TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments 5 Disclaimer 5 Foreword 6 INTRODUCTION 19 PART I: OVERVIEW OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE 23 1.1 The International Prohibition of Torture and other Ill-treatment 25 1.2 The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 30 1.3 The Human Rights Committee 1.3.1 Reporting Function 1.3.2 Individual Complaints Process 1.3.3 General Comments 1.3.4 Interstate Complaints 32 33 34 34 35 1.4 The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 35 1.5 The Committee against Torture 1.5.1 Reporting Function 1.5.2 Individual Complaints Process 1.5.3 General Comments 1.5.4 Interstate Complaints 1.5.5 Inquiry Procedure 1.5.6 Duties under the Optional Protocol 37 38 38 38 38 39 39 1.6 The Impact of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture 39 PART II: PROCEDURES OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE 47 2.1 Individual Complaints Procedure 2.1.1 Admissibility Criteria 49 49 9