The US reported to the Human Rights Committee (HRC) on its
compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights on October 21, 2005, and was reviewed by that Committee in July
2006.

About the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is an
international treaty that is designed to protect individuals' human
rights. When paired together with the Convention on Economic, Social,
and Cultural Rights, human rights advocates call the two the
"International Bill of Rights."

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
This treaty was ratified by the United States in 1992, making it legally binding.
US Reservations, Understandings, and Declarations upon Ratification
Upon adopting the ICCPR, the Senate added this document to limit and clarify its understanding of the treaty.

First Report to the Human Rights Committee
As
part of its treaty obligations, the United States is required to issue
a report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRC) on its
compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights.
The US issued its first report in 1994 and was reviewed by the Human Rights Commitee in 1995. 

First
Periodic Report of the United States of America to the UN Committee
on Human Rights Concerning the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights (1994)

Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee on the First US Report to the Committee (1995)

Second Report to the Human Rights Committee
The second US report was not issued until October 2005 - more than seven years late due to the State Department's delays.   

Second
and Third Periodic Report of the United States of America to the UN
Committee on Human Rights Concerning the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights (2005)

Shadow Reporting 

As part of the regular procedure, a country's
non-governmental organizations submit "shadow reports" to the UN. The
reports dispute a country's official report or provide information on
unreported violations. In May, a coalition of 142 US-based non-profits
and organizations and 32 individuals submitted a shadow report that is
the most comprehensive review of human rights violations in the United
States ever compiled.  After reviewing the U.S. official report and the
shadow reports, the Human Rights Committee issued a list of issues for
the U.S. delegation to address at the July hearing.  

» Why Shadow Reporting
» Full Shadow Report (2006)
» Executive Summary
» Table of Contents

Human Rights Committe Hearing
In July 2006, a
delegation representing the State Department, Defense Department,
Department of Justice and other government agencies attended thes HRC
hearings in Geneva.  At the end of the hearings, the UN released to the
public its findings and made recommendations to the United States on
policy changes.

Concluding
Observations of the Human Rights Committee on U.S. Compliance with the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (2006)

Follow-Up Meeting with U.S. Governement Agencies
In
January 2007, NGOs met with officials from the State Department,
Defense Department, the Department of Justice and other relevant
government agencies to discuss the implementation of the Concluding
Observations from the CAT and HRC.   

Links
Human Rights Committee Website 
Shadow Reporting Guide & Template
Human Rights Committee Member Background Information
Shadow Report Working Groups and Contact List
ICCPR Shadow Yahoo Group Listserv/Website

For more information or to get involved, please contact erictars@gmail.com