'un ressortissant d'un mme Etat,2, Pour les lections au Comit, il est tenu compte d'une rpartition gographiqu

quitable et de la reprsentation des diverses formes de civilisation ainsi que desprincipaux systmes Juridiques,


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Article! Les membres du Comj|,t sont 418 pour quatre anst Ils sont r itfllglbles s'ils

sont prsents nouvea u. DQutefois, le mandat de neuf des membr es lus lors de lapremire lection prend fin au bout de deux ans; immdiatemeiit prs la premirelection, les noms de ces neuf membres sont tirs au sort par le Prsident de la runionvise au paragraphe de l'article 30.

2, A l'expiration du miandat, les lections! ont lieu conformment aux dispositionsdes articles prcdents de la prsente partie du Pacte.

Article 331. Si, de l'avis unan ime de autre s mefflbres, un memb re du Comit a cess de

remp lir ses fonctions pour toute c ause au tre qu'uipie absenc e de caract re tempo raire ,le Prsident du Comit en informe le Secrtaire gnral de l'Organisation des NationsUnies, qui dclare alors vacant le sige qu'occupait ledit membre.

2. En cas de dcs ou de dmissi on d'un membre du Comit, le Prside nt eninforme immdiatement le Secrtaire gnral de l'Organisation des Nationp Unies, quidclare le sige vacant compter de la date du dcs ou de Qelle laquelle ladmission prend effet.

Article 314-1. Lorsqu'une vacance eat dclare conformmen t l'article 33 et si le mandat

du membre remplacer n'expire pas dans les six mois qui suivant la date laquelle lavaca nce a t dcl are, le Secrta ire g n ral de l'Organ isat ion des Lfeitions Unie s enavise les Etats parties au prsent Pacte qui peuvent, dans un dlai de deux mois.


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dsigner des candidats conformment aux dispositions de l'article 29 en vue de pourvoir la vacance.

2, Le Secrtaire gnra l de Inorganisatio n des Nations Unies dresse la listealphabtique des personnes ainsi prsentes et la communique aux Etats parties au prsentPact e. L'lec tion en vue de pourvo ir la vacance a lieu ensuite conformment aux dispo-sitions pertinentes de la prsente partie du Pacte.

3. tout mem bre du Comit lu un si ge dclair vacan t conform ment l'articl e 33fait partie du Comit jusqu' la date normale d'expiration du mandat du membre dont lesige est devenu vacant au Comit conformment aux dispositions dudit article.

Article 3^Les membres du Comit reoivent, avec l'approbation de l'Assemble gnrale des

Nations Unies, des moluments prlevs sur les ressources de l'Organisation desNations Unies dans les conditions fixes par l'Assemble gnrale, eu gard l'importancdes fonctions du Comit.

Article 36Le Secrtaire gnral de l'Organisation des Nations Unies met la disposition du

Comit le personnel et les moyens matriels qui lui sont ncessaires pour s'acquitterefficacement des fonctions qui lui sont confies en vertu du prsent Pacte.

Article 371. Le Secrtaire gn ral de l'Organi sation des Nations Unies convoque les

membres du Comit, pour la premire runion, au Sige de l'Organisation.2. Aprs sa premire runion, le Comit se i^unit toute occasion prvue par

son rglement intrieur.


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3 Les runions du Comit ont normalement lieu au Sige de l'Organisation desNations Unies ou l*Office des Nations Unies Genve.

Article 38Tout membre du Comit doit, avant d'entrer en fonctions, prendre en sance publique

l'engagement solennel de s'acquitter de ses fonctions en toute impartialit et en touteconscience.

Article 391. Le Comit lit son bureau pour une priode de deux ans . Les membres du bureau

sont religibles.2. Le Comit tablit lui-mme son rglement intrieur; celui-ci doit, toutefois,

contenir entre autres les dispositions suivantes :a) I


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le cas chant, les facteurs et les difficults qui affectent la mise en oeuvre desdispositions du prsent Pacte.

3 . Le Secrtaire gnral de l'Organisation des Nations Unies peut, aprs consul-tation du Comit, communiquer aux institutions spcialises intresses opie de toutesparties des rapports pouvant avoir trait leur domaine de comptence.

it. Le Comit tudie les rapports prsents par les Etats parties au prsent PacteIl adresse aux Etats parties ses propres rapports, ainsi que toutes observationsgnrales qu'il jugerait appropri es. Le Comit peut galement transmettre au Conseilconomique et social ces observations accompagnes de copies des rapports qu'il a reusd'Etats parties au prsent Pacte.

5. Les Etats parties au prsent Pacte peuvent prsenter au Comit des commentairesur toute observation qui serait faite en vertu du paragraphe ^ du prsent article.

Article1. but Etat partie au prsent Pac te peut, en vertu du prsent article , dclarer

tout moment qu'il reconnat la comptence du Comit pour recevoir et examiner descommunications dans lesquelles un Etat partie prtend qu'un autre EMat partie s'acquitte pas de ses obligations au titre du prsent Pact e. Les communication sprsentes en vertu du prsent article ne peuvent tre reues et examines que si ellesmanent d'un Etat partie qui a fait une dclaration reconnaissant, en ce qui le concernela comptence du Comit . Le Comit ne reoit aucune communic ation intressant un Etatpartie qui n'a pas fait une telle dcla ratio n. La procdur e ci-aprs s'applique l'gard des communications reues conformment au prsent article :

a) Si un Etat partie au prsent Pacte estime qu'un autre Etat galement partie ce pacte n'en applique pas les dispositions, il peut appeler, par communication crite


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l'attentio n de cet Etat sur la question. Dans un dlai de trois mois compter de larception de la communication, l*Etat destinataire fera tenir l'Etat qui a adress lacommunication des explications ou toutes autres dclarations crites lucidant laquestion, qui devront comprendre, dans toute la mesure possible et utile, des indicationssur ses rgles de procdure et sur les moyens de recours soit dj utiliss, soit eninstance, soit encore ouverts.

b ) Si, dans un dlai de six mois compter de la date de rception de la commu-nication originale par l*Etat destinataire, la question n*est pas rgle la satis-faction des deux Etats parties intresss, l'un comme l'autre auront le droit de lasoumettre au Comit, en adressant une notification au Comit ainsi qu' l'autre Etatintress.

c) Le Comit ne peut connatre d'une affaire qui lui est soumise qu'aprs s'treassure que tous les recours internes disponibles ont t utiliss et puiss, confor-mment aux principes de droit international gnralement reco nnus. Cette rele nes'applique pas das les cas o les procdures de recours excdent les dlaisraisonnables.

d) Le Comit tient ses sances huis clos lorsq u'il examine les communicationsprvues au prsent artic le.

e) Sous rserve des dispositions de l'alina , le Comit met ses bons offices la disposition des Etats parties intresss, afin de parvenir une solution amiablede la question fonde sur le respect des droits de l'homme et des liberts fondamentales,tels que les reconnat le prsent Pacte.

f) Dans toute affaire qui lui est soumise, le Comit peut demander aux Etatsparties intresss viss l'alina b de lui fournir tout renseignement pertinent.


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Les Etats parties intresss, viss l'alina b, ont le droit de se fairereprsenter lors de l'examen de l'affaire par le Comit et de prsenter des observationoralement ou par crit, ou sous l'une et l'autre forme.

h) Le Comit doit prsenter un rapport dans un dlai de douze mois compter dujour o il a reu la notification vise l'alina b :

i) Si une solution a pu tre trouve conformment aux dispositions del'alina e, le Comit se borne, dans son rapport, un bref expos desfaits et de la solution intervenue;

ii) Si une solution n'a pu tre trouve conformment aux dispositions del'alina e, le Comit se borne, dans son rapport, un bref expos desfaits; le texte des observations crites et le procs-verbal des obser-vations orales prsentes par les Etats parties intresss sont jointsau rapport.

Pour chaque affaire, le rapport est communiqu aux Etats parties intresss.2. Les dispositions du prsent article entreront en vigueur lorsque dix Etats

parties au prsent Pacte auront fait la dclaration prvue au paragraphe 1 du prsentarticle. Ladite dclaration est dpose par l'Etat partie auprs du Secrtaire gnr alde l'Organisation des Nations Unies, qui en communique copie aux autres Etats parties.Une dclaration peut tre retire tout moment au moyen d'une notification adresse auSecrtaire gnral. Ce retrait est sans prjudice de l'examen de toute question quifait l'objet d'une communication dj transmise en vertu du prsent article; aucuneautre communication d'un Etat partie ne sera reue aprs que le Secrtaire gnral aurareu notification du retrait de la dclaration, moins que l'Etat partie intressn'ait fait une nouvelle dclaration.


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1 . a) Si une question so umise au Corait confor mment l'article J l n'es t pasrgle la satisfaction des Etats parties intresss, le Comit peut, avec l'assen-timent pralable des Etats parties intresss, dsigner une commission de conciliationad hoc (ci-aprs dnomme la Commission), La Commission met ses bons offices ladisposition des Etats parties intresss, afin de parvenir une solution amiable de laquestion, fonde sur le respect du prsent Pacte;

b) La Commission est compose de cinq membre s nomms avec l'accord des Etatsparties intress s. Si les Etats parties intresss ne parviennent pas une ententesur tout ou partie de la composition de la Commission dans un dlai de trois mois, lesmembres de la Commission au sujet desquels l'accord ne s'est pas Tait sont lus auscrutin secret parmi les membres du Comit, la majorit des deux tiers des membresdu Comit,

2. Les membres de la Commission sigent titre individuel. Ils ne doivent treressortissants ni des Etats parties intresss, ni"d'un Etat qui n'est pas partie auprsent P act e, ni d 'un Etat partie qui n'a pas fait la dcl arati on prvue l' artic le 4-1.

3. La Commission lit,son Prsident et adopte son rglement intrieur,k. La Commission tient normalement ses runions au Sige de l'Organisation aes

Nations Unies ou l'Office des Nations Unies Genve. Toutefois, elle peut se runiren tout autre lieu appropri que peut dterminer la Commission en consultation avec leSecrtaire gnral de l'Organisation des Nations Unies et les Etats parties intresss.

5 Le secrtariat prvu l'article 36 prte galement ses services aux commissionsdsignes en vertu du prsent article,

6, Les renseignements obtenus et dpouilles par le Comit sont mis la dispo-sition de la Commission, et la Commission peut demander aux Etats parties intresss delui fournir tout renseignement complmentaire pertinent.


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7. Aprs avoir tudi la question sous tous ses aspects, mais en tout cas dansun dlai maximum de douze mois aprs qu*elle en aura t saisie, la Commission soumetun i^apport au Prsidnt du Comit qui le communique aux Etats parties intresses ;

a) Si la Cormission n peut achever l'examen de la question dans les douze mois,elle borne indiquer brivemeit dans son rapport o elle en est de 1*examen de laquestion;

b) s i l'on st parvenu un rglement imiable de la question, fond sur lerespect des droits de l'homme reconnus dans le prsent Pacte, la Commission se borne indiquer brivement dans son rapport les faits et le rglement auquel on est parvenu;

Si l'on n'est pas parvenu un rglement au sens de l'alina b, la Commissionfait figurer dns son rapport ses conclusions sur toiis les points de fait relatifs laquestion dbattue entre ls tats parties intresss ainsi que ses constatations surles possibilits de rglement amiable de l'affir; l rapport renferme galement lesobservations crites et un procs-verbal des observations orales prsentes par lestats parties intresss;

d) Si le rapport de l Coimnission est soumis conformment l'alina , les Etatsparties intresss font savoir au Prsident du Comit, dans un dlai de trois mois aprsla rception du rapport, s'ils acceptent ou non les termes du rapport de la Commission.8, Les dispositions du prsent article s'entenderit sans prjudice des attributionsdu Comit prvues l'article 4l

9 Ibutes les dpenses des membres de la Commission sont rparties galement entreles Etats parties intresss, sur la base d'un tat stiinatif tabli par le Secrtairegnral de l'Organisation des Nations riies.

10. Le Secrtaire gnral de l'Organisation des Nations Unies est habilit, sibesoin est, dfrayer les membres de la Comjiiission de leurs dpenses, avant que le

- 2 k ^


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remboursement en ait t effectu par les Etats parties intresss, conformment auparagraphe 9 \x prsent article.

ArticleLes membres du Comit et les membres des commissions de conciliation ad hoc qui

pourraient tre dsignes conformment l*article k2 ont droit aux facilits, privilgeset immunits reconnus aux experts en mission pour Inorganisation des Nations Unies,tels quUls sont noncs dans les sections pertinentes de la Convention sur lesprivilges et les immunits des liations Unies.

Article k-kLes dispositions de mise en oeuvre du prsent Pacte s'appliquent sans prjudice

des procdures institues en matire de droits de 1*homme aux termes ou en vertu desinstruments constitutifs et des conventions de l'Organisation des Nations Unies et desinstitutions spcialises, et n'empchent pas les Etats parties de recourir d'autresprocdures pour le rglement d'un diffrend conformment aux accords internationauxgnraux ou spciaux qui les lient.

Article k^Le Comit adresse chaque anne l'Assemble gnrale des Nations Unies, par

l'intermdiaire du Conseil conomique et social, un rapport sur ses travaux.CINQUIEME PARTIE

Article k6Aucune disposition du prsent Pacte ne doit tre interprte comme portant atteinte

aux dispositions de la Charte des Nations Unies et des constitutions des institutions


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spcialises qui dfinissent les responsabilits respectives des divers organes del'Organisation des Nations Unies et des institutions spcialises en ce qui concerneles questions traites dans le prsent Pacte.

ArticleAucune disposition du prsent Pacte ne sera interprte comme portant atteinte au

droit inhrent de tous les peuples profiter et user pleinement et librement deleurs richesses et ressources naturelles.

SIXIEME PARTIEArticle ^

1. Le prsent Pacte est ouvert la signature de tout Etat Membre de l'Organisatiodes Nations Unies ou membre de l'une quelconque de ses institutions spcialises, detout Etat partie au Statut de la Cour internationale de Justice, ainsi que de tout autreEtat invit par l'Assemble gnrale des Nations Unies devenir partie au prsent Pacte.

2. Le prsent Pacte est sujet ratification et les instruments de ratificationseront dposs auprs du Secrtaire gnral de l'Organisation des Nations Unies.

3. Le prsent Pacte sera ouvert l'adhsion de tout Etat vis au paragraphe 1du prsent article.

L'adhsion se fera par le dpt d'un instrument d'adhsion auprs du Secrtairegnral de l'Organisation des Nations Unies.

5 . Le Secrtaire gnral de l'Organisation des Nations Unies informe tous lesEtats qui ont sign le prsent Pacte ou qui y ont adhr du dpt de chaque instrumentde ratification ou d'adhsion.


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Article1. Le prsent Pacte entrera en vigueur trois mois aprs la date du dpt auprs

du Secrtaire gnral de l'Organisation des Nations Unies du trente-cinquime instrumentde ratification ou d'adhsion.

2. Pour chacun des Etats qui ratifieront le prsent Pacte ou y adhreron t aprsle dpt du trente-cinquime instrument de ratification ou d'adhsion, ledit Pacteentrera en vigueur trois mois aprs la date du dpt par cet Etat de son instrument deratification ou d'adhsion.

Article

Les dispositions du prsent Pacte s'appliquent, sans limitation ni exceptionaucune, toutes les units constitutives des Etatf fdratifs.

Article1. Tout Etat partie au prsent Pacte peut proposer un amendement et en dposer

le texte auprs du Secrtaire gnral de l'Organisation des Nations Unie s, LeSecrtaire gnral transmet alors tous projets d'amendements aux Etats parties auprsent Pacte en leur demandant de lui indiquer s'ils dsirent voir convoquer uneconfrence d'Etats parties pour examiner ces projets et les mettre aux voix. Si untiers au moins des Etats se dclarent en faveur de cette convocation, le Secrtairegnral convoque la confrence sous les auspices de l'Organisation des Nations Unies.Gtout amendement adopt par la majorit des Etats prsents et votants la confrenceest soumis pour approbation l'Assemble gnrale des Nations Unies.

2. Ces amendements entrent en vigueur lorsqu'ils ont t approuvs par l'Assembl egnra le des jNfeitions Uni es et acce pts , co nform ment l eurs rgles cons titut ionn ellesrespectives, par une majorit des deux tiers des Etats parties au prsent Pacte.


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J, Lorsque ces amendements entrent en vigueur, ils sont obligatoires pour lesEtats parties qui les ont accepts, les autres Etats parties restant lis par les dispositions du prsent Pacte et par tout amendement antrieur qu'ils ont accept.

Artj.cleIndpendamme^lt des notifications prvues au paragraphe 5 de l'article 48, le

Secrtaire gnral de l'Organisation des iations Unies infoirmera tous les Etats vissau paragraphe 1 dudit article :

a) Des signatures appofees au prsent Pacte et des instruments de ratificationet d'adhsion dposs conformment l'article 48;

b) De la dlte laquellle le prsent Pacte entrera en vigueur conformment l'article k9 et de la date laquelle entreront en vigueur les amendements prvus l'article 51.

Article 531. Le prsent Pacte, dont les textes anglais, chinois, espagnol, franais et

russe font galement foi, ser dpos aujc archives de l'Organisation des Nations Unies.2. Le Secrditaire gnrl de l'Organisation des Nations Unies transmettra une

copie certifie ccinfome du pJbsent Pacte tous les Etats viss l'article 48.EN FOI DE QUI les soussigns, dment autoriss par leurs Gouvernements respectifs

ont sign le prsent Pacte, qui a t ouvert la signature New York, ledix-neuf dcembre mil neuf cent soixante-six.


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International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights_full Text

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Transcript of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights_full Text