(the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Politi- cal Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Dis- crimination and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel or Inhuman Treatment or Punishment).
• State-to-State complaints: The same three treaties, in addition to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as listed above, also make provision for States parties to lodge complaints relating to alleged human rights abuses against another State party. This procedure has never been resorted to.
By virtue of their responsibilities, treaty bodies serve as the most authoritative source of interpretation of the human rights treaties that they monitor. Inter- pretation of specific treaty provisions can be found in their “views” on com- plaints and in the “concluding observations“ or “concluding comments” which they adopt on State reports. In addition, treaty bodies share their understanding on and experience of various aspects of treaty implementation through the formulation and adoption of “general comments” or “general recommendations”. At present, there is a large body of general comments and recommendations serving as another valuable resource with regard to treaty interpretation.
Complaints of human rights violations are technically referred to as “commu- nications”.