- 18 -
(b)
The Committee might take note specifically of the State party’s
stated intention to submit additional information in writing, particularly in
response to questions posed by the members of the Committee;
(c)
The Committee might specifically request that additional
information, relating to matters that it would identify, be submitted to the
Committee within six months, thus enabling it to be considered by the
pre-sessional working group. In general, the working group could recommend
one or another of the following responses to the Committee:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
That it take note of such information;
That it adopt specific concluding observations in response to
that information;
That the matter be pursued through a request for further
information; or
That the Committee’s Chairperson be authorized to inform the
State party, in advance of the next session, that the
Committee would take up the issue at its next session and
that, for that purpose, the participation of a representative
of the State party in the work of the Committee would be
welcome.
(d)
The Committee might determine that the receipt of additional
information is urgent and request that it be provided within a given
time-limit (perhaps two to three months). In such a case, the Chairperson, in
consultation with the members of the Bureau, could be authorized to follow up
the matter with the State party if no response is received or if the response
is patently unsatisfactory.
39.
In situations in which the Committee considers that it is unable to
obtain the information it requires on the basis of the above-mentioned
procedures, it may decide to adopt a different approach instead. In
particular, the Committee may, as has already been done in connection with two
States parties, request that the State party concerned accept a mission
consisting of one or two members of the Committee. Such a decision would only
be taken once the Committee had satisfied itself that there was no adequate
alternative approach available to it and that the information in its
possession warranted such an approach. The purposes of such an on-site visit
would be: (a) to collect the information necessary for the Committee to
continue its constructive dialogue with the State party and to enable it to
carry out its functions in relation to the Covenant; and (b) to provide a more
comprehensive basis upon which the Committee might exercise its functions in
relation to articles 22 and 23 of the Covenant concerning technical assistance
and advisory services. The Committee would state specifically the issue(s)
with respect to which its representative(s) would seek to gather information
from all available sources. The representative(s) would also have the task of
considering whether the programme of advisory services administered by the
Centre for Human Rights could be of assistance in connection with the specific
issue at hand.