A/HRC/WG.7/2/2 Article 21 Denunciation 43. Paragraph 1 is a standard provision used in the Optional Protocol providing communications procedures to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The period after which denunciation takes effect varies (three for the Optional Protocol providing communications procedures to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; six months for the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; one year for the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities). Article 21 follows the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 44. Paragraph 2 allows continued application of the provisions of the Protocol to any communications submitted to the Committee and any inquiry initiated by the Committee, prior to the date of denunciation. Article 22 Notification by the Secretary-General 45. This is a standard provision used in article 13 of the Optional Protocol providing communications procedures to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, article 20 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, article 21 of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and article 9 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Article 21 follows the wording of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (the Optional Protocol providing communications procedures to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights refer to provisions in the respective Covenants defining which States can sign and ratify; article 46 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child states, “The present Convention shall be open for signature by all States”, as does article 25 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. So “all States” is used in article 21). Article 23 Languages 46. This is a standard provision used in article 14 of the Optional Protocol providing communications procedures to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, article 21 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and article 22 of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Article 18 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides a shorter version: “The Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts of the present Protocol shall be equally authentic.” “All States” is used in paragraph 2, as explained under article 21 above. GE.10-15781 21