A/HRC/8/7* page 16 Article 18 127. New Zealand suggested amendments to simplify the language, merging the first and second paragraphs. Other delegates cautioned against changing the text of such a standard provision. Egypt (on behalf of the African Group) supported allowing States who had signed the Covenant only to ratify the optional protocol. The United States recommended replacing the words “shall be” with “is” as in article 8 of the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 19 128. Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Egypt, Norway, the Russian Federation and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) preferred the reference to “the tenth instrument” of ratification for the protocol to enter in to force. Australia and the Netherlands preferred referring to “the twentieth instrument”. Article 20 129. This article has become article 11 bis. Article 21 130. Argentina, Chile, Denmark, Mexico and Uruguay preferred keeping the article as drafted. Guatemala and the Netherlands proposed using the language of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, article 14. Some delegates highlighted that other instruments of a similar nature also prohibited reservations. 131. Several delegations noted that the article was superfluous, as the matter was covered by the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, and asked for its deletion. Bangladesh and Egypt (on behalf of the African Group) noted that reservations could be permitted only if consistent with the nature and scope of the protocol. 132. Some delegates noted that a decision on this article should be deferred until an agreement had been reached on article 2. Article 22 133. Canada preferred amending the text to reflect article 11 of the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 23 134. No objections were made to deleting this article. Article 24 135. Canada preferred keeping a period of three months for denunciation, in line with the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Netherlands noted that other similar instruments referred to periods of six months and one year. Chile,