The Optional Protocol sets a time limit for submitting complaints to the Committee. The complaint must be submitted within one year after the exhaustion of domestic remedies, except in cases where the author can prove that it was impossible to do so.
At any time after receiving a complaint and before making a decision on the merits of the case, the Committee may take note of relevant materials from other United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, funds, programmes and mechanisms and other international organizations, including regional human rights protection systems, that may facilitate the consideration of the case, provided that the Committee provides the State party withthe participant and the applicant have the opportunity to submit comments on such materials.
When considering complaints, the Committee considers the appropriateness of the measures taken by the State party in connection with the implementation of the rights set forth in the Covenant. In doing so, the Committee takes into account that the State party is entitled to take a number of possible policy measures to achieve this goal.
The Committee may request the State party to include information on any measures taken in response to its views, recommendations or friendly settlement agreements in its periodic reports on the general implementation of the Covenant.
Reports are submitted in accordance with articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant.