Summary of Contents Introduction 1 Chapter 1: UN Treaty Bodies 5 Introduction 6 1.1 Definitions 7 1.2 State Parties’ Obligations 13 1.3 Scope of Application 29 Conclusion 53 Chapter 2: The European Regional System 55 Introduction 56 2.1 Definitions 56 2.2 States Parties’ Obligations 63 2.3 Scope of Application 72 Conclusion 90 Chapter 3: The Inter-American Regional System 93 Introduction 94 3.1 Definitions 3.2 States Parties’ Obligations 94 101 3.3 Scope of Application 111 Conclusion 123 Chapter 4: The African Regional System 125 Introduction 126 4.1 Definitions 126 4.2 State Parties’ Obligations 129 4.3 Scope of Application 137 Conclusion 144 iii