Objectives

The objective of the Optional Protocol is to allow individuals or groups of individuals who have exhausted national remedies to petition the Committee directly about alleged violations of the Convention by their Governments. The Optional Protocol also permits the Committee to conduct inquiries into grave or systematic violations of the Convention in countries that are parties to the Convention and to the Optional Protocol.

Key Provisions

States parties to the Optional Protocol undertake to make the Convention and the Protocol widely known and to facilitate access to information about the views and recommendations of the Committee. They are also required to take all appropriate measures to ensure that individuals under their jurisdiction are not subjected to ill-treatment or intimidation when they take advantage of the Protocol's procedure or provide information associated with these procedures. States which ratify or accede to the Optional Protocol may not enter reservations to its terms, but they are able to opt-out of the inquiry procedure.

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Open for signature (indefinitely) by any State that has signed, ratified or acceded to the Convention and to ratification and accession by any State that has ratified or acceded to the Convention

Entry into force: 22 December 2000

Status as at 15 June 2001: Signatories: 67   Contracting Parties: 22