Zakon o potvrđivanju Opcionog protokola uz Međunarodni pakt o ekonomskim, socijalnim i kulturnim pravima

Član 1

Potvrđuje se Opcioni protokol uz Međunarodni pakt o ekonomskim, socijalnim i kulturnim pravima, koji je sačinjen u Njujorku 10. decembra 2008. godine, na arapskom, kineskom, engleskom, francuskom, ruskom i španskom jeziku.

Član 2

(1) Tekst Opcionog protokola uz Međunarodni pakt o ekonomskim, socijalnim i kulturnim pravima u originalu na engleskom jeziku i prevodu na srpski jezik glasi:

(2) OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE INTERNATIONAL

(3) COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND

(4) CULTURAL RIGHTS

(5) Preamble

(6) The States Parties to the present Protocol,

(7) Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

(8) Noting that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,

(9) Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights recognize that the ideal of free human beings enjoying freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights,

(10) Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms,

(11) Recalling that each State Party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (hereinafter referred to as the Covenant) undertakes to take steps, individually and through international assistance and cooperation, especially economic and technical, to the maximum of its available resources, with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the rights recognized in the Covenant by all appropriate means, including particularly the adoption of legislative measures,

(12) Considering that, in order further to achieve the purposes of the Covenant and the implementation of its provisions, it would be appropriate to enable the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) to carry out the functions provided for in the present Protocol,

(13) Have agreed as follows:

(14) Article 1

(15) Competence of the Committee to receive and consider communications

(16) 1. A State Party to the Covenant that becomes a Party to the present Protocol recognizes the competence of the Committee to receive and consider communications as provided for by the provisions of the present Protocol.

(17) 2. No communication shall be received by the Committee if it concerns a State Party to the Covenant which is not a Party to the present Protocol.

(18) Article 2

(19) Communications

(20) Communications may be submitted by or on behalf of individuals or groups of individuals, under the jurisdiction of a State Party, claiming to be victims of a violation of any of the economic, social and cultural rights set forth in the Covenant by that State Party. Where a communication is submitted on behalf of individuals or groups of individuals, this shall be with their consent unless the author can justify acting on their behalf without such consent.

(21) Article 3

(22) Admissibility

(23) 1. The Committee shall not consider a communication unless it has ascertained that all available domestic remedies have been exhausted. This shall not be the rule where the application of such remedies is unreasonably prolonged.

(24) 2. The Committee shall declare a communication inadmissible when:

(25) (a) It is not submitted within one year after the exhaustion of domestic remedies, except in cases where the author can demonstrate that it had not been possible to submit the communication within that time limit;

(26) (b) The facts that are the subject of the communication occurred prior to the entry into force of the present Protocol for the State Party concerned unless those facts continued after that date;

(27) (c) The same matter has already been examined by the Committee or has been or is being examined under another procedure of international investigation or settlement;

(28) (d) It is incompatible with the provisions of the Covenant;

(29) (e) It is manifestly ill-founded, not sufficiently substantiated or exclusively based on reports disseminated by mass media;

(30) (f) It is an abuse of the right to submit a communication; or when

(31) (g) It is anonymous or not in writing.

(32) Article 4

(33) Communications not revealing a clear disadvantage

(34) The Committee may, if necessary, decline to consider a communication where it does not reveal that the author has suffered a clear disadvantage, unless the Committee considers that the communication raises a serious issue of general importance.

(35) Article 5

(36) Interim measures

(37) 1. At any time after the receipt of a communication and before a determination on the merits has been reached, the Committee may transmit to the State Party concerned for its urgent consideration a request that the State Party take such interim measures as may be necessary in exceptional circumstances to avoid possible irreparable damage to the victim or victims of the alleged violations.

(38) 2. Where the Committee exercises its discretion under paragraph 1 of the present article, this does not imply a determination on admissibility or on the merits of the communication.

(39) Article 6

(40) Transmission of the communication

(41) 1. Unless the Committee considers a communication inadmissible without reference to the State Party concerned, the Committee shall bring any communication submitted to it under the present Protocol confidentially to the attention of the State Party concerned.

(42) 2. Within six months, the receiving State Party shall submit to the Committee written explanations or statements clarifying the matter and the remedy, if any, that may have been provided by that State Party.

(43) Article 7

(44) Friendly settlement

(45) 1. The Committee shall make available its good offices to the parties concerned with a view to reaching a friendly settlement of the matter on the basis of the respect for the obligations set forth in the Covenant.

(46) 2. An agreement on a friendly settlement closes consideration of the communication under the present Protocol.

(47) Article 8

(48) Examination of communications

(49) 1. The Committee shall examine communications received under article 2 of the present Protocol in the light of all documentation submitted to it, provided that this documentation is transmitted to the parties concerned.

(50) 2. The Committee shall hold closed meetings when examining communications under the present Protocol.

(51) 3. When examining a communication under the present Protocol, the Committee may consult, as appropriate, relevant documentation emanating from other United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, funds, programmes and mechanisms, and other international organizations, including from regional human rights systems, and any observations or comments by the State Party concerned.

(52) 4. When examining communications under the present Protocol, the Committee shall consider the reasonableness of the steps taken by the State Party in accordance with part II of the Covenant. In doing so, the Committee shall bear in mind that the State Party may adopt a range of possible policy measures for the implementation of the rights set forth in the Covenant.

(53) Article 9

(54) Follow-up to the views of the Committee

(55) 1. After examining a communication, the Committee shall transmit its views on the communication, together with its recommendations, if any, to the parties concerned.

(56) 2. The State Party shall give due consideration to the views of the Committee, together with its recommendations, if any, and shall submit to the Committee, within six months, a written response, including information on any action taken in the light of the views and recommendations of the Committee.

(57) 3. The Committee may invite the State Party to submit further information about any measures the State Party has taken in response to its views or recommendations, if any, including as deemed appropriate by the Committee, in the State Party’s subsequent reports under articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant.

(58) Article 10

(59) Inter-State communications

(60) 1. A State Party to the present Protocol may at any time declare under the present article that it recognizes the competence of the Committee to receive and consider communications to the effect that a State Party claims that another State Party is not fulfilling its obligations under the Covenant. Communications under the present article may be received and considered only if submitted by a State Party that has made a declaration recognizing in regard to itself the competence of the Committee. No communication shall be received by the Committee if it concerns a State Party which has not made such a declaration. Communications received under the present article shall be dealt with in accordance with the following procedure:

(61) (a) If a State Party to the present Protocol considers that another State Party is not fulfilling its obligations under the Covenant, it may, by written communication, bring the matter to the attention of that State Party. The State Party may also inform the Committee of the matter. Within three months after the receipt of the communication the receiving State shall afford the State that sent the communication an explanation, or any other statement in writing clarifying the matter, which should include, to the extent possible and pertinent, reference to domestic procedures and remedies taken, pending or available in the matter;

(62) (b) If the matter is not settled to the satisfaction of both States Parties concerned within six months after the receipt by the receiving State of the initial communication, either State shall have the right to refer the matter to the Committee, by notice given to the Committee and to the other State;

(63) (c) The Committee shall deal with a matter referred to it only after it has ascertained that all available domestic remedies have been invoked and exhausted in the matter. This shall not be the rule where the application of the remedies is unreasonably prolonged;

(64) (d) Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (c) of the present paragraph the Committee shall make available its good offices to the States Parties concerned with a view to a friendly solution of the matter on the basis of the respect for the obligations set forth in the Covenant;

(65) (e) The Committee shall hold closed meetings when examining communications under the present article;

(66) (f) In any matter referred to it in accordance with subparagraph (b) of the present paragraph, the Committee may call upon the States Parties concerned, referred to in subparagraph (b), to supply any relevant information;

(67) (g) The States Parties concerned, referred to in subparagraph (b) of the present paragraph, shall have the right to be represented when the matter is being considered by the Committee and to make submissions orally and/or in writing;

(68) (h) The Committee shall, with all due expediency after the date of receipt of notice under subparagraph (b) of the present paragraph, submit a report, as follows:

(69) (i) If a solution within the terms of subparagraph (d) of the present paragraph is reached, the Committee shall confine its report to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached;

(70) (ii) If a solution within the terms of subparagraph (d) is not reached, the Committee shall, in its report, set forth the relevant facts concerning the issue between the States Parties concerned. The written submissions and record of the oral submissions made by the States Parties concerned shall be attached to the report. The Committee may also communicate only to the States Parties concerned any views that it may consider relevant to the issue between them.

(71) In every matter, the report shall be communicated to the States Parties concerned.

(72) 2. A declaration under paragraph 1 of the present article shall be deposited by the States Parties with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall transmit copies thereof to the other States Parties. A declaration may be withdrawn at any time by notification to the Secretary-General. Such a withdrawal shall not prejudice the consideration of any matter that is the subject of a communication already transmitted under the present article; no further communication by any State Party shall be received under the present article after the notification of withdrawal of the declaration has been received by the Secretary-General, unless the State Party concerned has made a new declaration.

(73) Article 11

(74) Inquiry procedure

(75) 1. A State Party to the present Protocol may at any time declare that it recognizes the competence of the Committee provided for under the present article.

(76) 2. If the Committee receives reliable information indicating grave or systematic violations by a State Party of any of the economic, social and cultural rights set forth in the Covenant, the Committee shall invite that State Party to cooperate in the examination of the information and to this end to submit observations with regard to the information concerned.

(77) 3. Taking into account any observations that may have been submitted by the State Party concerned as well as any other reliable information available to it, the Committee may designate one or more of its members to conduct an inquiry and to report urgently to the Committee. Where warranted and with the consent of the State Party, the inquiry may include a visit to its territory.

(78) 4. Such an inquiry shall be conducted confidentially and the cooperation of the State Party shall be sought at all stages of the proceedings.

(79) 5. After examining the findings of such an inquiry, the Committee shall transmit these findings to the State Party concerned together with any comments and recommendations.

(80) 6. The State Party concerned shall, within six months of receiving the findings, comments and recommendations transmitted by the Committee, submit its observations to the Committee.

(81) 7. After such proceedings have been completed with regard to an inquiry made in accordance with paragraph 2 of the present article, the Committee may, after consultations with the State Party concerned, decide to include a summary account of the results of the proceedings in its annual report provided for in article 15 of the present Protocol.

(82) 8. Any State Party having made a declaration in accordance with paragraph 1 of the present article may, at any time, withdraw this declaration by notification to the Secretary-General.

(83) Article 12

(84) Follow-up to the inquiry procedure

(85) 1. The Committee may invite the State Party concerned to include in its report under articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant details of any measures taken in response to an inquiry conducted under article 11 of the present Protocol.

(86) 2. The Committee may, if necessary, after the end of the period of six months referred to in article 11, paragraph 6, invite the State Party concerned to inform it of the measures taken in response to such an inquiry.

(87) Article 13

(88) Protection measures

(89) A State Party shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that individuals under its jurisdiction are not subjected to any form of ill-treatment or intimidation as a consequence of communicating with the Committee pursuant to the present Protocol.

(90) Article 14

(91) International assistance and cooperation

(92) 1. The Committee shall transmit, as it may consider appropriate, and with the consent of the State Party concerned, to United Nations specialized agencies, funds and programmes and other competent bodies, its views or recommendations concerning communications and inquiries that indicate a need for technical advice or assistance, along with the State Party’s observations and suggestions, if any, on these views or recommendations.

(93) 2. The Committee may also bring to the attention of such bodies, with the consent of the State Party concerned, any matter arising out of communications considered under the present Protocol which may assist them in deciding, each within its field of competence, on the advisability of international measures likely to contribute to assisting States Parties in achieving progress in implementation of the rights recognized in the Covenant.

(94) 3. A trust fund shall be established in accordance with the relevant procedures of the General Assembly, to be administered in accordance with the financial regulations and rules of the United Nations, with a view to providing expert and technical assistance to States Parties, with the consent of the State Party concerned, for the enhanced implementation of the rights contained in the Covenant, thus contributing to building national capacities in the area of economic, social and cultural rights in the context of the present Protocol.

(95) 4. The provisions of the present article are without prejudice to the obligations of each State Party to fulfil its obligations under the Covenant.

(96) Article 15

(97) Annual report

(98) The Committee shall include in its annual report a summary of its activities under the present Protocol.

(99) Article 16

(100) Dissemination and information

(101) Each State Party undertakes to make widely known and to disseminate the Covenant and the present Protocol and to facilitate access to information about the views and recommendations of the Committee, in particular, on matters involving that State Party, and to do so in accessible formats for persons with disabilities.

(102) Article 17

(103) Signature, ratification and accession

(104) 1. The present Protocol is open for signature by any State that has signed, ratified or acceded to the Covenant.

(105) 2. The present Protocol is subject to ratification by any State that has ratified or acceded to the Covenant. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

(106) 3. The present Protocol shall be open to accession by any State that has ratified or acceded to the Covenant.

(107) 4. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

(108) Article 18

(109) Entry into force

(110) 1. The present Protocol shall enter into force three months after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the tenth instrument of ratification or accession.

(111) 2. For each State ratifying or acceding to the present Protocol, after the deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification or accession, the Protocol shall enter into force three months after the date of the deposit of its instrument of ratification or accession.

(112) Article 19

(113) Amendments

(114) 1. Any State Party may propose an amendment to the present Protocol and submit it to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Secretary-General shall communicate any proposed amendments to States Parties, with a request to be notified whether they favour a meeting of States Parties for the purpose of considering and deciding upon the proposals. In the event that, within four months from the date of such communication, at least one third of the States Parties favour such a meeting, the Secretary-General shall convene the meeting under the auspices of the United Nations. Any amendment adopted by a majority of two thirds of the States Parties present and voting shall be submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly for approval and thereafter to all States Parties for acceptance.

(115) 2. An amendment adopted and approved in accordance with paragraph 1 of the present article shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the number of instruments of acceptance deposited reaches two thirds of the number of States Parties at the date of adoption of the amendment. Thereafter, the amendment shall enter into force for any State Party on the thirtieth day following the deposit of its own instrument of acceptance. An amendment shall be binding only on those States Parties which have accepted it.

(116) Article 20

(117) Denunciation

(118) 1. Any State Party may denounce the present Protocol at any time by written notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Denunciation shall take effect six months after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General.

(119) 2. Denunciation shall be without prejudice to the continued application of the provisions of the present Protocol to any communication submitted under articles 2 and 10 or to any procedure initiated under article 11 before the effective date of denunciation.

(120) Article 21

(121) Notification by the Secretary-General

(122) The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall notify all States referred to in article 26, paragraph 1, of the Covenant of the following particulars:

(123) (a) Signatures, ratifications and accessions under the present Protocol;

(124) (b) The date of entry into force of the present Protocol and of any amendment under article 19;

(125) (c) Any denunciation under article 20.

(126) Article 22

(127) Official languages

(128) 1. The present Protocol, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the United Nations.

(129) 2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit certified copies of the present Protocol to all States referred to in article 26 of the Covenant.

(130) OPCIONI PROTOKOL UZ MEĐUNARODNI PAKT O EKONOMSKIM, SOCIJALNIM I KULTURNIM PRAVIMA

(131) Preambula

(132) Države ugovornice ovog protokola,

(133) Smatrajući da je, u skladu sa principima proklamovanim u Povelji Ujedinjenih nacija, priznavanje urođenog dostojanstva i jednakih i neotuđivih prava svih članova ljudske porodice temelj slobode, pravde i mira u svetu,

(134) konstatujući da Univerzalna deklaracija o ljudskim pravima proglašava da se sva ljudska bića rađaju slobodna i jednaka u dostojanstvu i pravima, i da svako ima pravo na sva prava i slobode sadržane u njima, bez razlike po bilo kom osnovu kao što su rasa, boja kože, pol, jezik, veroispovest, političko ili drugo mišljenje, nacionalno ili socijalno poreklo, imovinsko stanje, rođenje ili drugi status,

(135) podsećajući da Univerzalna deklaracija o ljudskim pravima i Međunarodni paktovi o ljudskim pravima priznaju da se ideal slobodnog ljudskog bića koje uživa u slobodi od straha i bede, može postići samo ako se stvore uslovi u kojima svako može da uživa građanska, kulturna, ekonomska, politička i socijalna prava,

(136) potvrđujući univerzalnost, nedeljivost, međuzavisnost i međusobnu povezanost svih ljudskih prava i osnovnih sloboda,

(137) podsećajući da se svaka država članica Međunarodnog pakta o ekonomskim, socijalnim i kulturnim pravima (u daljem tekstu: Pakt) obavezuje da preduzme korake, samostalno i putem međunarodne pomoći i saradnje, posebno ekonomske i tehničke, do maksimuma svojih raspoloživih resursa, sa ciljem postepenog postizanja potpune realizacije prava priznatih u Paktu svim odgovarajućim sredstvima, uključujući naročito i usvajanje zakonodavnih mera,

(138) imajući u vidu da bi, u cilju daljeg postizanja ciljeva Pakta i implementacije njegovih odredbi, bilo prikladno omogućiti Komitetu za ekonomska, socijalna i kulturna prava (u daljem tekstu: Komitet), da vrši funkcije predviđene ovim protokolom,

(139) Sporazumele su se o sledećem:

Član 3 Prihvatljivost

(1) 1. Komitet neće razmatrati predstavku ukoliko ne konstatuje da su svi raspoloživi domaći pravni lekovi iscrpljeni. Ovo neće biti pravilo u slučajevima gde je primena tih lekova nerazumno duga.

(2) 2. Komitet će proglasiti predstavku neprihvatljivom kada:

(3) (a) se ne podnese u roku od jedne godine nakon iscrpljivanja domaćih pravnih lekova, osim u slučajevima u kojima podnosilac može dokazati da nije bio u mogućnosti da dostavi predstavku u okviru tog roka;

(4) (b) činjenice koje su predmet predstavke su se dogodile pre stupanja na snagu ovog protokola za države potpisnice, osim ako su te činjenice nastavljene posle tog datuma;

(5) (c) isti slučaj je već ispitan od strane Komiteta ili je bio ili se razmatra u drugom postupku međunarodne istrage ili rešavanja;

(6) (d) je nespojiva sa odredbama Pakta;

(7) (e) je očigledno neosnovana, nedovoljno potkrepljena ili isključivo zasnovana na izveštajima iz medija;

(8) (f) je zloupotreba prava na podnošenje predstavke; ili

(9) (g) je anonimna ili nije u pisanoj formi.

Član 4 Predstavka ne pokazuje jasnu štetu

Komitet može, ako je potrebno, da odbije da razmotri predstavku gde se ne otkriva da je podnosilac pretrpeo jasnu štetu, osim ako Komitet smatra da predstavka predstavlja ozbiljno pitanje od opšteg značaja.

Član 5 Privremene mere

(1) 1. U bilo kom trenutku nakon prijema predstavke i pre njenog rešavanja u meritumu, Komitet može dostaviti državi ugovornici na hitno razmatranje zahtev za preduzmanje privremenih mera koje su neophodne u izuzetnim okolnostima radi izbegavanja nepopravljive štete za žrtvu ili žrtve navodnih kršenja prava.

(2) 2. Kada Komitet ostvaruje svoje diskreciono pravo iz stava 1. ovog člana, to ne implicira odlučivanje o dopustivosti ili o meritumu predstavke.

Član 6 Način komunikacije

(1) 1. Osim kada Komitet smatra predstavku neprihvatljivom bez njenog upućivanja državi ugovornici, Komitet će svaku predstavku koja mu je podneta na osnovu Protokola na poverljiv način proslediti državi ugovornici.

(2) 2. Država ugovornica će u roku od šest meseci dostaviti Komitetu pismeno objašnjenje ili izjavu u kojoj će razjasniti problem, i ako postoji, i meru za otklanjanje stanja koju država može obezbediti.

Član 7 Prijateljsko poravnanje

(1) 1. Komitet će staviti na raspolaganje svoje usluge zainteresovanim stranama u cilju postizanja prijateljskog poravnanja o spornom pitanju na osnovu poštovanja obaveza utvrđenih Paktom.

(2) 2. Sporazum o prijateljskom poravnanju okončava razmatranje podneska na osnovu ovog protokola.

Član 8 Ispitivanje podneska

(1) 1. Komitet će ispitati predstavke primljene na osnovu člana 2. ovog protokola uzimajući u obzir svu dostavljenu dokumentaciju, pod uslovom da je ta dokumentacija prosleđena zainteresovanim stranama.

(2) 2. Komitet će držati zatvorene sednice kada bude razmatrao predstavke podnete na osnovu ovog protokola.

(3) 3. Kada razmatra predstavku na osnovu ovog protokola, Komitet može, po potrebi, da konsultuje relevantnu dokumentaciju koja potiče od drugih organa Ujedinjenih nacija, specijalizovanih agencija, fondova, programa i mehanizama, i drugih međunarodnih organizacija, uključujući i one iz regionalnih sistema za ljudska prava, kao i sve primedbe ili komentare dobijene od strane države ugovornice.

(4) 4. Prilikom ispitivanja podnesaka u okviru ovog protokola, Komitet razmatra opravdanost preduzetih mera od strane države ugovornice u skladu sa delom II Pakta. Pri tome, Komitet treba da ima u vidu da država ugovornica može usvojiti niz mogućih mera za sprovođenje prava ustanovljenih Paktom.

Član 9 Postupak nakon usvajanja odluke Komiteta

(1) 1. Nakon razmatranja predstavke, Komitet će svoje mišljenje o predstavci, uključujući i preporuke, ukoliko ih ima, proslediti zainteresovanim stranama.

(2) 2. Država ugovornica će pažljivo razmotriti mišljenje Komiteta, zajedno sa njegovim preporukama, ako ih ima, i u roku od šest meseci dostaviće Komitetu pismeni odgovor, uključujući i informacije o svakoj akciji koju je preduzela u svetlu mišljenja i preporuka Komiteta.

(3) 3. Komitet može pozvati državu ugovornicu da dostavi dodatne informacije o merama koje je država ugovornica preduzela kao odgovor na njegovo mišljenje ili preporuke, ako ih je bilo, uključujući i izveštaje države ugovornice koje će ona podneti na osnovu čl. 16. i 17. Pakta, ako Komitet to smatra prikladnim.

Član 10 Međudržavne predstavke

(1) 1. Država ugovornica ovog protokola može u svakom trenutku izjaviti na osnovu ovog člana da priznaje nadležnost Komiteta da prima i razmatra predstavke u kojima država ugovornica tvrdi da neka druga država ugovornica ne ispunjava svoje obaveze prema Paktu. Predstavke na osnovu ovog člana mogu se primati i razmatrati samo ako potiču od države ugovornice koja je dala izjavu kojom je u odnosu na sebe priznala nadležnost Komiteta. Nijedna predstavka neće biti primljena od Komiteta ako se odnosi na državu utovornicu koja nije dala takvu izjavu. Sa predstavkama primljenim u skladu sa ovim članom biće postupano prema sledećoj proceduri:

(2) (a) Ako država ugovornica ovog protokola smatra da neka druga država ugovornica ne ispunjava svoje obaveze prema Paktu, ona može, pismenom predstavkom, predočiti taj problem toj državi ugovornici. Država ugovornica može, takođe, obavestiti Komitet o tome. U roku od tri meseca nakon prijema predstavke, država koja je primila predstavku će državi koja je poslala predstavku uputiti pismeno objašnjenje, ili neku drugu izjavu u pisanoj formi u kojoj razjašnjava sporno pitanje, koje bi trebalo da obuhvati u meri u kojoj je to moguće i relevantno, upućivanje na domaće procedure i pravne lekove koji su u toku ili su dostupni za to sporno pitanje;

(3) (b) Ako stvar nije rešena na zadovoljavajući način za obe države ugovornice, u roku od šest meseci nakon prijema inicijalne predstavke od strane države kojoj je predstavka poslata, obe države imaju pravo da slučaj iznesu pred Komitet, obaveštenjem koje se daje Komitetu i drugoj državi;

(4) (c) Komitet će se baviti pitanjem samo kad utvrdi da su iscrpljeni svi raspoloživi domaći pravni lekovi. Ovo pravilo se neće primenjivati ukoliko korišćenje pravnih lekova neopravdano dugo traje;

(5) (d) Shodno odredbama tačke (c) ovog stava, Komitet stavlja na raspolaganje svoje usluge državama ugovornicama u cilju prijateljskog rešenja problema na osnovu poštovanja obaveza utvrđenih u Paktu;

(6) (e) Komitet će držati zatvorene sednice kada bude razmatrao predstavke na osnovu ovog člana;

(7) (f) Za svako pitanje koje mu je upućeno u skladu sa tačkom (b) ovog stava, Komitet može pozvati zainteresovane države ugovornice pomenute u tački (b) da mu dostave sve relevantne informacije;

(8) (g) Zainteresovane države ugovornice iz tačke (b) ovog stava imaju pravo da budu zastupane kada se sporno pitanje bude razmatralo pred Komitetom i da iznesu argumente usmeno i/ili pismeno;

(9) (h) Komitet će posle datuma prijema obaveštenja iz tačke (b) ovog stava, uz svu dužnu svrsishodnost, dostaviti izveštaj, kao što sledi:

(10) (i) ukoliko je postignuto rešenje u skladu sa tačkom (d) ovog stava, Komitet će svoj izveštaj ograničiti na kratku izjavu o činjenicama i postignutom rešenju;

(11) (ii) ukoliko rešenje na osnovu tačke (d) nije postignuto, Komitet će u svom izveštaju, navesti relevantne činjenice u vezi sa spornim pitanjem između zainteresovanih država ugovornica. Pisana izjašnjenja i zapisi usmenih izjašnjenja država ugovornica prilažu se uz izveštaj. Komitet, takođe, može samo zainteresovanim državama ugovornicama uputiti bilo koje mišljenje koje smatra relevantnim za njihovo sporno pitanje.

(12) Za svako pitanje, izveštaj se dostavlja zainteresovanim državama ugovornicama.

(13) 2. Izjava država ugovornica iz stava 1. ovog člana biće deponovana kod Generalnog sekretara Ujedinjenih nacija, koji dostavlja kopije ostalim državama ugovornicama. Izjava može biti povučena u bilo kom trenutku putem saopštenja Generalnom sekretaru. Takvo povlačenje neće prejudicirati razmatranje bilo kog pitanja koje je već upućeno na osnovu ovog člana; buduće predstavke od strane bilo koje države podnete nakon obaveštenja o povlačenju izjave upućenog Generalnom sekretaru ugovornice neće biti primljene na osnovu ovog člana, osim ukoliko država ugovornica ne učini novu izjavu.

Član 11 Postupak istrage

(1) 1. Država potpisnica ovog protokola može u svakom trenutku izjaviti da priznaje nadležnost Komiteta predviđenu ovim članom.

(2) 2. Ukoliko Komitet primi pouzdane informacije koje ukazuju na gruba ili sistematska kršenja od strane države ugovornice bilo kog ekonomskog, socijalnog i kulturnog prava ustanovljenih Paktom, Komitet će pozvati tu državu ugovornicu da sarađuje u ispitivanju informacija i da u tom cilju podnese primedbe u vezi sa informacijom.

(3) 3. Uzimajući u obzir sve primedbe podnete od strane države utovornice, kao i bilo koju drugu pouzdanu informaciju koja mu je dostupna, Komitet može odrediti jednog ili više svojih članova da sprovedu istragu i da hitno podnesu izveštaj Komitetu. Gde je to opravdano i uz saglasnost države ugovornice, istraga može uključiti i posetu njenoj teritoriji.

(4) 4. Takva istraga mora se obavljati poverljivo, a saradnja država ugovornice će se tražiti u svim fazama postupka.

(5) 5. Nakon razmatranja nalaza takve istrage, Komitet će proslediti te nalaze zainteresovanoj državi ugovornici, zajedno sa komentarima i preporukama.

(6) 6. Država ugovornica u pitanju, u roku od šest meseci od prijema nalaza, komentara i preporuka prosleđenih od strane Komiteta, podnosi svoje primedbe Komitetu.

(7) 7. Nakon što se procedura u vezi sa istragom na osnovu stava 2. ovog člana završi, Komitet može, nakon konsultacija sa državom ugovornicom, odlučiti da uključi rezime ishoda postupka u svoj godišnji izveštaj predviđen u članu 15. ovog protokola.

(8) 8. Svaka država ugovornica koja je dala izjavu u skladu sa stavom 1. ovog člana, može u svakom trenutku povući takvu izjavu obaveštenjem Generalnom sekretaru.

Član 12 Procedura nakon okončanja postupka istrage

(1) 1. Komitet može da pozove državu ugovornicu u pitanju da uključi u svoj izveštaj iz čl. 16. i 17. Pakta detalje o svim merama preduzetim kao odgovor na istragu sprovedenu po osnovu člana 11. ovog protokola.

(2) 2. Komitet može, ako bude potrebno, po isteku perioda od šest meseci pomenutog u članu 11. stav 6. pozvati državu ugovornicu da ga obavesti o merama preduzetim kao odgovor na takvu istragu.

Član 13 Zaštitne mere

Država potpisnica će preduzeti sve odgovarajuće mere kako bi se obezbedilo da pojedinci pod njenom jurisdikcijom ne budu podvrgnuti nikakvom obliku zlostavljanja ili zastrašivanja usled komunikacije sa Komitetom na osnovu ovog protokola.

Član 14 Međunarodna pomoć i saradnja

(1) 1. Komitet će proslediti, ukoliko smatra potrebnim, i uz saglasnost države ugovornice u pitanju, specijalizovanim agencijama, fondovima i programima Ujedinjenih nacija i drugim nadležnim organima, njegovo mišljenje ili preporuke koje se tiču predstavki i istraga koje ukazuju na potrebu za stručnim savetima ili pomoći, zajedno sa zapažanjima i sugestijama države ugovornice na ta mišljenja i preporuke, ukoliko ih ima.

(2) 2. Komitet, takođe, uz saglasnost države ugovornice u pitanju, može skrenuti pažnju takvim telima na svako pitanje proizašlo iz predstavki razmatranih u okviru ovog protokola koje svakom od njih u okviru svoje nadležnosti može pomoći u odlučivanju o celishodnosti međunarodnih mera koje mogu da doprinesu pomoći državama ugovornicama u postizanju napretka u primeni prava priznatih Paktom.

(3) 3. Osnovaće se fond u skladu sa relevantnim procedurama Generalne skupštine, koji će se voditi u skladu sa finansijskim propisima i pravilima Ujedinjenih nacija, u cilju pružanja stručne i tehničke pomoći državama ugovornicama, uz saglasnost zainteresovanih država ugovornica, za poboljšanu primenu prava sadržanih u Paktu, doprinoseći izgradnji nacionalnih kapaciteta u oblasti ekonomskih, socijalnih i kulturnih prava u kontekstu ovog protokola.

(4) 4. Odredbe ovog člana ne utiču na obaveze svake države potpisnice da ispuni svoje obaveze prema Paktu.

Član 15 Godišnji izveštaj

Komitet će uključiti u svoj godišnji izveštaj kratak pregled svojih aktivnosti u okviru ovog protokola.

Član 16 Širenje informacije

Svaka država potpisnica se obavezuje da učini da Pakt i Protokol budu široko poznati i širi informacije o njima i da olakša pristup informacijama o mišljenjima i preporukama Komiteta, a posebno o pitanjima koje se tiču te države ugovornice, kao i da to uradi u pristupačnim formatima za osobe sa invaliditetom.

Član 17 Potpis, ratifikacija i pristupanje

(1) 1. Ovaj protokol je otvoren za potpisivanje svakoj državi koja je potpisala, ratifikovala ili pristupila Paktu.

(2) 2. Ovaj protokol može biti ratifikovan od strane svake države koja je ratifikovala ili pristupila Paktu. Instrumenti ratifikacije biće deponovani kod Generalnog sekretara Ujedinjenih nacija.

(3) 3. Ovaj protokol će biti otvoren za pristupanje svakoj državi koja je ratifikovala ili pristupila Paktu.

(4) 4. Pristupanje će se izvršiti deponovanjem instrumenta o pristupanju kod Generalnog sekretara Ujedinjenih nacija.

Član 18 Stupanje na snagu

(1) 1. Ovaj protokol stupa na snagu tri meseca nakon datuma deponovanja kod Generalnog sekretara Ujedinjenih nacija desetog instrumenta o ratifikaciji ili pristupanju.

(2) 2. Za svaku državu koja ratifikuje ili pristupi ovom protokolu, posle deponovanja desetog instrumenta o ratifikaciji ili pristupanju Protokol će stupiti na snagu tri meseca nakon datuma deponovanja njenog instrumenta ratifikacije ili pristupanja.

Član 19 Amandmani

(1) 1. Svaka država ugovornica može predložiti amandman na ovaj protokol i dostaviti ga Generalnom sekretaru Ujedinjenih nacija. Generalni sekretar će proslediti sve predložene amandmane državama ugovornicama, sa zahtevom da ga obaveste da li su za održavanje sastanaka država ugovornica radi razmatranja i odlučivanja o predlozima. U slučaju da u roku od četiri meseca od datuma takvog obaveštenja, najmanje jedna trećina država potpisnica traži takav sastanak, Generalni sekretar će sazvati sastanak pod pokroviteljstvom Ujedinjenih nacija. Svaki amandman usvojen većinom od dve trećine prisutnih država ugovornica koje su glasale biće od strane Generalnog sekretara podnet Generalnoj skupštini na usvajanje i potom svim državama ugovornicama na prihvatanje.

(2) 2. Amandman usvojen i odobren u skladu sa stavom 1. ovog člana stupa na snagu tridesetog dana nakon što broj deponovanih instrumenata o prihvatanju dostigne dve trećine od broja država ugovornica na dan usvajanja amandmana. Nakon toga, amandman stupa na snagu za svaku državu članicu tridesetog dana posle deponovanja njenog instrumenta o prihvatanju. Amandman će biti obavezujući samo za one države potpisnice koje su ga prihvatile.

Član 20 Otkazivanje

(1) 1. Svaka država potpisnica može da otkaže ovaj protokol u bilo kom trenutku pismenim obaveštenjem upućenim Generalnom sekretaru Ujedinjenih nacija. Otkazivanje stupa na snagu šest meseci nakon datuma prijema obaveštenja od strane Generalnog sekretara.

(2) 2. Otkazivanje će biti bez uticaja na dalju primenu odredbi ovog protokola na bilo koju predstavku podnetu u skladu sa čl. 2. i 10. ili na bilo koji postupak pokrenut na osnovu člana 11. pre stupanja na snagu otkazivanja.

Član 21 Obaveštenje od strane Generalnog sekretara

(1) Generalni sekretar će obavestiti sve države iz člana 26. stav 1. Pakta o sledećim detaljima:

(2) (a) potpisima, ratifikacijama i pristupanjima ovom protokolu;

(3) (b) datumu stupanja na snagu ovog protokola i bilo kom amandmanu na osnovu člana 19.;

(4) (c) svakom otkazivanju na osnovu člana 20.

Član 22 Zvanični jezici

(1) 1. Ovaj protokol, čiji su arapski, kineski, engleski, francuski, ruski i španski tekstovi podjednako verodostojni, biće deponovan u arhivi Ujedinjenih nacija.

(2) 2. Generalni sekretar Ujedinjenih nacija dostaviće overene kopije ovog protokola svim državama iz člana 26. Pakta.