ISRAEL

Special Decisions or Action Taken Re: Reporting

CCPR A/58/40 vol. I (2003)

CHAPTER III. SUBMISSION OF REPORTS BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 40 OF THE COVENANT

B. Overdue reports and non-compliance by States parties with their obligations under article 40

73. The Committee noted that in the period under review, two States parties (Israel and the Russian Federation) informed the Committee that their delegations were unable to appear before the Committee as initially scheduled, owing to exceptional circumstances, and requested a postponement. The Committee regrets such withdrawal by States parties from the scheduled examination of a report, especially at a late stage; it is rarely possible for the Committee to schedule on short notice the examination of any other report. At its seventy-eighth session, therefore, the Committee decided that it would henceforth proceed with the examination of a report in the absence of a State party delegation if that State party informs the Committee at a late stage of its withdrawal, without providing justifications. The new procedure was notified to all States parties by circular letter of 14 July 2003.