CCPR/C/GC/36
United Nations
International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights
Distr.: General
3 September 2019
Original: English
Human Rights Committee
General comment No. 36
Article 6: right to life*, **
I.
General remarks
1.
This general comment replaces general comments No. 6, adopted by the Committee
at its sixteenth session (1982), and No. 14, adopted by the Committee at its twenty-third
session (1984).
2.
Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recognizes and
protects the right to life of all human beings. The right to life is the supreme right from which
no derogation is permitted, even in situations of armed conflict and other public emergencies
that threaten the life of the nation. 1 The right to life has crucial importance both for
individuals and for society as a whole. It is most precious for its own sake as a right that
inheres in every human being, but it also constitutes a fundamental right, 2 the effective
protection of which is the prerequisite for the enjoyment of all other human rights and the
content of which can be informed by other human rights.
3.
The right to life is a right that should not be interpreted narrowly. It concerns the
entitlement of individuals to be free from acts and omissions that are intended or may be
expected to cause their unnatural or premature death, as well as to enjoy a life with dignity.
Article 6 of the Covenant guarantees this right for all human beings, without distinction of
any kind, including for persons suspected or convicted of even the most serious crimes.
4.
Paragraph 1 of article 6 of the Covenant provides that no one shall be arbitrarily
deprived of life and that this right shall be protected by law. It lays the foundation for the
obligation of States parties to respect and ensure the right to life, to give effect to it through
legislative and other measures, and to provide effective remedies and reparation to all victims
of violations of the right to life.
5.
Paragraphs 2, 4, 5 and 6 of article 6 of the Covenant set out specific safeguards to
ensure that in States parties that have not yet abolished the death penalty, death sentences are
not applied except for the most serious crimes, and then only in the most exceptional cases
and under the strictest limits (see part IV below). The prohibition on arbitrary deprivation of
life contained in article 6 (1) further limits the ability of States parties to apply the death
penalty. The provisions in paragraph 3 regulate specifically the relationship between article
6 of the Covenant and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide.
* Adopted by the Committee at its 124th session (8 October–2 November 2018).
** The endnotes are reproduced in the language of submission only.
GE.19-15012(E)
*1915012*