The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a UN treaty which includes important civil and political rights such as the right to life, freedom from torture, the right to a fair trial, freedom of opinion and expresssion, right to privacy, freedom of association and the rights of minorities. Experts are nominated by their state and subsequently elected by a meeting of all state's parties to the covenant. In our view, it is desirable that they not be government officials, in order to best preserve their independence.
Members come from a wide variety of geographic, legal, social and cultural backgrounds.
After a four-year term, experts can be reelected. There is no limit to the length of time an individual may remain a member of the committee. The committee meets three times a year, for three weeks each session. The committee may decide to meet behind closed doors, which is usually the case when it discusses internal matters, individual communications or its draft concluding observations. To see latest meeting schedule of the Human Rights Committee .