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.
The Covenant has two Optional Protocols. The first establishes the proce- dure for dealing with communications (or complaints) from individuals claim- ing to be victims of violations of any of the rights set out in the Covenant. The second envisages the abolition of  the death penalty.
Unlike the Universal Declaration and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights authorizes a State to derogate from, or in other words restrict, the enjoyment of certain rights in times of an official public emergency which threatens the life of a nation. Such limitations are permitted only to the extent strictly required under the circum- stances and must be reported to the United Nations. Even so, some provi- sions such as the right to life and freedom from torture and slavery may never be suspended.
The Covenant provides for the establishment of a Human Rights Committee to monitor implementation of the Covenant’s provisions by States parties. As at March 2000, 144 States were parties to the Covenant, 95 States were parties to the Optional Protocol and 39 States were parties to the Second Optional Protocol.