U. N. Body Starts Work on Implementation of Human Rights Pacts

The Commission on Human Rights today began consideration of measures of implementation of the Draft Covenants on Human Rights. Discussion centered on the specific question of applicability of the system of periodic reports to the Draft Covenant on Political and Civil Rights, and to the Draft Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

On the system of periodic reports, the commission has before it a draft prepared at its seventh session but not considered at its eighth or ninth sessions. This draft provides for the submission of reports by states parties to the covenant on the progress made in achieving the observance of rights in conformity with the articles of the covenant and the recommendations which the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, in the exercise of their general responsibility, may make to all members of the United Nations.

At the opening of the meeting, the chairman, Mahmoud Azmi of Egypt, called members’ attention to the fact that the General Assembly had requested the commission to complete its work on the draft covenants at this session. To achieve this, the chairman believed that the commission should avoid reopening discussion on matters already thrashed out at previous sessions, and apply itself to matters not yet discussed. He proposed that the commission begin work with measures of implementation, and more particularly, with the question of periodic reports.

Mr. Azmi then referred to the attention with which world public opinion was following the work of the draft covenants, and he appealed to members to assume their responsibilities and finish their task. Rene Cassin of France and H. F. Whitlan of Australia concurred in the chairman’s proposal. Rajeshwar Dayal of India added that should the commission fail to complete its work at this session, it should then be prepared to refer unfinished business to a higher organ.