the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, but, under the Covenant, it applies only to those State parties that have formally accepted it. Resolution of inter-State disputes concerning interpretation or application of a convention The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (art. 29), the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (art. 42), the Convention against Torture (art. 30), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (art. 22) and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (art. 92) provide for disputes between State parties concerning the interpretation or application of these conventions to be resolved in the first instance by negotiation or, failing that, by arbitration. One of the States involved may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice if the parties fail to agree on the terms of arbitration within six months. State parties may opt out of this procedure by making a declaration at the time of ratification or accession, in which case, in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, they are barred from bringing cases against other State parties. This procedure has so far been used twice: in a case opposing the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda13 and in another opposing Georgia and the Russian Federation14 before the International Court of Justice. J. General comments Each of the treaty bodies publishes its interpretation of the provisions of its respective human rights treaty in the form of “general comments” or “general recommendations”. These cover a wide range of subjects, from the comprehensive interpretation of substantive provisions, such as the right to life or the right to adequate food, to general guidance on the information that should be submitted in State reports relating to specific articles of the treaties. General comments have also dealt with wider, cross-cutting issues, such as the role of national human rights institutions, the rights of persons with disabilities, violence against women and the rights of minorities. All are available from the OHCHR website (www.ohchr.org). See Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (New Application: 2002) (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Rwanda), Jurisdiction and Admissibility, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 2006, p. 39, para. 87. 14 See Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Georgia v. Russian Federation), Judgment of 1 April 2011. 13 36

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