What is the purpose of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies general comments?
Last Updated: May 08, 2018
General comment is a treaty body’s interpretation of human rights treaty provisions, thematic issues or its methods of work. General comments often seek to clarify the reporting duties of State parties with respect to certain provisions and suggest approaches to implementing treaty provisions.
It is also called "general recommendation" (Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women).
For the nature and purpose of the general comments, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty sixth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/36/40), annex VII, introduction.
For a description of the history of the method of work, the elaboration of general comments and their use, ibid., Thirty ninth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/39/40), paragraphs 541-557.
- Links to the general comments of each treaty body.
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