I. A. ORGANIZATIGNAL AND OTRSR MATTERS . -es to the COVeW 1. As at 26 July 1991, the closing date of the forty-second session of the HumanRights Committee, there were 95 States parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and 55 States parties to the Optional Protocol to the Covenant, both of which were adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 2200 A (XXI) of 16 December 1966 and opened for signature and ratification in New York on 19 December 1966. Both instruments entered into force on 23 March 1976 in accordance with the provisions of their article6 49 and 9 respectively. Also as at 26 July 1991, 31 States had made the declaration envisaged under article 41, paragraph 1, of the Covenant, which aiming at the came into force on 28 March 1979. The Second Optional Protocol, abolition of the death penalty, which was adopted and opened for signature, ratification or accession by the General Assembly by its resolution 441128 of 15 December 1989, entered into force on 11 July 1991 in accordance with the provisions of its article 8. 2. A list the Second declaration annex I to of States parties to the Covenant, to the Optional Protocol and to Optional Protocol , with an indication of those that have made the under article 41, paragraph 1, of the Covenant, is contained in the present report. 3. Reservations and other declarations made by a number of States parties in respect of the Covenant and/or the Optional Protocols are set out in document CCPR/C/2/Rev.2 and in notifications deposited with the Secretary-General. Reservations to article 9, paragraph 3 and article 14, paragraph 3 (d), of the Covenant by Finland and to article 23, paragraph 4, of the Covenant by the Republic of Korea were withdrawn, effective 26 July 1990 and 15 March 1991 respectively. B. Sessions and aaeade, The Human Rights Committee has held three sessions since the adoption of 4. its last annual report. I/ The fortieth session (1009th to 1036th meetings) was held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 22 3ctober to 9 November 1990, the forty-first session (1037th to 1063rd meetings) was held at United Nations Headquarters, New York, from 25 March to 12 April 1991 and the forty-second session (1064th to 1091st meetings) was held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 8 to 26 July 1991. The agenda of the sessions ore shown in annex III to the present report. c. Membershig At the 11th meeting of States parties, held at United Nations 5. Headquarters, New York, on 12 September 1990, nine members of the Committee were elected, in accordance with articles 28 to 32 oE the Covenant, to fill vacancies created by the expiration of terms of office on 31 December 1990. Tile following members were elected for the first time: Mr. Kurt Herndl and