TREATY BODIES IN THE SPHERE OF HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION

The article is devoted to the activities of one of outstanding universal international mechanisms for the protection of human rights and freedoms - functioning of 'treaty' bodies. As both the structure and the main powers have similar character, the work of these bodies is estimated in general. At present the human rights functions are fulfilled already by ten treaty bodies (Committees) founded on the basis of a number of international human rights treaties. The article analyzes three main functions of the Committees paying the greatest attention to a function of consideration of individual communications on alleged violations of the rights of the individual from the State. Relating to this power the conditions of acceptability of individual communications, proceedings of appeal and consideration of complaints with references to the concrete considered cases are considered. In the conclusion, the author estimates the operational efficiency of treaty bodies for the protection of human rights and notes that it is higher in practice than from the scientists-theorists' points of view, and also mentions the ways which could raise their operational efficiency.