Canada acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its first Optional Protocol in May 1976 and to its second Optional Protocol in November 2005.
Adoption: The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its first Optional Protocol were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 1966 and were opened for signature on 19 December 1966. Its second Optional Protocol was adopted by the General Assembly and opened for signature on 15 December 1989.
Entry into force: Convention – 23 March 1976 for all provisions except those of Article 41; 28 March 1979 for the provisions of Article 41. First Optional Protocol – 23 March 1976. Second Optional Protocol – 11 July 1991.
Number of signatories and ratifications/accessions: There are 168 state parties to the Convention. Seven additional states have signed but not ratified the Convention. There are 115 state parties to the first Optional Protocol. An additional 4 states have signed but not ratified the first Optional Protocol. 81 state parties have ratified or acceded to the second Optional Protocol. An additional 3 state parties have signed but not ratified the second Optional Protocol.
Go to: