How are ICCPR and its Protocols monitored?
Once a State ratifies a treaty the ICCPR and/or OP2 it undertakes the duty to report regularly to the Human Rights Committee on how the rights in the treaty are being implemented. States must report initially one year after acceding to the Covenant and then whenever the Committee requests (usually every four years). In addition to the reporting procedure, article 41 of the Covenant provides for the Committee to consider inter-State complaints (for the countries that have accepted to do so). Furthermore, the First Optional Protocol to the Covenant gives the Committee competence to examine individual complaints with regard to alleged violations of the Covenant by States parties to this Protocol. The full competence of the Committee extends to the Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant on the abolition of the death penalty with regard to States who have accepted the Protocol. It thereby makes recommendations for States to comply with their duties under the Protocol. The States Parties t
