The Combined Initial and First Periodic Report of the State of Israel Concerning the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

The Full Text of Israel's Report to the HRC

Introduction

On July 15-16 1998, Israel presented its Combined Initial and First Periodic Report Concerning the Implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (hereinafter: "ICCPR"), submitted in 1998 to the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

This detailed Report is the outcome of a challenging comprehensive and careful task, which Israel, as Party to the Covenant since 1991, has undertaken to fulfill. It brings an up-to-date discussion of the legal status in Israel and practical implementations of the civil and political rights mentioned in the Covenant, which constitute an integral part of the country's democratic regime. The report indicates the measures and policies adopted by the various Government authorities in order to give effect to the rights recognized in the Covenant. Notwithstanding the progress accomplished in the various areas referred to, the Report at the same time depicts the difficulties Israel faces and its attempts to overcome them.

The Report encompasses a wide range of fields, such as the general political structure of the State of Israel, its economic and cultural development, the implementation of the right to self-determination, the synthesis between religion and democracy in Israel, freedom of religion and conscience, the protection and enforcement of fundamental human rights such as the right to life, equality before the law, the right to human dignity and liberty, freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, freedom of movement, the right to fair trial, the right to privacy, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of assembly and association, prohibition of propaganda relating to racial, national or religious hatred, rights of minorities, the protection of children and the protection of the family, etc.