’WPCo! š«kJSxוd}ŲZ&vŖžšŃ#¼—J‹žÕšž«ƒ~Š•m}ōć¢¤ņ Į\Åķ=Ö°“ÕÅ=+„ü„ŗDvń€žEÅ8øčŲm™hģTUź 9 —ōĪŃߑHLŪ’č;U,jE•õ‰š›į£ ³÷Å!ć‚Yb£ŲMŠ5Ēas2źL(ßź‰&J{óÕiPQY]{ļ"(]:¹£[b¾¹k ­øé‘GŌ§€Ę®HrhČE4ūéĄ]¾6CŠx8-I!ę“bUTS(×pEsĖ£ Ü:ØĪ\Kf/– ym žCXWé*¦ ·œČV54 KŅĖ¾“8€Õa¦ęh’¤ą{” IS:9 ±]ĢZPGr»J%ü;%ø?Æ;oƒ/nóōIAV¹J#q¹Č F)Ā|śØŹUŹ¤ĘKzŻū92ŅOūuÓ8ÜUFJ“Ę"%…k×vłj-Y;t›¬X{(?‘‰’ēJI Ś`˜ÓŠ–ßĖ«Œ«±’ķ¬}iWéźN$j_ĆØHõxzq½šx4Ī¦t‹Š#€Ę|Į,ŹPõĻ%eEœ¼1„<;ģēøĢH߄ß­RƒŲ•»ü»ŪRŌ%•į®Ņ‹[”’#ÉüUNÅ % 0:U6S 1‡‰fa^ &w2Ę6 0Vü 0KR D+ AČ4eyˆ mŠf”a£ 1u· 0c, 1‡ 72 NH fJ aL L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L B` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` 0N} } 0¤Ė ˜\\green\csb3031ŲČČŲŲČŲČ0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ö\$””ŌCEUS.,Ō<4šŪ 9Z+‹Courier New(5hCEKQW]cioAutoList1I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.|QTABLE AÄ$4.— Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(.3½g$££Ż ƒö\!ŻŌCEUS.,ŌŻ  Ż( ±ž$’’ņ ņFigure€Ś  Ś1Ś  Śó ó'ČČČČdxd  I&mage <=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’ HKKKKB¹2.ź:i¢Ų+003|x#’U‹’ĄĄĄTABLE B3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)(;3£$““Ō2#ŌŚ  Ś0Ś  Ś.Ō3  Ōą0  ą(EhCEKQW]cioAutoList2IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIi)TABLE C d(ĶO$——Ō’ŌņņóóŌ’Ō(>>e,$ĢĢŌ€Xk=XXXŌŌ€ōĢņXXk=ŌŌ€Xk=XXXŌŌ€ōĢņXXk=ŌŻ ƒö\!ŻŌCEUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌE/CN.4/1997/74Š ° Š27€March€1997Š œģ ŠŠ ŠŠ Šņ ņCOMMISSION€ON€HUMAN€RIGHTSŠ `° ŠFifty-third€session€Š L œ Šó óŠ ŠŠ Š¹Ó  Óņ ņEFFECTIVE€FUNCTIONING€OF€BODIES€ESTABLISHED€PURSUANT€TO€Š ü L  ŠUNITED€NATIONS€HUMAN€RIGHTS€INSTRUMENTSó óŠ č 8  Šņ ņŠ ŠņņFinal€report€on€enhancing€the€long-term€effectiveness€of€theŠ Ą  ŠUnited€Nations€human€rights€treaty€systemóóó óŠ ¬ü  Šņ ņĢņņNote€by€the€Secretary-Generalóóó óŠ „Ō  ŠĢĢÓ  ÓThe€Secretary-General€has€the€honour€to€transmit€to€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€the€finalŠ H˜ Šreport€on€enhancing€the€long-term€effectiveness€of€the€United€Nations€human€rights€treatyŠ 4„ Šsystem,€prepared€by€an€independent€expert,€Mr.€Philip€Alston.Š  p ŠŠ Šą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ą¹Ō*’ƒ°ddd Xdd Xdd X°(#°(#’ŌŌ_ŌŌ,‘ņ ŌŌ,Ā„d ŌŌ,Xdd ŌŌ,dd ŌŌ,Ædd ŌŌ+  ŌŠ ä4ä4 ……ŠÓ  ÓCONTENTS€BY€PARAGRAPHą @„ ąą @Ü ąą @4 ąņņóóŠ !H˜  !ŠŠ  Č ŠIŠ  Č ……ŠINTRODUCTION€Š ! Č „„!ŠŠ Č ŠŠ  H˜ ŠŠ  H˜ ŠA.Š  H˜ ŠBackgroundŠ  H˜  „„Š1€„€3Š H˜! ŠŠ  Č" ŠŠ  Č# ŠB.Š  Č$ ŠProgress€achieved€since€the€previous€reports€byŠ Č% Šthe€independent€expertŠ  “& „„ŠĢ4€„€6Š “( ŠŠ  4!„) ŠŠ  4!„* ŠC.Š  4!„+ ŠA€thumbnail€sketch€of€the€present€situation€Š  4!„, „„Š7€„€8Š 4!„- ŠŠ  “". ŠŠ  “"/ ŠD.Š  “"0 ŠThe€premises€upon€which€this€report€is€based€Š  “"1 „„Š9€„€13Š “"2 ŠŠ  4$„3 ŠIIŠ  4$„4 ……ŠMAJOR€CURRENT€POLICY€ISSUESŠ ! 4$„5 „„!ŠŠ 4$„6 ŠŠ  “%!7 ŠŠ  “%!8 ŠA.Š  “%!9 ŠTowards€universal€ratificationŠ  “%!: „„Š14€„€36Š “%!; ŠŠ  4'„"< ŠŠ  4'„"= ŠB.Š  4'„"> ŠResponding€to€the€problem€of€significantlyŠ 4'„"? Šoverdue€reportsŠ   (p#@ „„ŠĢ37€„€47Š  (p#B ŠŠ   )š$C ŠŠ   )š$D ŠC.Š   )š$E ŠThe€inadequacy€of€the€current€system€to€dealŠ  )š$F Šwith€the€timely€submission€of€reportsŠ  Œ*Ü%G „„ŠĢ48€„€52Š Œ*Ü%I ŠŠ   ,\'J ŠŠ   ,\'K ŠD.Š   ,\'L ŠProblems€in€relation€to€documentationŠ   ,\'M „„Š53€„€59Š  ,\'N ŠŠ  Œ-Ü(O ŠŠ  Œ-Ü(P ŠE.Š  Œ-Ü(Q ŠThe€development€and€use€of€electronic€databasesŠ  Œ-Ü(R „„Š60€„€66Š Œ-Ü(S ŠŠ  d ŠŠ  d ŠF.Š  d ŠPublic€informationŠ  d „„Š67€„€71Š d ŠŠ  ”ä ŠŠ  ”ä ŠG.Š  ”ä ŠAdvisory€servicesŠ  ”ä  „„Š72€„€77Š ”ä  ŠŠ  d  ŠŠ  d  ŠH.€Š  d  ŠSpecial€reportsŠ  d „„Š78€„€79Š d ŠŠ  ” ä ŠIIIŠ  ” ä ……ŠMEDIUM„TERM€AND€Ō_ŌLONG„TERMŌ_Ō€REFORMŠ ” ä ŠISSUESŠ  € Š ŠŠ  ” ä ŠŠ   P ŠŠ   P ŠA.Š   P Š€IntroductionŠ 5+  P  T@80‰T@‰5Š80Š 4*( P  T@80 T@ 4ŠŠ  € Š ŠŠ  € Š ŠB.Š  € Š ŠThe€nature€of€the€emerging€challengeŠ  € Š Š81€„€84Š  € Š ŠŠ  P  ŠŠ  P  ŠC.Š  P ! ŠA€review€of€optionsŠ  P " Š85€„€89Š  P # ŠŠ  €Š $ ŠŠ  €Š % ŠD.Š  €Š & ŠConsolidated€reportsŠ 5+ €Š '  €V@90‰€V@‰5Š90Š 4*(€Š (  €V@90 €V@ 4ŠŠ  P ) ŠŠ  P * ŠE.Š  P + ŠElimination€of€comprehensive€periodic€reportsŠ P , Šin€their€present€formŠ  ģ<- ŠĢ91€„€93Š  ģ</ ŠŠ  l¼0 ŠŠ  l¼1 ŠF.Š  l¼2 ŠTowards€a€consolidation€of€the€treaty€bodiesŠ 5+ l¼3  €W@94‰€W@‰5Š94Š 4*(l¼4  €W@94 €W@ 4ŠŠ  ģ<5 ŠŠ  ģ<6 ŠG.Š  ģ<7 ŠThe€desirability€of€additional€proactive€measuresŠ  ģ<8 Š95€„€97Š  ģ<9 ŠŠ  l¼: ŠŠ  l¼; ŠH.Š  l¼< ŠAmending€the€treatiesŠ  l¼= Š98€„€101Š  l¼> ŠŠ  ģ<? ŠIVŠ  ģ<@ ……ŠOTHER€ISSUESŠ  ģ<A ŠŠ  ģ<B ŠŠ  l¼C ŠŠ  l¼D ŠA.Š  l¼E ŠThe€unmentionable€language€questionŠ  l¼F Š102€„€106Š  l¼G ŠŠ  ģ<H ŠŠ  ģ<I ŠB.Š  ģ<J ŠCooperation€with€the€specialized€agencies€andŠ ģ<K Šother€bodiesŠ  Ų(L ŠĢ107€„€108Š  Ų(N ŠŠ  XØO ŠŠ  XØP ŠC.Š  XØQ ŠThe€quality€of€concluding€observationsŠ 6, XØR @[@109‰@[@‰6Š109Š 5+)XØS @[@109 @[@ 5ŠŠ  Ų(T ŠVŠ  Ų(U ……ŠPRINCIPAL€RECOMMENDATIONSŠ  Ų(V ˆˆŠ110€„€122ŠŲ(W  ŠĢĢĢĢņ ņŌ_ŌI.š  šš  šINTRODUCTIONŌ_Ōó óŠ ¤$ō[ ŠĢĢņ ņņņA.€Backgroundóóó óŠ h'ø"^ ŠĢ1.€€€€This€report€is€submitted€by€the€independent€expert,€Mr€Philip€Alston,€appointed€by€theŠ @)$` ŠSecretary-General€pursuant€to€General€Assembly€resolution€43/115€of€8€December€1988€andŠ ,*|%a ŠCommission€on€Human€Rights€resolution€1989/47€of€6€March€1989.€A€first€report€was€submittedŠ +h&b Što€the€General€Assembly€at€the€fortyšMšfourth€session€(A/44/668)€and€an€interim€report€wasŠ ,T'c Šsubmitted€to€the€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights€(A/Ō_ŌCONFŌ_Ō.157/PC/62/Add.11/Rev.1);€bothŠ š,@(d Šthe€Assembly€and€the€Commission€have€subsequently€requested€the€completion€of€the€report.Š Ü-,)e ŠŌ_ŌThe€aim€of€the€study€is€to€identify,€in€as€concise€a€way€as€possible,€some€of€the€key€measures€thatŠ ° Šmight€be€taken€to€improve€the€effective€functioning€of€the€United€Nations€human€rights€treatyŠ œģ Šsystem.€Š ˆŲ ŠŠ Š2.€€€€€€€The€report€builds€upon€the€two€previous€reports.€For€the€most€part,€neither€the€analysis€ofŠ `° Šnor€the€recommendations€in€those€reports€are€repeated€herein.€The€purpose€of€the€present€reportŠ L œ Šis€to€update€the€previous€analyses€in€light€of€recent€developments€and€to€present€specificŠ 8 ˆ Šrecommendations€in€relation€to€a€selected€range€of€issues€for€consideration€by€the€relevant€bodies.Š $ t ŠŠ Š3.€€€€€€The€independent€expert€is€currently€Chairperson€of€the€Committee€on€Economic,€SocialŠ ü L  Šand€Cultural€Rights,€and€served€as€ChairmanšMšRapporteur€of€the€meeting€organized€at€the€time€ofŠ č 8  Šthe€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights€which,€for€the€first€time€ever,€brought€together€theŠ Ō$  Špresidents,€chairpersons€or€their€representatives€of€the€African€Commission€of€Human€andŠ Ą  ŠPeoples'€Rights,€the€European€Court€of€Human€Rights€and€the€European€Commission€on€HumanŠ ¬ü  ŠRights,€the€Inter-American€Court€of€Human€Rights€and€the€Inter-American€Commission€onŠ ˜č  ŠHuman€Rights,€the€six€United€Nations€treaty€bodies€and€the€Committee€of€Experts€on€theŠ „Ō  ŠApplication€of€Conventions€and€Recommendations€of€the€International€Labour€Organization.€HeŠ pĄ Šhas€participated€in€five€of€the€seven€meetings€of€persons€chairing€the€United€Nations€humanŠ \¬ Šrights€treaty€bodies€that€have€been€held€to€date€(in€1988,€1990,€1992,€1994€and€1996).€He€alsoŠ H˜ Šserved€as€Chairman-Rapporteur€of€the€Task€Force€on€Computerization€established€by€theŠ 4„ ŠCommission€on€Human€Rights€in€1989.€Discussions€in€these€various€contexts€have€beenŠ  p Šinvaluable€as€a€source€of€information€in€the€preparation€of€the€present€report.Š  \ ŠĢĢņ ņņņB.€Progress€achieved€since€the€previous€reports€by€the€independent€expertóóó óŠ Š  ŠĢ4.€€€€€€€Many€of€the€recommendations€contained€in€the€earlier€reports€have€been€put€into€effect.Š Øų ŠFrom€the€1989€report,€they€include:€the€preparation€of€a€study€on€overlapping€provisions€of€theŠ ”ä Šdifferent€treaties€and€the€potential€for€the€use€of€cross-referencing€in€reporting;€the€amendment€ofŠ €Š Šthe€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€orŠ l¼ ŠPunishment€and€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination€toŠ X Ø Šprovide€for€regular€budget€funding€and€the€adoption€of€interim€measures€to€assure€the€necessaryŠ D!” Šfunding;€extension€of€the€meeting€time€available€to€several€of€the€treaty€bodies;€advanceŠ 0"€  Špreparation€by€most€committees€of€a€list€of€written€questions€to€facilitate€the€dialogue€with€theŠ #l! ŠState€party;€acceptance€of€all€sources€of€information€as€being€potentially€relevant;€the€adoption€ofŠ $X" Šsubstantive€and€Ō_ŌfocusedŌ_Ō€conclusive€observations;€and€the€regular€publication€of€an€inventory€ofŠ ō$D # Šall€international€human€rights€standard-setting€activities.€Š ą%0!$ ŠŠ Š5.€€€€€€€From€the€1993€report,€reference€can€be€made€to:€the€adoption€of€specific€target€dates€forŠ ø'#& Šthe€achievement€of€universal€ratification€of€at€least€some€of€the€treaties;€the€continuing€search€forŠ ¤(ō#' Šeffective€responses€to€the€nonšMšsubmission€of€reports,€including,€if€necessary,€consideration€ofŠ )ą$( Šthe€situation€in€the€absence€of€a€report;€a€diminution€in€the€number€of€requests€directed€to€StatesŠ |*Ģ%) Šfor€reports€outside€the€convention-based€reporting€system;€the€provision€of€minimal€officeŠ h+ø&* Šfacilities€for€one€or€two€members€of€the€treaty€bodies€in€Geneva;€the€move€towards€establishing€aŠ T,¤'+ Šdocumentation€facility€within€the€Centre;€greater€emphasis€upon€electronic€information€sources;Š @-(, Šand€other€more€minor€reforms.Š ° ŠŠ Š6.€€€€€€€By€the€same€token,€many€of€the€recommendations€have€remained€unaddressed.€Some€ofŠ ˆŲ Šthese€are€taken€up€again€in€the€present€report.Š tÄ ŠĢĢņ ņņņC.€A€thumbnail€sketch€of€the€present€situationóóó óŠ 8 ˆ ŠĢ7.€€€€€€Despite€the€progress€that€has€been€achieved€in€recent€years,€the€principal€characteristics€ofŠ  ` Šthe€situation€have€not€changed€fundamentally€since€the€independent€expert's€interim€report€inŠ ü L  Š1993.€The€following€elements€are€significant€in€this€regard:Š č 8  ŠŠ Š(a)€€€Since€1993€the€number€of€ratifications€has€grown€by€some€26€per€cent€with€the€most€notableŠ Ą  Šincreases€occurring€in€relation€to€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€and€the€ConventionŠ ¬ü  Šon€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€Women.€Nevertheless,€31€per€cent€ofŠ ˜č  ŠStates€are€not€parties€to€either€of€the€International€Covenants€and€almost€50€per€cent€of€StatesŠ „Ō  Šhave€not€become€parties€to€the€Convention€against€Torture;€Š pĄ ŠŠ Š(b)€€€€The€operation€of€the€International€Convention€on€the€Suppression€and€Punishment€of€theŠ H˜ ŠCrime€of€Apartheid€has€been€suspended.€This€is€a€blessing€for€the€system€as€a€whole€since€theŠ 4„ Šdelinquency€in€submitting€reports€under€that€Convention€was€so€great€that€one€very€experiencedŠ  p Šobserver€characterized€the€situation€as€a€"fiasco";€Š  \ ŠŠ ŠŌ_Ō(cŌ_Ō)€€€€No€new€treaty€bodies€have€been€created€and€no€new€treaties€providing€for€the€establishmentŠ ä4 Šof€monitoring€bodies€have€entered€into€force.€The€approved€meeting€time€of€three€of€theŠ Š  Šcommittees€has,€however,€increased€notably;Š ¼  ŠŠ Š(d)€€€The€number€of€overdue€reports€has€increased€by€34€per€cent€and€the€delays€experienced€byŠ ”ä ŠStates€parties€between€the€submission€and€examination€of€their€reports€have€increased€to€theŠ €Š Špoint€where€some€States€will€wait€almost€three€years€before€their€reports€are€examined;Š l¼ ŠŠ Š(e)€€€€The€number€of€communications€being€processed€under€the€various€complaints€proceduresŠ D!” Šhas€greatly€increased€and€existing€backlogs€are€unacceptably€high.€At€the€same€time,€there€is€aŠ 0"€  Šclear€need€to€create€additional€complaints€systems€in€order€to€ensure€that€due€attention€is€paid€toŠ #l! Šeconomic,€social€and€cultural€rights€and€to€the€full€range€of€women's€rights.€Specific€proposals€inŠ $X" Šrelation€to€both€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€againstŠ ō$D # ŠWomen€and€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€are€currentlyŠ ą%0!$ Šunder€consideration;€Š Ģ&"% ŠŠ Š(f)€€€€The€resources€available€to€service€this€sizeable€expansion€in€the€system€have€actuallyŠ ¤(ō#' Šcontracted€rather€than€expanded€and€there€have€been€consistent€calls,€escalating€in€volume€andŠ )ą$( Šintensity,€by€the€various€committees,€and€especially€by€the€meetings€of€chairpersons,€forŠ |*Ģ%) Šincreased€resources€and€improved€servicing€to€be€made€available;Š h+ø&* ŠŠ Š(g)€€At€the€same€time,€conference€servicing€officials€in€Geneva€have€proposed€that€a€limit€of€anŠ @-(, Šaverage€of€50€pages€per€State€party€report€be€imposed.€The€production€of€summary€records€isŠ ° Šnow€confined€to€two€languages€(English€and€French)€and€the€translation€into€the€second€languageŠ œģ Š(whichever€one€it€might€be)€is€generally€significantly€delayed.Š ˆŲ ŠŠ Š8.€€€€€The€extent€of€the€shortcomings€€inherent€in€€the€treaty€monitoring€€system€has€led€someŠ `° Šobservers€to€propose€radical€solutions.€Thus,€for€example,€in€1994€one€commentator€proposed,Š L œ Šinter€alia,€that€States€which€do€not€satisfy€a€set€of€minimum€requirements€drawn€from€theŠ 8 ˆ Šrelevant€treaties€should€be€expelled€from€the€treaty€regime;€the€system€of€State€reporting€shouldŠ $ t Šbe€discontinued;€the€treaty€bodies€should€undertake€on-site€fact-finding€in€every€State€party;€andŠ  ` Šacceptance€of€a€right€to€petition€under€all€six€treaties€should€be€made€mandatory.€Writing€inŠ ü L  ŠAugust€1996,€in€a€report€for€the€International€Law€Association,€the€same€commentatorŠ č 8  Šconsidered€there€to€be€an€"implementation€crisis€...€of€dangerous€proportions".€In€her€view,€"theŠ Ō$  Štreaty€regime€has€been€depreciated€by€chronic€levels€of€non-compliance,€both€with€theŠ Ą  Šsubstantive€terms€of€the€treaties,€and€with€existing€enforcement€mechanisms".€Other€observersŠ ¬ü  Šhave€been€much€more€optimistic€about€the€potential€of€the€supervisory€system€to€achieve€itsŠ ˜č  Šobjectives.€Š „Ō  ŠĢĢņ ņņņD.€The€premises€upon€which€this€report€is€basedóóó óŠ H˜ ŠĢ9.€€€€€€€The€present€report€is€based€upon€several€premises.€The€first€is€that€the€basic€assumptions€ofŠ  p Šthe€treaty€supervisory€system€are€sound€and€remain€entirely€valid.€In€other€words,€the€principle€ofŠ  \ Šholding€States€accountable€for€non-compliance€with€their€treaty€obligations€by€means€of€anŠ ųH Šobjective€and€constructive€dialogue,€on€the€basis€of€comprehensive€information€and€inputs€fromŠ ä4 Šall€interested€parties,€has€been€vindicated€in€practice€and€has€the€potential€to€be€an€important€andŠ Š  Šeffective€means€by€which€to€promote€respect€for€human€rights.€The€potential€contribution€that€itŠ ¼  Šcan€make€has€not€in€any€way€been€superseded€by€other€approaches€or€mechanisms€that€have€beenŠ Øų Šcreated.€The€second€premŌ_ŌiseŌ_Ō€is€that€considerable€achievements€have€been€recorded€by€all€of€theŠ ”ä Štreaty€bodies€in€recent€years,€although€there€has€been€significant€unevenness€in€that€regard.€TheŠ €Š Šthird€is€that€progress,€both€in€improving€the€quality€and€effectiveness€of€monitoring€and€inŠ l¼ Šreforming€the€procedures€and€institutions,€is€inevitably€a€gradual€process€and€there€are€noŠ X Ø Š"miracle€cures"€to€be€found.€Š D!” ŠŠ Š10.€€€€€€€The€fourth€premise€is€that€the€present€system€is€unsustainable€and€that€significant€reformsŠ #l! Šwill€be€required€if€the€overall€regime€is€to€achieve€its€objectives.€This€is€a€function€of€severalŠ $X" Šdevelopments€including€the€immense€expansion€of€the€human€rights€treaty€system€in€a€period€ofŠ ō$D # Šless€than€two€decades,€the€expanding€reach€and€increasing€demands€of€regional€human€rightsŠ ą%0!$ Šsystems,€the€proliferation€of€reporting€obligations€in€other€contexts,€especially€in€theŠ Ģ&"% Šenvironmental€field,€and€the€increasing€pressures€upon€Governments€and€the€United€NationsŠ ø'#& Šsystem€to€reduce€their€budgetary€outlays€and€streamline€their€programmes.€The€treaty€bodiesŠ ¤(ō#' Šcannot,€and€nor€should€they€seek€to,€remain€immune€to€these€pressures.Š )ą$( ŠŠ Š11.€€€€Indeed,€predictions€as€to€likely€future€levels€of€resource€availability€are€critical€to€anyŠ h+ø&* Šassessment€of€what€needs€to€be€done€in€relation€to€the€treaty€system.€While€firm€predictions€areŠ T,¤'+ Šdifficult€at€best,€there€is€very€little€cause€to€think€that€there€will€be€a€dramatic€increase€in€existingŠ @-(, Šresource€levels€in€the€years€ahead.€In€part€this€is€a€reflection€of€global€budgetary€pressures€andŠ ° Štheir€impact€on€the€United€Nations€as€a€whole.€But,€more€significantly,€it€reflects€the€perhapsŠ œģ Šinevitable,€although€nonetheless€short-sighted€and€regrettable,€reluctance€of€Governments€toŠ ˆŲ Šprovide€adequate€resources€for€the€development€of€mechanisms€which€might€be€able€to€monitorŠ tÄ Štheir€human€rights€performance€more€effectively.Š `° ŠŠ Š12.€€€€€€€In€many€respects,€this€is€the€key€issue€both€for€those€who€are€persuaded€of€the€need€toŠ 8 ˆ Šreform€the€system€and€for€those€who€are€not.€In€considering€the€future€of€the€treaty€supervisoryŠ $ t Šsystem,€much€depends€upon€the€assumptions€that€are€made€as€to€the€future€availability€ofŠ  ` Šresources.€If€it€is€assumed€that,€over€time,€even€if€not€in€the€immediate€future,€considerably€moreŠ ü L  Šresources€will€be€made€available,€then€the€focus€should€be€upon€seeking€to€perfect,€or€at€leastŠ č 8  Šimprove,€the€system€in€the€form€in€which€it€is€currently€developing.€But€if€the€assumption€is€thatŠ Ō$  Šthe€existing€level€of€funding€is€unlikely€to€be€increased€in€the€years€ahead,€then€the€currentŠ Ą  Šsystem€is€simply€not€sustainable€and€we€will€witness€a€steady€diminution€in€the€support€availableŠ ¬ü  Što€each€treaty€body€and€in€the€ability€of€each€to€function€in€a€meaningful€way.Š ˜č  ŠŠ Š13.€€€€€€Before€examining€specific€reform€proposals,€it€is€appropriate€to€recall€the€cautionaryŠ pĄ Šcomment€made€earlier€by€the€independent€expert€in€his€interim€report€that€the€quest€for€reformŠ \¬ Š"must€not€be€embarked€upon€without€acknowledging€the€very€considerable€achievements€to€dateŠ H˜ Šand€the€importance€of€proceeding€with€sensitivity€and€sophistication€in€order€to€ensure€that€theŠ 4„ Šfundamental€integrity€of€the€system,€and€particularly€its€ability€to€safeguard€human€rights,€are€notŠ  p Šsacrificed€to€illusory€notions€of€streamlining€and€efficiency"€(A/Ō_ŌCONFŌ_Ō.157/PC/62/Add.11/Rev.1,Š  \ Špara.€12).Š ųH ŠĢĢņ ņII.€MAJOR€CURRENT€POLICY€ISSUESó óŠ ¼  ŠĢŠ Šņ ņņņA.€Towards€universal€ratificationóóó óŠ €Š ŠĢ14.€€€€€€€Universal€ratification€of€the€six€core€United€Nations€human€rights€treaties€would€establishŠ X Ø Šthe€best€possible€foundations€for€international€endeavours€to€promote€respect€for€human€rights.€InŠ D!” Šhis€interim€report€in€1993€the€independent€expert€recommended€that€the€year€2000€be€set€as€aŠ 0"€  Štarget€date€for€achieving€that€objective.€In€the€event,€the€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights,€inŠ #l! Šthe€Vienna€Declaration€and€Programme€of€Action,€endorsed€three€sets€of€measures€in€relation€to€ratification:Š $X" ŠŠ Š(a)€€it€set€the€following€goals:€the€year€1995€as€the€target€date€for€universal€ratification€of€theŠ ą%0!$ ŠConvention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€(Part€I,€para.€21),€the€year€2000€as€the€target€date€inŠ Ģ&"% Šrelation€to€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€WomenŠ ø'#& Š(Part€II,€para.€39)€and,€in€relation€to€the€others,€urged€"the€universal€ratification€of€human€rightsŠ ¤(ō#' Štreaties"€(Part€I,€para.€26);€Š )ą$( ŠĢ(b)€€it€"strongly€Ō_Ōrecommend[edŌ_Ō]€that€a€concerted€effort€be€made€to€encourage€and€facilitate€theŠ h+ø&* Šratification€of€and€accession€or€succession€to€international€human€rights€treaties€and€protocolsŠ T,¤'+ Šadopted€within€the€framework€of€the€United€Nations€system€with€the€aim€of€universalŠ @-(, Šacceptance.€The€Secretary-General,€in€consultation€with€treaty€bodies,€should€consider€opening€aŠ ° Šdialogue€with€States€not€having€acceded€to€these€human€rights€treaties,€in€order€to€identifyŠ œģ Šobstacles€and€to€seek€ways€of€overcoming€them"€(Part€II,€para.€4);Š ˆŲ ŠŠ ŠŌ_Ō(cŌ_Ō)€€it€also€recommended€that€when€the€five-year€review€of€the€implementation€of€the€ViennaŠ `° ŠDeclaration€and€Programme€of€Action€is€undertaken€in€1998€"[Ō_Ōs]pecialŌ_Ō€attention€should€be€paidŠ L œ Što€assessing€the€progress€towards€the€goal€of€universal€ratification€..."€(Part€II,€para.€100).Š 8 ˆ ŠŠ Š15.€€€€€€€Since€the€Vienna€Conference€there€has€been€a€very€significant€improvement€in€theŠ  ` Šratification€rate€of€the€principal€treaties.€On€1€January€1993€there€were€678€States€parties€to€theŠ ü L  Šsix€treaties.€By€30€June€1996€this€figure€had€risen€to€853,€an€increase€of€175€or€26€per€cent.€ThisŠ č 8  Šconstitutes€an€impressive€achievement€but€there€is€also€another€side€to€the€coin€which€isŠ Ō$  Šillustrated€by€the€fact€that€31€per€cent€of€States€(59€out€of€193)€have€not€become€a€party€to€eitherŠ Ą  Šof€the€two€International€Covenants€on€Human€Rights,€despite€their€centrality€to€the€overallŠ ¬ü  Šhuman€rights€regime.€Š ˜č  ŠŠ Š16.€€€€€Equally€surprising€is€the€fact€that€almost€50€€per€cent€of€States€(95€out€of€193)€have€notŠ pĄ Šbecome€parties€to€the€Convention€against€Torture.€When€it€is€recalled€that€the€Convention€on€theŠ \¬ ŠRights€of€the€Child€contains€a€comprehensive€prohibition€against€torture€in€the€case€of€all€personsŠ H˜ Šcovered€by€that€treaty€(in€essence,€all€persons€below€the€age€of€18),€it€is€not€clear€why€so€manyŠ 4„ ŠStates€can€accept€that€obligation€but€not€the€equivalent€obligation€in€the€Convention€againstŠ  p ŠTorture.€Similarly,€there€are€36€States€which€have€accepted€the€obligation€not€to€torture€under€theŠ  \ ŠInternational€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€but€have€not€yet€ratified€the€ConventionŠ ųH Šagainst€Torture.Š ä4 ŠŠ Š17.€€€€€€The€increase€in€the€total€number€of€ratifications€also€needs€to€be€viewed€in€the€light€ofŠ ¼  Šthree€important€factors€which€partly€account€for€the€success.€The€first€is€that€a€number€of€newŠ Øų ŠStates€succeeded€to€the€treaties€during€this€period,€thus€expanding€the€number€of€totalŠ ”ä Šratifications€but€not€thereby€reducing€the€number€of€States€which€had€not€become€parties€to€theŠ €Š Švarious€treaties€by€the€time€of€the€Vienna€Conference.€The€second€factor€is€the€impact€of€theŠ l¼ ŠFourth€World€Conference€on€Women,€both€before€and€after€the€event,€in€terms€of€encouragingŠ X Ø ŠStates€to€ratify€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€againstŠ D!” ŠWomen.€Ratifications€of€the€Convention€went€from€114€on€1€January€1993€to€153€on€30€JuneŠ 0"€  Š1996,€an€increase€of€39€States€parties,€or€34€per€cent.€The€Beijing€Platform€for€Action€called€forŠ #l! Šuniversal€ratification€of€the€Convention€by€the€year€2000.Š $X" ŠŠ Š18.€€€€€The€third€factor€is€the€extraordinary€success€of€efforts€to€promote€ratification€of€theŠ ą%0!$ ŠConvention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child.€As€a€result,€30€per€cent€of€the€overall€increase€inŠ Ģ&"% Šratifications€during€this€three€and€a€half€year€period€(53€ratifications)€was€attributable€exclusivelyŠ ø'#& Što€that€Convention,€the€number€of€States€parties€to€which€went€from€134€to€187.€Taken€togetherŠ ¤(ō#' Šthose€two€conventions€accounted€for€92€of€the€new€ratifications,€or€some€53€per€cent.Š )ą$( ŠŠ Š19.€€€€€€€€There€are€some€important€lessons€to€be€learned€from€the€successes€achieved€in€relation€toŠ h+ø&* Šthe€two€conventions€which€have€attracted€so€many€new€ratifications€in€recent€years.€The€firstŠ T,¤'+ Šconcerns€the€importance€of€political€will,€whether€expressed€through€the€holding€of€internationalŠ @-(, Šconferences€which€place€appropriate€emphasis€upon€the€convention€in€question€or€throughŠ ° Šconsistent€efforts€by€international€organizations.€In€contrast,€the€lead-up€to€internationalŠ œģ Šconferences€Ō_ŌfocusingŌ_Ō€on€social€development€(Copenhagen)€and€human€settlements€(Istanbul)€sawŠ ˆŲ Šno€attention€at€all€to€efforts€to€promote€ratification€of€the€relevant€human€rights€treaties.€TheŠ tÄ Šsecond€lesson€concerns€the€importance€of€mobilizing€domestic€constituencies€(in€this€case,Š `° Šwomen's€and€children's€nonšMšgovernmental€organizations)€in€support€of€the€goals€andŠ L œ Šmechanisms€reflected€in€the€treaty,€thus€making€it€easier€for€Governments€to€undertakeŠ 8 ˆ Šratification.€Š $ t ŠŠ Š20.€€€€The€third€lesson,€and€in€the€case€of€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€the€mostŠ ü L  Šimportant,€concerns€the€provision€of€assistance€and€advice€by€an€international€agency,€which€inŠ č 8  Šthis€instance€was€the€United€Nations€Children's€Fund.€Such€agencies€can,€whenever€requested,Š Ō$  Šassist€Governments€and€the€principal€social€partners€in€various€ways,€including:€by€explaining€theŠ Ą  Šsignificance€of€the€treaty€as€a€whole€and€of€its€specific€provisions;€by€promoting€an€awareness€ofŠ ¬ü  Šthe€treaty€which€facilitates€domestic€consultations€and€discussions;€by€shedding€light€upon€theŠ ˜č  Šrequirements€of€the€treaty€in€the€event€of€ratification;€by€providing€assistance€to€enable€anyŠ „Ō  Šnecessary€prešMšratification€measures€to€be€identified€and€implemented;€by€assisting€in€relation€toŠ pĄ Šthe€preparation€of€reports,€both€indirectly€through€the€agency's€own€situation€analyses,€andŠ \¬ Šdirectly€through€the€provision€of€expert€assistance€where€appropriate;€and€by€reassuringŠ H˜ Šdeveloping€countries€in€particular€that€ratification€should€bring€with€it€enhanced€access€to€at€leastŠ 4„ Šsome€of€the€expert€or€financial€resources€needed€to€implement€key€provisions€of€the€treaty.Š  p ŠŠ Š21.€€€€€€€In€this€respect€the€success€of€the€effort€to€promote€ratification€of€the€Convention€on€theŠ ųH ŠRights€of€the€Child€indicates€that€there€is€no€(or€at€least€no€longer)€deep-rooted€resistance€to€theŠ ä4 Šprinciple€of€participation€in€human€rights€supervisory€arrangements.€Given€the€relativeŠ Š  Šcomprehensiveness€of€the€Convention,€along€with€the€integral€links€between€respect€forŠ ¼  Šchildren's€rights€and€those€of€the€rest€of€the€community,€it€might€be€thought€that€the€reasonsŠ Øų Šwhich€had€previously€led€various€States€not€to€ratify€all€six€of€the€core€human€rights€treaties€areŠ ”ä Šno€longer€compelling€and€that€there€will€be€a€new€openness€to€increased€participation€in€theŠ €Š Šoverall€treaty€regime.€Indeed,€there€is€something€odd€about€a€situation€in€which€all€States€but€fourŠ l¼ Šhave€become€parties€to€such€a€far-reaching€Convention€while€almost€one€State€in€every€three€hasŠ X Ø Šnot€become€a€party€to€either€of€the€two€International€Covenants.Š D!” ŠŠ Š22.€€€€€€The€success€of€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child,€and€the€factors€that€contributedŠ #l! Što€that€success,€would€also€seem€to€vindicate€the€following€analysis€contained€in€the€independentŠ $X" Šexpert's€interim€report€to€the€Vienna€Conference:Š ō$D # ŠŠ Šą8  ą"Among€the€reasons€that€might€well€be€impeding€ratification€or€accession€in€someŠ Ģ&"% Šcountries€are€the€following:€a€lack€of€understanding€of€the€implications€of€theŠ ø'#& Šinstrument€on€the€part€of€mid-level€officials€who€would€need€to€prepare€theŠ ¤(ō#' Šground€before€the€Government€could€act;€a€lack€of€trained€personnel€who€couldŠ )ą$( Šexplain€the€implications€of€ratification€with€the€necessary€sophistication€and€detailŠ |*Ģ%) Što€the€relevant€government€minister;€the€existence€of€an€element€of€confusionŠ h+ø&* Šbetween€the€treaty€body€procedures€and€the€special€procedures€of€the€CommissionŠ T,¤'+ Šon€Human€Rights;€a€low€budget€priority€for€the€measures€needed€to€precede€orŠ @-(, Šaccompany€ratification€or€accession,€such€as€the€undertaking€of€a€survey€ofŠ ° Šexisting€law€and€practice,€the€drafting€of€necessary€legislation€or€regulations,€theŠ œģ Štraining€of€officials,€etc.;€the€lack€of€an€informed€domestic€constituency€whichŠ ˆŲ Šwould€support€government€proposals€to€ratify€or€accede€to€an€instrument;€and€aŠ tÄ Šfear€that€the€reporting€obligations€would€be€too€onerous€for€the€countryŠ `° Šconcerned"€(A/Ō_ŌCONFŌ_Ō.157/PC/62/Add.11/Rev.1.,€para.€84).ŠL œŠ Š  ŠĢ23.€€€€€€The€emphasis€upon€promoting€universal€ratification€is€an€essential€one€in€order€toŠ $ t Šstrengthen€and€consolidate€the€universalist€foundations€of€the€United€Nations€human€rightsŠ  ` Šregime.€Despite€the€fears€of€some€critics,€the€quest€for€universal€ratification€need€not€have€anyŠ ü L  Šnegative€consequences€for€the€treaty€regime€as€a€whole.€One€such€critic,€Professor€Ō_ŌBayefskyŌ_Ō,€hasŠ č 8  Šargued€that€the€"implementation€crisis"€which€she€perceives€to€exist€is€due€in€part€to€"a€deliberateŠ Ō$  Šemphasis€on€ratification"€which€for€many€States,€has€"become€an€end€in€itself,€a€means€to€easyŠ Ą  Šaccolades€for€empty€gestures".€In€her€view,€ratification€is€often€"purchased€at€a€price,€namely,Š ¬ü  Šdiminished€obligations,€lax€supervision,€and€few€adverse€consequences€from€nonšMšcompliance".Š ˜č  ŠBut€such€an€analysis€would€seem€to€confuse€two€processes€which€should€remain,€and€for€theŠ „Ō  Šmost€part€have€remained,€separate.€It€is€difficult€to€accept€the€proposition€that€the€treaty€bodiesŠ pĄ Šhave€been€lax€in€their€supervision€in€order€to€entice€more€States€to€accept€the€obligations€inŠ \¬ Šquestion.€Indeed,€the€experience€of€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€would€seem€clearlyŠ H˜ Šincompatible€with€such€an€analysis.€The€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€has,€to€date,€beenŠ 4„ Šone€of€the€most€demanding€and€conscientious€of€the€treaty€bodies,€but€this€has€in€no€wayŠ  p Šimpeded€the€dramatic€movement€towards€the€achievement€of€near-universal€ratification€of€theŠ  \ ŠConvention.€In€the€view€of€the€independent€expert€more,€rather€than€less,€should€be€done€toŠ ųH Šexplore€ways€in€which€to€overcome€the€legitimate,€as€opposed€to€the€inappropriate,€concerns€ofŠ ä4 Šcertain€identifiable€groups€of€countries€that€have€so€far€been€reluctant€to€ratify.Š Š  ŠŠ Š24.€€€€€€Perhaps€the€most€obvious€such€group€consists€of€those€States€with€a€population€of€1Š Øų Šmillion€or€less.€Twenty-nine€such€States€have€not€ratified€either€of€the€two€InternationalŠ ”ä ŠCovenants€on€Human€Rights.€As€of€1996,€21€of€those€were€estimated€to€have€a€Gross€NationalŠ €Š ŠProduct€per€capita€of€below€US$€5,000€per€annum,€and€with€11€of€them€being€below€the€$2,000Š l¼ Šper€annum€level.€In€relation€to€those€States€the€independent€expert€recalls€the€analysis€containedŠ X Ø Šin€his€interim€report:Š D!” ŠŠ Šą8  ą"Provided€that€the€usual€caveats€in€relation€to€such€generalizations€are€kept€inŠ #l! Šmind,€several€conclusions€might€reasonably€be€drawn€from€this€data.€Firstly,€atŠ $X" Šleast€some€of€these€small€States€are€probably€concerned€that€the€legal,Š ō$D # Šbureaucratic€and€administrative€requirements€involved€are€too€onerous€given€theŠ ą%0!$ Šsize€of€their€population.€Secondly,€the€reporting€requirements€might€well€act€as€aŠ Ģ&"% Šsignificant€deterrent€in€such€cases.€Thirdly,€the€...€States€with€very€low€populationsŠ ø'#& Šand€low€per€capita€GNP€might€be€strongly€influenced€by€the€resource€implicationsŠ ¤(ō#' Šof€ratification"€(A/Ō_ŌCONFŌ_Ō.157/PC/62/Add.11/Rev.1,€para.€87).Š)ą$(Š Š  ŠĢ25.€€€€€This€in€turn€raises€the€question€of€whether€the€international€community€should€beŠ h+ø&* Šproviding€resources€to€facilitate€the€ratification€of€treaties€by€such€States€and€to€assist€them€inŠ T,¤'+ Šmeeting€the€subsequent€reporting€burden,€at€least€initially.€Curiously,€it€has€yet€to€beŠ @-(, Šacknowledged€that€such€activities,€which€are€essential€to€laying€the€foundations€for€a€stable€andŠ ° Špeaceful€world€in€which€human€rights€are€respected,€should€be€funded€adequately€within€theŠ œģ ŠUnited€Nations€framework.€It€almost€seems€to€be€thought€that€efforts€to€promote€the€acceptanceŠ ˆŲ Šof€human€rights€norms€would€somehow€be€tainted€if€progress€were€purchased€at€a€price,€in€termsŠ tÄ Šof€the€necessary€technical€assistance.€In€contrast,€the€principle€was€recognized€long€ago€in€theŠ `° Šenvironmental€area€in€which€many€of€the€arrangements€made€in€relation€to€key€treaties€provideŠ L œ Šfor€financial€and€other€forms€of€assistance€to€help€States€to€undertake€the€necessary€monitoring,Š 8 ˆ Što€prepare€reports€and€to€implement€some€of€the€measures€required€in€order€to€ensure€complianceŠ $ t Šwith€treaty€obligations.€Š  ` ŠŠ Š26.€€€€€€Thus€the€principal€question€in€the€present€context€is€what€measures€might€be€taken€inŠ č 8  Šorder€to€facilitate€achievement€of€the€oft-confirmed€goal€of€universal€ratification€of€the€six€coreŠ Ō$  Štreaties?€Following€the€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights,€the€General€Assembly,€in€resolutionŠ Ą  Š48/121€of€20€December€1993,€endorsed€the€Vienna€Declaration€and€Programme€of€Action€(para.Š ¬ü  Š2)€and€requested€the€Secretary-General€to€implement€the€relevant€recommendations€(para.€9).€AtŠ ˜č  Šthat€time,€provision€was€made€to€undertake€a€study€on€the€encouragement€of€ratifications,€as€wellŠ „Ō  Šas€a€study€on€questions€relating€to€reservations,€and€for€two€regional€meetings€to€be€held€aroundŠ pĄ Šthese€issues.€In€the€intervening€three€years€neither€of€these€studies€has€been€commissioned€andŠ \¬ Šonly€one€of€the€regional€seminars€has€been€held.€It€took€place€in€Addis€Ababa€in€May€1996€andŠ H˜ ŠŌ_ŌfocusedŌ_Ō€on€the€African€region.€The€four-day€meeting€did€not€produce€any€official€report,€butŠ 4„ Šinformal€reports€indicate€that€the€significance€of€the€various€elements€identified€above€wasŠ  p Šstrongly€affirmed.Š  \ ŠŠ Š27.€€€€€€Before€examining€specific€measures€that€might€be€taken€to€promote€universal€ratificationŠ ä4 Šit€is€appropriate€to€consider€the€existing€and€potential€contribution€made€in€this€regard€by€bodiesŠ Š  Šother€than€the€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights.€One€of€the€major€consequences€of€theŠ ¼  Šending€of€the€Cold€War€has€been€the€greatly€increased€attention€given€to€the€human€rightsŠ Øų Šdimensions€of€their€activities€by€intergovernmental€bodies€which€are€not€per€se€part€of€the€humanŠ ”ä Šrights€framework€as€narrowly€defined.€This€is€specifically€reflected€in€the€coordination€mandateŠ €Š Šgiven€to€the€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€by€the€General€Assembly€in€resolutionŠ l¼ Š48/141.€Similarly,€agencies€such€as€the€United€Nations€Development€Programme€(Ō_ŌUNDPŌ_Ō)€andŠ X Ø Šthe€World€Bank€have€acknowledged€the€importance€of€respect€for€human€rights€(and€ofŠ D!” Šintimately€related€issues€such€as€democratization,€governance€and€the€rule€of€law)€in€the€broadŠ 0"€  Šcontext€of€their€own€programmes.€Curiously,€however,€those€agencies€have€never€viewed€theŠ #l! Šcommitment€to€promote€the€universal€ratification€of€the€core€treaties€as€something€of€directŠ $X" Šrelevance€to€their€own€work.€Yet,€to€take€one€example,€the€centrality€of€the€rights€recognized€inŠ ō$D # Šthe€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€Women€to€theŠ ą%0!$ Šprogrammes€of€those€agencies€is€such€that€it€might€reasonably€be€expected€that€they€would€haveŠ Ģ&"% Šadopted€some€active€measures€aimed€at€encouraging€ratification.€The€same€applies€in€relation€toŠ ø'#& Šthe€two€International€Covenants€on€Human€Rights.Š ¤(ō#' ŠŠ Š28.€€€€€€The€vital€importance€of€the€role€that€might€potentially€be€played€by€these€agencies€inŠ |*Ģ%) Špromoting€the€achievement€of€universal€ratification€has€been€recognized€by€the€chairpersons€ofŠ h+ø&* Šthe€treaty€bodies.€At€their€sixth€meeting,€in€1995,€the€chairpersons€recommended€that€such€a€roleŠ T,¤'+ Šbe€played€and€in€that€regard€recommended€that,€at€their€seventh€meeting,€"a€dialogue€[should]Š @-(, Štake€place€with€senior€officials€of€key€organizations€and€agencies,€to€include,€inter€alia",€theŠ ° ŠŌ_ŌUNDPŌ_Ō€(A/50/505,€para.€18).€Yet,€at€the€seventh€meeting,€Ō_ŌUNDPŌ_Ō,€the€World€Bank€and€FAO€wereŠ œģ Šnot€represented,€and€the€WHO€and€UNESCO€representatives€were€present€only€briefly€and€didŠ ˆŲ Šnot€speak.€In€other€words,€there€was€no€dialogue€at€a€senior€level,€and€indeed€no€dialogue€at€allŠ tÄ Šon€the€contribution€that€might€be€made€by€the€agencies€to€the€promotion€of€universal€ratification.Š `° ŠSimilarly,€although€a€Ō_ŌUNDPŌ_Ō€senior€official€addressed€the€sixteenth€session€of€the€Committee€onŠ L œ Šthe€Elimination€of€Discrimination€against€Women€(in€January€1997)€and€was€asked€about€theŠ 8 ˆ Špotential€role€of€that€agency€in€encouraging€ratifications€or€assisting€States€in€the€preparation€ofŠ $ t Šreports,€the€relevant€press€release€(Ō_ŌWOMŌ_Ō/948)records€no€response.Š  ` ŠŠ Š29.€€€€€€€A€related€question€that€should€also€be€addressed€is€whether€those€agencies€which€haveŠ č 8  Šplayed€an€active€role€in€the€promotion€of€specific€human€rights€treaties€-€most€notably€UNICEFŠ Ō$  Šin€relation€to€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€and€ILO€in€relation€to€ILO€conventions€-Š Ą  Šcould€not€also€take€it€upon€themselves€to€explicitly€encourage€the€ratification€of€key€treaties€suchŠ ¬ü  Šas€the€two€International€Covenants€and€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€ofŠ ˜č  ŠDiscrimination€against€Women.Š „Ō  ŠŠ Š30.€€€€€€€Regional€organizations€might€also€be€asked€to€contribute€to€the€effort€to€encourageŠ \¬ Šuniversal€ratification.€The€Organization€for€Security€and€Cooperation€in€Europe€(Ō_ŌOSCEŌ_Ō)€isŠ H˜ Šparticularly€relevant€in€that€regard.€Since€its€considerable€human€rights-related€activities€are€notŠ 4„ Šbased€on€formally€binding€instruments€its€various€normative€and€other€pronouncements€haveŠ  p Šrelied€extensively€upon€the€International€Covenants€and€other€treaties.€It€would€seem€especiallyŠ  \ Šappropriate,€therefore,€for€a€joint€effort€to€be€made€by€the€Ō_ŌOSCEŌ_Ō€and€the€United€Nations€in€regardŠ ųH Što€ratification€of€the€six€core€United€Nations€treaties.Š ä4 ŠŠ Š31.€€€€€€€€€A€variety€of€recommendations€relating€to€universal€ratification€follow€from€theŠ ¼  Šforegoing€analysis.Š Øų ŠŠ Š32.€€€€€€€The€High€Commissioner€on€Human€Rights€should€be€requested€to€consult€specificallyŠ €Š Šwith€the€relevant€international€agencies,€including€Ō_ŌUNDPŌ_Ō,€the€World€Bank,€UNESCO,€WHO€andŠ l¼ ŠFAO,€with€a€view€to€ascertaining€what€initiatives,€if€any,€they€might€be€prepared€to€take€in€orderŠ X Ø Što€encourage€States€with€which€they€are€dealing€to€ratify€any€of€the€six€core€treaties€to€which€theyŠ D!” Šare€not€already€a€party.€The€High€Commissioner€should€be€asked€to€report€in€writing€to€the€eighthŠ 0"€  Šmeeting€of€chairpersons,€expected€to€be€held€in€September€1997.Š #l! ŠŠ Š33.€€€€€€The€dialogue€recommended€by€the€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights€for€the€purpose€ofŠ ō$D # Šidentifying€"obstacles€and€to€seek€ways€of€overcoming€them"€must€be€undertaken.€It€should€beŠ ą%0!$ Šapproached€in€a€systematic,€even-handed€and€constructive€manner.€Given€the€resourceŠ Ģ&"% Šconstraints,€which€partly€explain€the€absence€of€any€organized€or€systematic€dialogue€to€date,€it€isŠ ø'#& Šrecommended€that€a€specific€trust€fund€be€established€for€the€purpose€of€employing€two€advisersŠ ¤(ō#' Što€the€High€Commissioner€on€ratification€and€reporting.€Their€tasks€would€be€to€assist€States€inŠ )ą$( Šthe€ways€outlined€above.€One€of€these€persons€would€be€a€political€adviser€and€the€other€aŠ |*Ģ%) Štechnical€expert€with€the€capacity€to€undertake€or€oversee€pre-ratification€surveys€as€well€as€theŠ h+ø&* Špreparation€of€initial€reports.€This€unit€should€be€established€for€a€threešMšyear€period€withŠ T,¤'+ Šsufficient€earmarked€funding€to€enable€assistance€to€be€provided€in€national€capitals€rather€thanŠ @-(, Šin€Geneva.€The€special€advisers€on€ratification€should€be€urged€to€adopt€clear€priority€groups€ofŠ ° Šcountries€in€order€to€maximize€the€effectiveness€of€their€activities.Š œģ ŠŠ Š34.€€€€€€€Specific€funding€should€be€earmarked€from€the€advisory€services€programme€to€supportŠ tÄ Šthe€preparation€of€initial€reports€by€newly-ratifying€developing€countries.€Since€the€preparation€ofŠ `° Šsubsequent€reports€is,€in€most€respects,€considerably€less€demanding,€and€would€be€greatlyŠ L œ Šfacilitated€by€the€experience€gained€in€connection€with€the€initial€report,€the€subsequent€reportingŠ 8 ˆ Šburden€would€not€be€unduly€onerous.€Š $ t ŠŠ Š35.€€€€€€€The€meeting€of€chairpersons€should€be€asked€to€consider€various€ways€in€which€theŠ ü L  Šreporting€process€might€be€streamlined€and€made€less€burdensome€in€relation€to€all€States€withŠ č 8  Špopulations€of€1€million€or€fewer€people.Š Ō$  ŠŠ Š36.€€€€The€special€advisers€on€ratification€and€reporting€should€explore€and€report€on€the€mostŠ ¬ü  Šappropriate€methodology€by€which€to€enable€those€32€States€which€have€ratified€either€theŠ ˜č  ŠInternational€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€alone€or€that€Convention€and€only€one€otherŠ „Ō  Štreaty€(in€most€cases€either€the€International€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€ofŠ pĄ ŠRacial€Discrimination€or€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€DiscriminationŠ \¬ Šagainst€Women)€to€prepare€a€consolidated€report€which,€by€building€upon€the€one€or€two€reportsŠ H˜ Šthey€are€already€obliged€to€prepare,€would€enable€them€to€become€parties€to€the€remainingŠ 4„ Štreaties€without€thereby€significantly€increasing€their€reporting€burden.€Š  p ŠĢĢņ ņņņB.€Responding€to€the€problem€of€significantly€overdue€reportsóóó óŠ ä4 ŠĢ37.€€€€€Most€of€the€committees€continue€to€express€concern€over€the€consequences€of€the€largeŠ ¼  Šnumber€of€significantly€overdue€reports.€Table€1,€below,€shows€the€extent€of€the€problem€at€theŠ Øų Štime€of€the€independent€expert's€interim€report€in€1993€in€comparison€with€the€situation€at€theŠ ”ä Šend€of€1996.Š €Š ŠĢŠ ŠņņTable€1:€The€trend€in€relation€to€overdue€reports,€1993-1996óóŠ D!” ŠĢŌ*±ƒ³°d‘ņ ‘Ā„d ĀXdd Xdd Ædd Æ°(#°(#±ŌŌ,[dd ŌŌ,[dd"ŌŌ,[dd"ŌŌ,[dd"ŌŌ,[dd"ŌŌ,[dd"ŌŌ,[dd"ŌŌ+  ŌŠ -##l!#l €Ų€„„……-ŠTreatyŠ <2#€#Š"0ĄĄ „„……<ŠÓ  ÓState€partiesŌ ’’ ŌŠ €#Š# ŠŽŠ €#Š# ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ /%l$¼$ „„……/ŠParties€with€overdueŌ_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ €#Š% ŠreportsŽŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ /%€#Š% „„……/ŠTotal€overdue€reportsŠ 8.€#Š& Ų  €Ų€„„……8ŠŠ ! ō$D & „„!ŠÓ  Ó1993Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ X%Ø ' ŠŽŠ X%Ø ' ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (D&”!( „„(ŠÓ  Ó1996Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ X%Ø ) ŠŽŠ X%Ø ) ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (D&”!* „„(ŠÓ  Ó1993Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ X%Ø + ŠŽŠ X%Ø + ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (D&”!, „„(ŠÓ  Ó1996Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ X%Ø - ŠŽŠ X%Ø - ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (D&”!. „„(ŠÓ  Ó1993Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ X%Ø / ŠŽŠ X%Ø / ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (D&”!0 „„(ŠÓ  Ó1996Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ X%Ø 1 ŠŽŠ X%Ø 1 ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ 2(D&”!2 Ų  €Ų€„„2ŠŌ_ŌICESCRŌ_ŌŠ '0'€"3 „„'Š119Š '0'€"4" „„'Š134Š '0'€"5" „„'Š65Š '0'€"6" „„'Š97Š '0'€"7" „„'Š65Š '0'€"8" „„'Š115Š 1'0'€"9" Ų €Ų€„„1ŠŌ_ŌICCPRŌ_ŌŠ ')X$: „„'Š115Š ')X$;" „„'Š134Š ')X$<" „„'Š64Š ')X$=" „„'Š84Š ')X$>" „„'Š83Š ')X$?" „„'Š114Š 1')X$@" Ų €Ų€„„1ŠŌ_ŌCERDŌ_ŌŠ 'ą*0&A „„'Š132Š 'ą*0&B" „„'Š147Š 'ą*0&C" „„'Š112Š 'ą*0&D" „„'Š126Š 'ą*0&E" „„'Š342Š 'ą*0&F" „„'Š401Š 1'ą*0&G" Ų €Ų€„„1ŠŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_ŌŠ 'ø,(H „„'Š118Š 'ø,(I" „„'Š153Š 'ø,(J" „„'Š78Š 'ø,(K" „„'Š115Š 'ø,(L" „„'Š127Š 'ø,(M" „„'Š189Š 1'ø,(N" Ų €Ų€„„1ŠCATŠ 'd „„'Š71Š 'd" „„'Š98Š 'd" „„'Š36Š 'd" „„'Š61Š 'd" „„'Š38Š 'd" „„'Š67Š 1'd" Ų €Ų€„„1ŠCRCŠ 'ģ< „„'Š126Š 'ģ< " „„'Š187Š 'ģ< " „„'Š59Š 'ģ< " „„'Š71Š 'ģ< " „„'Š59Š 'ģ< " „„'Š71Š 1'ģ<" Ų €É€„„1ŠTotalŠ 'Ä „„'Š680Š 'Ä" „„'Š853Š 'Ä" „„'Š414Š 'Ä" „„'Š554Š 'Ä" „„'Š714Š H>Ä" č@957„„‰č@‰HŠŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ ’’ ŌĢŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌÓ  ÓŌ_Ō959599999¼9999ŽŌ_Ō€957ŽŌ  ŌŠH><Ä č@957 É  č@ HŠŠ Šą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ąŠ Š38.€€€€€€€€In€its€1996€annual€report€(A/51/44)€the€Committee€against€Torture€noted€in€paragraph€1Š  Q Šthat€there€were€96€States€parties€and€in€paragraph€21€that€there€were€55€States€with€overdueŠ ķ = Šreports.€The€Committee€went€on€to€deplore€the€failure€of€those€States€whose€reports€were€moreŠ Ł )  Šthan€four€years€overdue€and€recounted€how€numerous€reminders€had€been€sent€by€theŠ Å  ŠSecretary-General€and€various€letters€sent€by€the€Chairman€of€the€Committee.€The€CommitteeŠ ±  Štook€two€measures€in€response.€The€first€was€to€issue€a€separate€document€listing€overdueŠ ķ  Šreports.€The€second€was€to€give€wide€publicity€to€the€list€at€its€end€of€session€press€conferences.Š ‰Ł  ŠŠ Š39.€€€€€In€its€1996€annual€report€(A/51/40)€the€Human€Rights€Committee€expressed€"its€seriousŠ a± Šconcern"€that€"more€than€two€thirds€of€all€States€parties€...€were€in€arrears€with€their€reports",€andŠ M  Šnoted€that€this€"state€of€affairs€seriously€impedes€[its]€ability€to€monitor€the€implementation€ofŠ 9‰! Šthe€Covenant"€(para.€45).€The€Committee€has€continued€to€seek€new€means€by€which€toŠ %u" Šencourage€delinquent€States€parties€to€submit€reports.€In€addition€to€the€regular€sending€ofŠ a# Šreminders€and€the€holding€of€meetings€between€members€of€the€Bureau€of€the€Committee€withŠ żM$ Šthe€permanent€representatives€of€the€relevant€States,€the€Committee€began€in€1994€to€include€aŠ é9% Šseparate€list€in€the€main€part€of€its€annual€report€indicating€those€States€that€have€more€than€oneŠ Õ%& Šreport€overdue.€In€its€1996€report€the€Committee€went€further€and€"reserved€the€right€to€makeŠ Į' Špublic€a€list€of€[those€States]€during€the€press€conference€convened€at€the€end€of€each€session€ofŠ ­ż( Šthe€Committee"€(para.€32).€Š ™é) ŠŠ Š40.€€€€€€€Measures€such€as€those€resorted€to€by€these€two€committees€show€an€admirable€faith€inŠ qĮ+ Šthe€extent€of€the€readership€of€annual€reports€by€committees€and€in€the€newsworthiness€ofŠ ]­, Šdelinquency€by€a€State€in€its€reporting€to€a€United€Nations€body.€Nevertheless,€it€is€difficult€toŠ I ™- Šavoid€the€conclusion€that€they€are€unlikely€to€have€a€significant€impact€upon€the€behaviour€of€theŠ 5!…. ŠStates€concerned.€Thus,€for€example,€in€the€case€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee,€five€StatesŠ !"q/ Šhave€each€received€20€or€more€reminders€over€a€period€of€10€years€or€more€and€have€failed€toŠ  #]0 Šrespond€(A/51/40,€para.€45).Š ł#I1 ŠŠ Š41.€€€€€Other€responses€might€include€an€easing€of€the€reporting€requirements€under€certainŠ Ń%!!3 Šcircumstances.€Thus,€at€its€sixteenth€session,€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€ofŠ ½& "4 ŠDiscrimination€against€Women€considered€an€oral€report€presented€by€one€State€party.€TheŠ ©'ł"5 ŠCommittee€emphasized,€however,€that€it€had€done€so€on€an€exceptional€basis€and€as€a€matter€ofŠ •(å#6 Šcourtesy€to€the€delegation€and€insisted€that€the€presentation€of€a€written€report€be€scheduled.€TheŠ )Ń$7 ŠHuman€Rights€Committee€decided€in€1996€that,€"under€very€exceptional€circumstances",€when€aŠ m*½%8 Šreport€is€overdue€"because€of€material€difficulties",€the€State€party€could€be€invited€to€send€aŠ Y+©&9 Šdelegation€to€discuss€those€difficulties€or€be€asked€to€submit€a€provisional€report€dealing€onlyŠ E,•': Šwith€certain€aspects€of€the€Covenant€(A/51/40,€para.€32).€Such€initiatives€raise€two€types€ofŠ 1-(; Šquestions.€The€first€is€whether,€from€a€pragmatic€perspective,€they€are€likely€to€succeed€inŠ ° Šenabling€more€States€to€report.€Only€time€will€provide€a€definitive€answer,€but€it€seems€that€aŠ œģ Šsignificant€response€rate€could€only€come€as€a€result€of€important,€casešMšbyšMšcase,€concessions€inŠ ˆŲ Šrelation€to€the€principle€that€all€States€parties€must€report€in€accordance€with€the€generalŠ tÄ Šguidelines.€That€leads€to€the€second€question,€which€is€whether€real€concessions€(of€the€type€thatŠ `° Šwill€act€as€an€incentive€to€otherwise€recalcitrant€States)€can€be€made€without€undermining€theŠ L œ Šcentral€tenets€of€the€reporting€system.Š 8 ˆ ŠŠ Š42.€€€€€€Another€approach,€€which€would€be€applicable€across€the€board,€rather€than€on€an€ad€hocŠ  ` Šbasis,€but€at€the€same€time€permit€a€more€tailored€and€flexible€approach€to€reporting,€would€be€toŠ ü L  Šeliminate€the€obligation€to€provide€comprehensive€periodic€reports,€in€the€form€in€which€theyŠ č 8  Špresently€exist.€This€option€is€discussed€below.Š Ō$  ŠŠ Š43.€€€€€Broadly€stated,€there€are€two€reasons€why€States€do€not€report:€administrative€incapacityŠ ¬ü  Šincluding€a€lack€of€specialist€expertise€or€lack€of€political€will,€or€a€combination€of€both.€In€theŠ ˜č  Šfirst€situation,€repeated€appeals€are,€almost€by€definition,€unlikely€to€bear€fruit.€Instead,€theŠ „Ō  Šsolution€lies€in€a€more€serious,€more€expert€and€more€carefully€targeted€advisory€servicesŠ pĄ Šprogramme€in€relation€to€reporting.€This€is€discussed€briefly€below.Š \¬ ŠŠ Š44.€€€€€€€€In€the€second€situation,€a€lack€of€political€will€translates€essentially€into€a€calculation€byŠ 4„ Šthe€State€concerned€that€the€consequences,€both€domestic€and€international,€of€a€failure€to€reportŠ  p Šare€less€important€than€the€costs,€administrative€and€political,€of€complying€with€reportingŠ  \ Šobligations.€In€that€case,€the€only€viable€approach€on€the€part€of€the€treaty€bodies€and/or€theŠ ųH Špolitical€organs€is€to€seek€to€raise€the€"costs"€of€non-compliance.€A€failure€to€devise€appropriateŠ ä4 Šresponses€of€this€nature€has€ramifications€which€extend€well€beyond€the€consequences€for€anyŠ Š  Šindividual€State€party.€LargešMšscale€non-reporting€makes€a€mockery€of€the€reporting€system€as€aŠ ¼  Šwhole.€It€leads€to€a€situation€in€which€many€States€are€effectively€rewarded€for€violating€theirŠ Øų Šobligations€while€others€are€penalized€for€complying€(in€the€sense€of€subjecting€themselves€toŠ ”ä Šscrutiny€by€the€treaty€bodies),€and€it€will€lead€to€a€situation€in€which€a€diminishing€number€ofŠ €Š ŠStates€will€report€very€regularly€and€others€will€almost€never€do€so.Š l¼ ŠŠ Š45.€€€€The€key€question,€however,€is€what€types€of€measures€designed€to€raise€the€costs€ofŠ D!” Šnon-compliance€might€be€appropriate,€potentially€productive€in€terms€of€upholding€the€integrityŠ 0"€  Šof€the€system,€consistent€with€the€legal€framework€of€the€relevant€treaty,€and€politically€andŠ #l! Šotherwise€acceptable.€Various€palliatives€are€available€and€have€been€canvassed€elsewhere€in€thisŠ $X" Šreport.€They€include:€the€elimination€of€reporting€and€its€replacement€by€detailed€questions€toŠ ō$D # Šwhich€answers€must€be€given;€the€preparation€of€a€single€consolidated€report€to€satisfy€severalŠ ą%0!$ Šdifferent€requirements;€and€the€much€wider€use€of€a€more€professional€advisory€servicesŠ Ģ&"% Šprogramme€designed€to€assist€in€the€preparation€of€reports.€Ultimately,€however,€none€of€theseŠ ø'#& Šmight€make€a€difference€in€hardšMšcore€cases.€Under€those€circumstances€the€only€viable€optionŠ ¤(ō#' Šopen€to€the€treaty€bodies€is€to€proceed€with€an€examination€of€the€situation€in€a€State€party€in€theŠ )ą$( Šabsence€of€a€report.€This€has€been€done€for€a€number€of€years€by€the€Committee€on€Economic,Š |*Ģ%) ŠSocial€and€Cultural€Rights€and€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Racial€Discrimination€hasŠ h+ø&* Šadopted€a€very€similar€approach.€The€situation€has€not€yet€become€chronic€for€either€theŠ T,¤'+ ŠCommittee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child,€because€it€is€still€much€younger€than€the€others,€or€for€theŠ @-(, ŠCommittee€against€Torture€which€has€many€fewer€States€parties€than€the€other€committees.€AndŠ ° Šthe€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€against€Women€has€had€so€little€meetingŠ œģ Štime,€until€very€recently,€that€it€was€unlikely€to€take€any€steps€that€would€increase€its€workload.Š ˆŲ ŠŠ Š46.€€€€€€€It€seems€inevitable,€however,€that€each€of€these€committees,€and€certainly€the€HumanŠ `° ŠRights€Committee,€will€have€to€contemplate€taking€such€a€step€sooner€or€later.€While€the€preciseŠ L œ Šlegal€basis€for€such€measures€will€need€to€be€rooted€in€the€text€of€each€of€the€relevant€treaties,€theŠ 8 ˆ Šprincipal€foundation€is€to€be€found€in€a€teleological€approach€to€interpretation€whichŠ $ t Šacknowledges€that€any€other€outcome€is€absurd€in€that€it€enables€a€delinquent€State€party€toŠ  ` Šdefeat€the€object€and€purpose€of€the€implementation€provisions.€In€that€regard,€it€is€pertinent€toŠ ü L  Šrecall€that€the€General€Assembly,€in€its€resolution€51/87,€specifically€"encourage[d]€the€efforts€ofŠ č 8  Šthe€human€rights€treaty€bodies€to€examine€the€progress€made€in€achieving€the€fulfilment€ofŠ Ō$  Šhuman€rights€treaty€undertakings€by€all€States€parties,€without€exception"€(emphasis€added).Š Ą  ŠŠ Š47.€€€€€€€€In€implementing€such€an€approach,€the€experience€of€the€Committee€on€Economic,Š ˜č  ŠSocial€and€Cultural€Rights€is€instructive.€Ample€notice€has€been€given€to€the€States€concernedŠ „Ō  Šand,€in€a€majority€of€the€cases€taken€up€so€far,€reports€which€had€been€dramatically€overdue€haveŠ pĄ Šsuddenly€materialized.€For€the€rest,€it€is€particularly€important€that€the€Committee€is€in€a€positionŠ \¬ Što€undertake€detailed€research€work€and€to€be€able€to€base€its€examination€upon€a€wide€range€ofŠ H˜ Šsources€of€information.€The€resulting€"concluding€observations"€must€be€detailed,€accurate€andŠ 4„ Šcomprehensive.€If€they€are€not,€States€can€again€be€rewarded€for€a€failure€to€report€by€a€routine€orŠ  p Šmechanistic€response€which€fails€to€establish€genuine€accountability€in€any€way.€In€this€respect€itŠ  \ Šis€not€clear€that€the€conclusions€adopted€to€date€in€such€cases€by€the€Committee€on€theŠ ųH ŠElimination€of€Racial€Discrimination€meet€such€criteria.Š ä4 ŠĢĢĢņ ņņņC.€The€inadequacy€of€the€current€system€to€deal€with€the€timely€submission€of€reportsóóó óŠ ”ä ŠĢĢņ ņ1.€Inability€to€process€reports€due€to€be€submittedó óŠ X Ø ŠĢ48.€€€€€€€€The€present€supervisory€system€can€function€only€because€of€the€largešMšscale€delinquencyŠ 0"€  Šof€States€which€either€do€not€report€at€all,€or€report€long€after€the€due€date.€This€is€hardly€aŠ #l! Šsatisfactory€foundation€upon€which€to€build€an€effective€and€efficient€monitoring€system.€Thus,Š $X" Šfor€example,€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€against€Women€noted€in€itsŠ ō$D # Š1994€annual€report€(A/49/38,€para.€12)€that€if€States€parties€reported€on€schedule€it€would€need€toŠ ą%0!$ Šconsider€30€reports€per€session.€Š Ģ&"% ŠŠ ŠņņTable€2.€Length€of€time€required€to€review€all€State€reports€currently€due,€if€they€were€to€beŠ ¤(ō#' Šsubmitted€at€the€end€of€1996óóŠ )ą$( Šą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąā āŠ |*Ģ%) ŠŌ*׃³ [dd [[dd"[[dd"[[dd"[[dd"[[dd"[[dd"[³°(#°(#×ŌŌ,dd ŌŌ,dd ŌŌ,dd ŌŌ,dd ŌŌ,dd ŌŌ,dd ŌŌ+  ŌŠ 1'°° €'€‚‚ƒƒ„„1ŠŠ '° „„'Šā āÓ  ÓAverage€No.Š ° Šof€Š œģ Šmeetings€per€Š ˆŲ ŠŌ_ŌreportŌ_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ tÄ ŠĢĢĢ¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹Š Ģ&"' ŠŠ Ģ&"' ŠŠ Ģ&"' ŠŠ ø'#( ŠŠ ø'#( ŠŠ ø'#( ŠŠ tÄ ŠŠ tÄ ŠŠ tÄ ŠŽŠ tÄ ŠÓ  ÓŌ  ŌŠ (`° „„(ŠÓ  ÓMeetingsŠ ° Šrequired€toŠ œģ ŠconsiderŠ ˆŲ  ŠŌ_ŌreportsŌ_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ tÄ  Šalready€ŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌdueŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (tÄ   „„(ŠÓ  ÓAverage€No.€ofŠ °  Šmeetings€perŠ œģ  ŠyearŠ ˆŲ  ŠŠ 'tÄ  „„'ŠÓ  ÓAverage€No.Š ° Šof€meetingsŠ œģ Šš  šper€yearŠ ˆŲ Šdevoted€Ō_ŌtoŌ_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ tÄ ŠexaminingĻreportsĢŽŌ  ŌŠ (tÄ  „„(ŠÓ  ÓNo.€of€yearsŠ ° ŠrequiredŠ œģ ŠĢŠ 7-tÄ  ' €Ų€„„7ŠICESCRŠ '; ‹ „„'ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō3Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ ; ‹ ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ ; ‹ ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (' w „„(ŠÓ  Ó3€x€115€Ō_Ō=Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ ; ‹ Š345ĢŠ ė+;'@ ŠŠ ; ‹ ŠŠ Ū,+(A ŠŠ ė+;'@ ŠŠ ū*K&? Š¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹Š “(ć#< ŠŠ “(ć#< ŠŠ “(ć#< ŠŠ )Ļ$= ŠŠ )Ļ$= ŠŠ )Ļ$= ŠŠ ; ‹ ŠŠ ; ‹ ŠŠ ; ‹ ŠŽŠ ; ‹ ŠÓ  ÓŌ  ŌŠ (' w „„(ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō58Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ ; ‹ ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ ; ‹ ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (' w „„(ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō45Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ ; ‹ ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ ; ‹ ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (' w „„(ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō7.6Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ ; ‹  ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ ; ‹  ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ 2(' w! Ų  €Ų€„„2ŠICCPRŠ ' c" „„'ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō3Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ  c# ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ  c# ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (’ O$ „„(ŠÓ  Ó3€x€114€Ō_Ō=Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ  c% Š342ĢŠ d ŠŠ  c& ŠŠ Ó,#(J Š¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹Š k*»%G ŠŠ k*»%G ŠŠ k*»%G ŠŠ W+§&H ŠŠ W+§&H ŠŠ W+§&H ŠŠ  c% ŠŠ  c% ŠŠ  c% ŠŽŠ  c% ŠÓ  ÓŌ  ŌŠ (’ O& „„(ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō85Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ  c' ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ  c' ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (’ O( „„(ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō45Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ  c) ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ  c) ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (’ O* „„(ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō7.6Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ  c+ ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ  c+ ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ 2(’ O, Ų  €Ų€„„2ŠCERDŠ 'ė ;- „„'ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō2Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ ė ;. ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ ė ;. ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (× ' / „„(ŠÓ  Ó2€x€401€Ō_Ō=Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ ė ;0 Š802ĢŠ ģ< ŠŠ ė ;1 ŠŠ d Š¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹Š C,“'R ŠŠ C,“'R ŠŠ C,“'R ŠŠ /-(S ŠŠ /-(S ŠŠ /-(S ŠŠ ė ;0 ŠŠ ė ;0 ŠŠ ė ;0 ŠŽŠ ė ;0 ŠÓ  ÓŌ  ŌŠ (× ' 1 „„(ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō55Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ ė ;2 ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ ė ;2 ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (× ' 3 „„(ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō33Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ ė ;4 ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ ė ;4 ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (× ' 5 „„(ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō24.3Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ ė ;6 ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ ė ;6 ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ 2(× ' 7 Ų  €Ų€„„2ŠCEDAWŠ 'Ć 8 „„'ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō2Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ Ć 9 ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ Ć 9 ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (Æ’ : „„(ŠÓ  Ó2€x€189€Ō_Ō=Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ Ć ; Š378ĢŠ Ä ŠŠ Ć < ŠŠ ģ< Š¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹Š d ŠŠ d ŠŠ d ŠŠ d ŠŠ d ŠŠ d ŠŠ Ć ; ŠŠ Ć ; ŠŠ Ć ; ŠŽŠ Ć ; ŠÓ  ÓŌ  ŌŠ (Æ’ < „„(ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō49Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ Ć = ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ Ć = ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (Æ’ > „„(ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō18Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ Ć ? ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ Ć ? ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (Æ’ @ „„(ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō21Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ Ć A ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ Ć A ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ 2(Æ’ B Ų  €Ų€„„2ŠCATŠ '›ė C „„'ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō2.2Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ ›ė D ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ ›ė D ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (‡× E „„(ŠÓ  Ó2.2€x€67€Ō_Ō=Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ ›ė F Š134ĢŠ œ ģ% ŠŠ ›ė G ŠŠ Ä Š¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹Š ģ< ŠŠ ģ< ŠŠ ģ< ŠŠ ģ< ŠŠ ģ< ŠŠ ģ< ŠŠ ›ė F ŠŠ ›ė F ŠŠ ›ė F ŠŽŠ ›ė F ŠÓ  ÓŌ  ŌŠ (‡× G „„(ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō36Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ ›ė H ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ ›ė H ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (‡× I „„(ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō20Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ ›ė J ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ ›ė J ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ (‡× K „„(ŠÓ  ÓŌ_Ō6.7Ō_ŌŌ ’’ ŌŠ ›ė L ŠŽŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŠ ›ė L ŠÓ  ÓŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ  ŌŠ 2(‡× M Ų  €Ų€„„2ŠCRCŠ F<sĆ N  @3„„‰@‰FŠÓ  Ó3Š E;0sĆ O   @3 @ „„EŠÓ  Ó3€x€71€=€213Š G=sĆ P   @U@85„„‰@U@‰GŠÓ  Ó85Š f\1sĆ Q   @U@85 @U@  K@54„„‰K@‰fŠÓ  Ó54Š g]1sĆ R   K@54 K@ 333333@3.9„„‰333333@‰gŠÓ  Ó3.9ŠG=;sĆ S  333333@3.9 Ų  333333@ GŠĢ49.€€€€€€€In€brief,€the€picture€that€emerges€from€table€2€is€that€if€every€State€party€with€a€reportŠ Ó#T Šoverdue€under€either€of€the€Covenants€were€to€submit€that€report€tomorrow,€the€last€to€beŠ æU Šreceived€could€not€be€considered,€on€the€basis€of€existing€arrangements,€before€the€year€2003.€AtŠ «ūV Šthat€point,€the€relevant€committee€would€be€considering€an€eightšMšyearšMšold€report€and€wouldŠ —ēW Šhave€a€huge€backlog€of€subsequent€reports€pending.Š ƒÓX ŠŠ Š50.€€€€€€An€even€more€compelling€way€of€looking€at€the€situation€is€to€assume€that€every€StateŠ [«Z Šparty€to€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€were€to€submit€a€periodic€(as€opposed€toŠ G—[ Šinitial)€report,€as€required,€every€five€years.€In€theory,€this€would€require€the€Committee€on€theŠ 3ƒ\ ŠRights€of€the€Child€to€examine€187€reports€over€five€years.€At€its€present€rate€of€examiningŠ o] Šreports€it€would€require€3€meetings€per€report,€or€a€total€of€561€meetings.€Divided€over€aŠ  [^ ŠfivešMšyear€period,€that€would€require€112€meetings€per€year€devoted€to€reports.€Currently,€on€theŠ ÷G_ Šbasis€of€meeting€for€nine€weeks€in€plenary€session€and€three€weeks€in€working€groups,€it€is€ableŠ ć3` Što€devote€54€meetings€per€year€to€the€examination€of€reports.€Thus,€its€meeting€time€would€needŠ Ļ a Što€be€at€least€doubled,€making€18€weeks€of€meetings€plus€6€weeks€of€working€groups.€At€leastŠ »! b Šhalf€of€the€Committee€of€10€members€would€thus€need€to€spend€24€weeks€a€year€in€session,€quiteŠ §"÷c Šapart€from€all€of€the€additional€activities€that€that€Committee€has€so€far€undertaken€outside€of€itsŠ “#ćd Šofficial€meeting€times.€The€resulting€burden€on€the€Secretariat,€on€conference€servicing€facilitiesŠ $Ļe Šand€on€translation,€interpretation€and€editing€services€would€be€immense.Š k%» f ŠĢĢÓ  Óņ ņ2.€The€problem€of€delays€between€submission€and€examination€of€reportsó óŠ /(#i ŠÓDÓĢ51.€€€€€€In€its€1994€annual€report€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€againstŠ *W%k ŠWomen€observed€that€there€was€"an€average€of€three€years€between€the€time€a€State€partyŠ ó*C&l Šsubmits€its€report€and€its€consideration€by€the€Committee".€The€Committee€went€on€to€observeŠ ß+/'m Šthat€such€a€situation€provides€"a€disincentive€to€report€and€leads€to€the€need€for€the€State€toŠ Ė,(n Špresent€additional€information€to€update€the€report€which,€in€turn,€increases€the€volume€ofŠ ·-)o Šdocumentation€that€must€be€considered€by€the€Committee"€(A/49/38,€para.€12).€This€analysis€isŠ ° Šstill€applicable€in€relation€to€most€committees.€Thus,€on€the€basis€of€available€figures,€a€reportŠ œģ Šsubmitted€in€December€1996€to€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€would€not€be€examinedŠ ˆŲ Šuntil€January€1999.€For€the€Human€Rights€Committee€and€the€Committee€on€Economic,€SocialŠ tÄ Šand€Cultural€Rights,€the€respective€dates€would€probably€be€July€1998€and€May€1999.Š `° ŠŠ Š52.€€€€€The€options€available€for€responding€to€a€situation€which€is€clearly€unacceptable€to€theŠ 8 ˆ Šcommittees€and€the€States€concerned,€as€well€as€to€those€whose€human€rights€are€the€focus€ofŠ $ t Šattention,€are€examined€later€in€this€report.€At€this€point,€it€is€sufficient€to€observe€that€one€optionŠ  ` Šwhich€is€clearly€unsatisfactory€is€to€schedule€a€large€number€of€reports€for€consideration€in€a€veryŠ ü L  Šshort€time,€so€that€each€report€receives€only€superficial€consideration.€Unless€such€an€approach€isŠ č 8  Špreceded€by€very€detailed€preliminary€work€and€demonstrates€that€it€is€still€able€to€achieveŠ Ō$  Šconvincing€and€accurate€results,€it€risks€going€through€the€motions€for€their€own€sake€andŠ Ą  Šabandoning€the€raison€d'tre€of€the€whole€system,€which€is€to€promote€respect€for€human€rightsŠ ¬ü  Šand€ensure€genuine€accountability.Š ˜č  ŠĢĢņ ņņņÓ  ÓD.€Problems€in€relation€to€documentationóóó óŠ \¬ ŠĢĢņ ņ1.€A€fiftyšMšpage€limit€on€State€reports?ó óŠ  p ŠÓÕLÓĢ53.€€€€€€As€noted€at€the€beginning€of€this€report,€it€has€been€proposed€by€conference€servicingŠ ųH Šofficials€in€Geneva,€in€addressing€both€the€seventh€meeting€of€chairpersons€and€individualŠ ä4 Šcommittees€in€the€course€of€1996,€that€a€limit€of€an€average€of€50€pages€be€imposed€on€the€lengthŠ Š  Šof€State€party€reports€to€be€processed€and€translated.€To€the€extent€that€such€a€limitation€wouldŠ ¼  Šapply€to€processing€(copy-editing,€clean€typing€and€reproduction)€as€well€as€translating,€it€wouldŠ Øų Ševen€eliminate€the€option€for€a€committee€to€be€prepared€to€consider€a€longer€report€in€theŠ ”ä Šoriginal€language€in€which€it€is€submitted.€This€proposal€has€yet€to€be€fully€implemented€but€itsŠ €Š Šeffects€are€already€being€felt€in€various€ways.€Although€it€is€beyond€the€scope€of€this€report€toŠ l¼ Šaddress€the€possible€implications€of€the€proposal,€two€procedural€matters€are€worthy€of€note€sinceŠ X Ø Šthey€bear€on€the€modalities€of€future€treaty€body-related€reform€processes.€The€first€is€that€bothŠ D!” Šthe€chairpersons'€meeting€and€the€treaty€bodies€themselves€have€been€provided€with€very€littleŠ 0"€  Šsolid€statistical€information€to€substantiate€the€need€for€draconian€measures€of€the€type€proposed.Š #l! ŠIndeed€the€message€has,€for€the€most€part,€been€conveyed€orally€rather€than€in€the€form€of€aŠ $X" Šdetailed€written€analysis€which€would€provide€a€basis€for€careful€consideration€of€alternativeŠ ō$D # Šresponses.€The€second€is€that€the€Centre€for€Human€Rights€has€not€provided€any€analysis€of€theŠ ą%0!$ Šalternatives€that€might€be€considered.€Given€the€difficulty€of€obtaining€information€about€theŠ Ģ&"% Šfunctioning€of€the€system€and€the€costs€involved,€the€absence€of€such€an€analysis,€or€briefingŠ ø'#& Špaper,€would€seem€to€increase€considerably€the€prospects€for€ill-informed€and€uncreative€responses.Š ¤(ō#' ŠŠ Š54.€€€€€€The€incongruity€of€the€proposed€limitation€is€perhaps€best€illustrated€by€the€fact€that€theŠ |*Ģ%) Šgeneral€guidelines€for€the€submission€of€periodic€reports€(CRC/C/58),€adopted€by€the€CommitteeŠ h+ø&* Šon€the€Rights€of€the€Child€in€October€1996,€are€49€pages€long.€In€other€words,€States€partiesŠ T,¤'+ Šwould€be€asked€to€respond€to€49€pages€of€questions€and€of€lists€of€issues€in€relation€to€whichŠ @-(, Šinformation€is€required€in€the€course€of€a€report€of€precisely€the€same€length.€This€is€clearlyŠ ° Šimpossible,€and€it€is€doubly€so€in€the€case€of€federal€States€which€must€report€on€the€situation€inŠ œģ Šrelation€to€the€different€laws€and€practices€applying€in€each€of€their€constituent€territories.Š ˆŲ ŠMoreover,€the€suggestion€that€reports€could€be€confined€to€50€pages€is€entirely€at€odds€with€theŠ tÄ Štrend€in€most€of€the€committees€to€request€ever€more€precise€and€detailed€information€in€order€toŠ `° Šenable€the€experts€to€obtain€a€clearer€picture€of€the€situation.€On€the€other€hand,€two€committeesŠ L œ Š(the€Committee€against€Torture€and€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Racial€Discrimination)Š 8 ˆ Šhave€generally€managed€with€comparatively€brief€reports.€This€is,€however,€primarily€a€functionŠ $ t Šof€the€more€restricted€nature€of€their€focus€rather€than€of€their€greater€frugality.Š  ` ŠĢĢÓ  Óņ ņ2.€Ephemeral€or€unrecorded€documentationó óŠ Ō$  ŠÓŸ[ÓĢ55.€€€€€Another€problem€which€€is€worthy€of€note€concerns€€the€increasing€€proportion€ofŠ ¬ü  Šdocumentation€which,€although€central€to€the€dialogue€in€many€cases,€is€of€an€ephemeral€orŠ ˜č  Šofficially€unrecorded€nature.€In€other€words,€governmental€representatives€submit€detailedŠ „Ō  Šinformation,€sometimes€in€the€form€of€materials€already€published€(and€thus,€in€principle,Š pĄ Šavailable€elsewhere)€but€more€often€in€the€form€of€specifically€targeted€information€in€responseŠ \¬ Što€questions€raised€or€issues€signalled€in€advance€by€the€respective€treaty€bodies.€Since€thisŠ H˜ Šinformation€is€neither€contained€in€the€State€party€report€itself€nor€reflected,€except€indirectly€andŠ 4„ Šin€passing,€in€the€summary€records,€it€is€effectively€lost€and€is€not€part€of€any€enduring€orŠ  p Šaccessible€record€of€the€dialogue.€Although€it€might€have€had€a€determinative€influence€upon€theŠ  \ ŠCommittee's€response,€it€is€not€available€to€any€person€who€was€not€both€present€at€the€time€andŠ ųH Šwas€privileged€to€gain€access€to€the€documentation.Š ä4 ŠŠ Š56.€€€€€€As€with€many€of€the€issues€dealt€with€in€this€report,€devising€appropriate€responses€isŠ ¼  Šrather€more€difficult€than€identifying€the€issues.€The€first€step€is€for€the€materials€included€in€theŠ Øų Šannual€report€to€be€more€systematic€and€detailed€in€indicating€the€principal€reference€materialsŠ ”ä Šrelied€upon€in€the€examination€of€the€report.€The€second€step€would€be€to€develop€a€moreŠ €Š Šsystematic€documentary€archive€to€be€maintained€at€least€until€the€examination€of€the€subsequentŠ l¼ Šreport€of€the€same€State€party.€But€again,€in€the€context€of€a€treaty€body€secretariat€whichŠ X Ø Šemploys€not€a€single€skilled€documentalist,€has€no€satisfactory€facilities€for€maintaining€archivesŠ D!” Šand€has€yet€to€focus€at€all€on€issues€of€this€type,€it€is€not€clear€that€there€is€much€use€in€makingŠ 0"€  Švery€detailed€recommendations,€beyond€calling€attention€to€the€problem.Š #l! ŠĢĢĢņ ņÓ  Ó3.€Delays€in€the€production€of€summary€recordsó óŠ Ģ&"% ŠÓŚdÓĢ57.€€€€€€€Another€problem€confronting€the€treaty€bodies€is€that€the€summary€records€are€nowŠ ¤(ō#' Šproduced€in€only€two€languages€(English€and€French)€and€the€translation€into€the€secondŠ )ą$( Šlanguage€(whichever€one€it€might€be)€is€generally€significantly€delayed.€This€is€of€particularŠ |*Ģ%) Šsignificance€for€several€reasons.€The€first€is€that,€in€response€to€budgetary€and€other€concerns,Š h+ø&* Šeach€of€the€treaty€bodies€has€eliminated€from€its€annual€reports€the€summary€of€the€dialogue€withŠ T,¤'+ Šeach€State€party€which€was€a€consistent€feature€of€the€annual€reports€until€quite€recently.€ThisŠ @-(, Šcould€be€done€on€the€basis€that€there€was€no€need€to€duplicate€information€which€was€any€eventŠ ° Šprovided,€and€in€a€more€systematic€fashion,€by€the€summary€records.€The€second€is€that€theŠ œģ Šsummary€records€constitute€one€of€the€most€important€elements€in€the€process€of€accountabilityŠ ˆŲ Šwhich€provides€the€principal€rationale€for€the€process€of€dialogue.€If€the€records€are€notŠ tÄ Šaccessible€within€a€reasonably€short€period€of€time€after€the€examination€of€the€report€and€theŠ `° Šadoption€of€the€concluding€observations,€a€significant€part€of€the€value€of€the€undertaking€may€beŠ L œ Šlost.Š 8 ˆ ŠŠ Š58.€€€€€€€By€the€same€token,€it€is€not€clear€that€there€is€sufficient€value-added€by€the€publication,€inŠ  ` Šthe€case€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee,€of€a€set€of€official€records€(previously€known€as€theŠ ü L  ŠCommittee's€Yearbooks)€reproducing€all€of€the€summary€records€and€other€already€issuedŠ č 8  Šdocumentation.€The€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€against€Women€hasŠ Ō$  Šrequested€that€further€yearbooks€be€issued€for€it,€in€addition€to€those€produced€some€years€ago,Š Ą  Šand€similar€proposals€have€been€made€in€relation€to€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child.€InŠ ¬ü  Ša€context€of€the€generous€availability€of€resources€such€undertakings€are€certainly€desirable€sinceŠ ˜č  Šthey€make€the€records€more€accessible€for€historical€and€related€purposes.€However,€at€a€time€ofŠ „Ō  Šthe€utmost€financial€stringency€when€neither€paper€nor€pencils€can€be€provided€in€conferenceŠ pĄ Šrooms€for€the€use€of€expert€members€of€the€treaty€bodies,€such€expenditures€are€surely€not€aŠ \¬ Špriority.€Š H˜ ŠŠ Š59.€€€€€€In€any€event,€their€value€has€been€radically€reduced€by€the€increased€importance€ofŠ  p Šelectronic€sources€of€information,€especially€through€the€Internet.€While€summary€records€of€theŠ  \ Štreaty€bodies€are€not€yet€available€in€that€form,€it€is€surely€only€a€matter€of€time.€Priority€shouldŠ ųH Štherefore€be€accorded€to€that€enterprise.€For€the€reasons€noted€below,€the€advantages€make€theŠ ä4 Šinvestment€in€the€electronic€form€of€the€records€far€more€rewarding€than€the€production€ofŠ Š  Šprestigious€dinosaurs€such€as€the€Yearbooks€(official€records).€The€first€step€should€therefore€beŠ ¼  Šthe€transfer€of€the€existing€Yearbooks€onto€the€electronic€databases,€and€the€second€step€shouldŠ Øų Šconsist€of€a€concerted€effort€to€achieve€the€timely€publication,€again€in€electronic€form,€of€theŠ ”ä Šsummary€records€as€soon€as€they€are€available.Š €Š ŠĢĢņ ņņņÓ  ÓE.€The€development€and€use€of€electronic€databasesóóó óŠ D!” ŠŠ Šņ ņ1.€The€home€page€of€the€Centre€for€Human€Rightsó óŠ #l! ŠÓ]sÓĢ60.€€€€€€The€approach€advocated€in€relation€to€summary€records€is€entirely€consistent€with€one€ofŠ ō$D # Šthe€most€encouraging€recent€developments€overseen€by€the€High€Commissioner€for€HumanŠ ą%0!$ ŠRights.€On€10€December€1996€a€major€electronic€database€of€human€rights€documentation€wasŠ Ģ&"% Šmade€available€on€the€World€Wide€Web€and€is€thus€accessible€through€the€Internet.€In€such€form,Š ø'#& Šthe€concluding€observations,€reports€by€States,€and€eventually€the€summary€records€will€all€beŠ ¤(ō#' Šmade€available€to€literally€millions€of€potential€users.€This€contrasts€dramatically€with€theŠ )ą$( Šsituation€in€relation€to€both€the€mimeographed€documents€in€their€original€form€and€the€printedŠ |*Ģ%) Šofficial€records€(Yearbook)€volumes.€All€of€these€documents€have€a€small€print€run€and€a€veryŠ h+ø&* Šlimited€distribution€network€that€rarely€includes€nationalšMšlevel€NGOs,€scholars€in€places€outsideŠ T,¤'+ Šthe€industrialized€countries,€and€other€key€potential€users.€The€costs€of€upkeep€of€a€hard€copyŠ @-(, Šcollection€of€treaty€body€documents€is€considerable€and€there€are€only€a€handful€of€librariesŠ ° Šaround€the€world€which€devote€the€resources€necessary€for€the€maintenance€of€an€accessible€andŠ œģ Šfunctional€collection€of€such€documentation.€Moreover,€the€utility€of€the€hard€copy€documents€isŠ ˆŲ Švery€limited€by€comparison€with€that€of€the€electronic€versions€which€can€be€comprehensivelyŠ tÄ Šsearched,€organized€and€selectively€printed€out€in€very€little€time.Š `° ŠŠ Š61.€€€€€€Concern€has€justifiably€been€expressed€that€an€emphasis€on€new€technology€will€notŠ 8 ˆ Šnecessarily€cater€for€the€needs€of€those€with€limited€resources€or€living€in€countries€which€do€notŠ $ t Šhave€ready€or€reliable€access€to€the€Internet.€Such€concerns€need€to€be€addressed,€but€it€must€alsoŠ  ` Šbe€recalled€that€the€accessibility€of€printed€("hard€copy")€documents€in€such€countries€and€to€suchŠ ü L  Šindividuals€is€currently€close€to€zero€and€that€even€elites€in€such€countries,€whetherŠ č 8  Šgovernmental,€academic€or€activist,€invariably€have€difficulty€getting€access€to€printed€UnitedŠ Ō$  ŠNations€documents.€In€this€respect,€far€from€reinforcing€existing€disparities€in€access€toŠ Ą  Šinformation,€the€Internet€and€its€equivalents€offer€a€unique€opportunity€to€democratize€access€andŠ ¬ü  Što€ensure€the€systematic€availability€of€documentation€which€has€hitherto€been€extremely€difficultŠ ˜č  Što€obtain.Š „Ō  ŠŠ Š62.€€€€€€But€the€full€potential€of€these€developments,€in€terms€of€those€currently€without€readyŠ \¬ Šaccess,€will€only€be€realized€if€a€deliberate€strategy€is€devised€for€that€purpose.€This€in€turn€willŠ H˜ Šrequire€the€adoption€of€a€more€systematic,€consultative€and€transparent€process€than€has€hithertoŠ 4„ Šbeen€developed.€In€that€respect,€the€Centre€for€Human€Rights€could€learn€from€two€recentŠ  p Šinitiatives.€The€first€is€the€"WomenWatch"€project,€undertaken€jointly€by€the€Division€for€theŠ  \ ŠAdvancement€of€Women,€the€United€Nations€Development€Fund€for€Women€(UNIFEM)€and€theŠ ųH ŠInternational€Research€and€Training€Institute€for€the€Advancement€of€Women€(INSTRAW),Š ä4 Šwhich€aims€to€conceptualize,€design€and€implement€a€joint€Internet€space€on€global€informationŠ Š  Šon€women,€accessible€through€World€Wide€Web,€gopher€and€e-mail€technology.€The€project'sŠ ¼  Šaims€include€identifying€best€current€practices,€improving€access,€providing€training,€andŠ Øų Šdeveloping€cooperative€links€with€other€actors.Š ”ä ŠŠ Š63.€€€€€€The€Centre€for€Human€Rights€should€convene€an€expert€seminar€for€similar€purposes€inŠ l¼ Šrelation€to€human€rights€information€and€documentation.€Adequate€resources€should€be€devotedŠ X Ø Što€ensure€that€the€newly€created€Web€site€is€developed€further€and€kept€fully€up€to€date.Š D!” ŠConsideration€should€also€be€given€to€the€appointment€of€an€external€expert€advisory€group€toŠ 0"€  Šassist€in€relation€to€the€development€of€electronic€information€activities,€especially€as€they€relateŠ #l! Što€the€treaty€bodies.Š $X" ŠŠ Š64.€€€€€€€The€second€initiative€from€which€the€Centre€should€explore€the€lessons€to€be€learned€isŠ ą%0!$ Šthe€provision,€by€UNICEF,€of€notebook€computers€to€all€members€of€the€Committee€on€theŠ Ģ&"% ŠRights€of€the€Child.€The€computers€are€programmed€to€provide€e-mail€access€and€access€to€theŠ ø'#& Škey€databases€and€documentation€sources€needed€by€members€in€carrying€out€their€monitoringŠ ¤(ō#' Šfunctions.€If€the€experiment€is€a€success,€comparable€measures€should€be€taken€in€respect€ofŠ )ą$( Šmembers€of€the€five€other€treaty€bodies.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢĢņ ņÓ  Ó2.€Broader€access€to€ILO€and€UNHCR€electronic€databasesó óŠ @-(, Š‡Ó  Ó65.€€€€€€One€of€the€curious€features€of€current€information€technology€developments€which€directlyŠ ° Šconcern€the€treaty€bodies€is€that€one€of€the€agencies€which€has€moved€the€most€rapidly€and€achievedŠ œģ Šsome€of€the€best€results€-€the€ILO€-€has€persisted€with€a€strategy€which€is€no€longer€optimum€andŠ ˆŲ Šwhich€now€does€a€considerable€disservice€to€the€constituencies€the€organization€aims€to€serve.€It€hasŠ tÄ Šdeveloped€an€extensive€and€very€sophisticated€database,€of€major€and€direct€relevance€to€variousŠ `° Šaspects€of€the€work€of€the€treaty€bodies€and€the€human€rights€field€generally.€But€it€has€chosen€onlyŠ L œ Što€make€it€available€to€external€users€by€means€of€a€CD-ROM€which€must€be€purchased€and€forŠ 8 ˆ Šwhich€separate€equipment,€beyond€a€computer€and€an€Internet€connection,€must€be€acquired.€OneŠ $ t Šresult,€for€example,€is€that€the€database€is€unavailable€to€any€members€of€the€treaty€bodies,€to€NGOsŠ  ` Šor€scholars€unless€they€make€an€individual€purchase€at€considerable€expense.€Š ü L  ŠŠ Š66.€€€€€€There€also€seems€to€be€a€significant€time€lag€in€relation€to€the€availability€of€data€generatedŠ Ō$  Šby€UNHCR,€which€is€produced€first€for€its€CDšMšROM€("Refworld")€and€subsequently,€but€ratherŠ Ą  Šmore€slowly,€made€available€on€its€Web€site.€The€income€generated€by€this€"user-pays"€strategy€mayŠ ¬ü  Šnot€be€insignificant€but€the€costs,€in€terms€of€unnecessarily€restricted€access€to€information€and€theŠ ˜č  Šresulting€diminution€of€the€reliance€placed€upon€the€work€of€the€organizations,€would€seem€to€beŠ „Ō  Šconsiderable.€It€is€to€be€hoped€that€both€agencies,€but€the€ILO€in€particular,€will€reconsider€theirŠ pĄ Šexisting€strategy€and€make€their€very€valuable€resources€available€in€as€timely€a€fashion€as€possibleŠ \¬ Što€a€far€broader€public.Š H˜ ŠĢĢņ ņņņÓ  ÓF.€Public€informationóóó óŠ  \ ŠÓ5‘ÓĢ67.€€€€€€€The€need€for€improved€public€information€materials€to€be€devoted€to€the€work€of€the€treatyŠ ä4 Šbodies€has€been€a€constant€theme€of€recommendations€adopted€in€recent€years.€However,€given€theŠ Š  Šbudgetary€restraints€upon€the€Secretariat,€the€cumbersome€and€costly€procedures€followed€and€theŠ ¼  Šlack€of€the€necessary€human€and€other€resources,€it€is€not€surprising€that€relatively€little€informationŠ Øų Šabout€the€treaty€bodies€has€been€produced.€The€Human€Rights€Committee,€for€example,€has€beenŠ ”ä Šcalling€for€a€number€of€years€for€the€publication€of€a€third€volume€of€Selected€Decisions€of€theŠ €Š ŠHuman€Rights€Committee€under€the€Optional€Protocol,€without€success.€Volume€2€covers€the€periodŠ l¼ ŠOctober€1982€to€April€1988.€A€second€volume€of€Human€Rights:€A€Compilation€of€InternationalŠ X Ø ŠInstruments€has€been€under€preparation€since€1992,€and€although€the€Department€of€PublicŠ D!” ŠInformation€reports€that€it€"is€now€being€updated",€it€has€in€fact€never€been€published.€Apart€fromŠ 0"€  Šthe€extremely€valuable€United€Nations€Action€in€the€Field€of€Human€Rights,€published€every€fiveŠ #l! Šyears,€there€is€relatively€little€in€print€which€is€of€direct€relevance€to€the€treaty€bodies.€TheŠ $X" ŠProfessional€Training€Series€is€potentially€the€most€serious€and€valuable€set€of€publications.€The€25Š ō$D # ŠFact€Sheets€issued€to€date€may€have€been€printed€in€large€numbers€but€their€overall€utility,€and€theŠ ą%0!$ Šeffectiveness€of€their€distribution,€would€be€unlikely€to€be€rated€highly€by€external€experts.Š Ģ&"% ŠŠ Š68.€€€€€€Without€wishing€to€underestimate€the€difficulties€faced€by€those€who€labour€with€very€fewŠ ¤(ō#' Šresources€and€much€more€limited€political€support€than€is€usually€acknowledged,€it€would€seem€thatŠ )ą$( Šthe€publicity€provided€for€the€work€of€the€various€treaty€bodies€is€usually€unimaginative€and€notŠ |*Ģ%) Šespecially€informative.€It€is€far€beyond€the€mandate€of€the€independent€expert€to€review€in€any€detailŠ h+ø&* Šthe€various€alternative€approaches€that€might€be€considered€in€the€future.€It€must€suffice€to€say€thatŠ T,¤'+ Šthree€avenues€would€seem€worth€exploring.€The€first€is€giving€the€treaty€bodies€a€direct€input€intoŠ @-(, Šhow€a€specified€public€information€budget,€earmarked€for€that€purpose,€should€be€spent.€For€thatŠ ° Špurpose€an€options€paper€should€be€prepared€and€discussed€by€the€meeting€of€chairpersons€on€theŠ œģ Šbasis€of€discussions€in€individual€committees.€The€second€is€to€acknowledge€that€the€greatest€needŠ ˆŲ Šis€for€information€to€be€made€available€at€the€grassšMšroots€level,€rather€than€in€Geneva€and€New€YorkŠ tÄ Šwhere€it€seems€likely€the€great€majority€of€existing€materials€are€disseminated.€But€this€does€notŠ `° Šmean€simply€that€there€should€be€a€more€extensive€distribution€of€brochures€by€the€United€NationsŠ L œ Šinformation€centres.€Rather,€it€means€that€a€public€information€budget€should€be€available€to€supportŠ 8 ˆ ŠgrassšMšroots€initiatives€designed€to€disseminate€information€about€the€treaty€bodies€in€culturallyŠ $ t Šappropriate€and€more€popular€formats€and€media.Š  ` ŠŠ Š69.€€€€€The€third€avenue€is€to€explore€the€extent€to€which€the€preparation€of€publications,€such€as€theŠ č 8  ŠSelected€Decisions,€can€be€entrusted€to€academic€and€other€external€institutions€that€are€prepared€toŠ Ō$  Štake€them€on.€The€publication€could€then€be€achieved€commercially,€at€a€cost€which€would€beŠ Ą  Šsubstantially€less€than€having€either€the€editorial€or€printing€work€done€within€the€United€Nations.Š ¬ü  ŠThis€approach€would€also€respond€to€calls€by€the€Advisory€Committee€on€Administrative€andŠ ˜č  ŠBudgetary€Questions€to€explore€alternative€and€less€costly€approaches€to€the€publication€of€UnitedŠ „Ō  ŠNations€materials.€The€treaty€body€concerned€could€still€insist€on€appropriate€standards€in€relationŠ pĄ Što€content€and€the€publication€process€would€be€potentially€much€faster€and€certainly€less€costly.Š \¬ ŠŠ Š70.€€€€€€In€general,€there€would€seem€to€be€good€reason€to€convene,€from€time€to€time,€an€externalŠ 4„ Šadvisory€group€to€review€the€human€rights-related€publications€programme€and€makeŠ  p Šrecommendations€in€relation€to€it.€At€present,€the€system€is€singularly€lacking€in€transparency€andŠ  \ Šopportunities€for€inputs€from€informed€sources.€The€nature€and€quality€of€the€resulting€outputŠ ųH Šfaithfully€reflects€the€closed€and€bureaucratic€character€of€the€process.Š ä4 ŠŠ Š71.€€€€€One€minor€matter€that€warrants€attention€concerns€the€request€by€the€General€Assembly€inŠ ¼  Šresolution€50/170€that€the€United€Nations€information€centre€in€each€country€should€make€availableŠ Øų Ša€copy€of€the€following:€recent€reports€to€the€treaty€bodies€by€that€State,€the€summary€recordsŠ ”ä Šreflecting€the€examination€of€those€reports€and€the€relevant€concluding€observations€adopted€by€theŠ €Š Štreaty€bodies.€While€the€Secretary-General€has€reported€that€a€procedure€has€been€put€in€place€forŠ l¼ Šthis€purpose€(see€A/51/45),€he€should€be€asked€to€submit€a€follow-up€report€describing€the€situationŠ X Ø Šin€practice.€From€informal€reports€by€non-governmental€organizations€there€is€no€reason€to€believeŠ D!” Šthat€an€active€programme€of€dissemination€has€been€undertaken€in€relation€to€this€material€at€theŠ 0"€  Šcountry€level.Š #l! ŠĢĢņ ņņņÓ  ÓG.€Advisory€servicesóóó óŠ ą%0!$ ŠÓ)©ÓĢ72.€€€€€It€has€been€suggested€in€a€number€of€places€in€this€report€that€the€provision€of€"advisoryŠ ø'#& Šservices",€or€technical€cooperation€in€the€field€of€human€rights,€has€a€vital€role€to€play€in€relation€toŠ ¤(ō#' Šthose€States€which€do€not€have€the€administrative€capacity,€technical€expertise€or€financial€resourcesŠ )ą$( Šrequired€to€prepare€the€reports€they€are€legally€obligated€to€provide€under€the€relevant€treaties.Š |*Ģ%) ŠEqually,€similar€needs€hamper€the€quest€to€move€towards€universal€ratification.Š h+ø&* ŠŠ Š73.€€€€€€One€of€20€"substantive€themes"€identified€for€the€advisory€services€programme€is€"treatyŠ @-(, Šreporting€and€international€obligations"€(E/CN.4/1996/90,€para.€23),€but€the€independent€expert€hasŠ ° Šnot€been€able€to€identify€from€the€available€documentation€any€case€in€which€assistance€has€beenŠ œģ Šprovided€specifically€for€either€the€undertaking€of€a€survey€of€the€necessary€measures€to€be€takenŠ ˆŲ Šprior€to€ratification€of€a€human€rights€treaty€or€the€preparation€of€a€report€to€a€treaty€body.€TheŠ tÄ Šprincipal€exceptions€would€seem€to€relate€to€situations€such€as€Cambodia€or€Haiti€in€which€a€smallŠ `° Špart€of€a€large€assistance€package€has€been€devoted€to€such€activities.€While€this€assessment€probablyŠ L œ Šunderestimates€the€extent€of€assistance€provided€for€such€purposes,€it€is€clear€that€the€programmeŠ 8 ˆ Šas€a€whole€does€not€accord€sufficient€priority€to€these€activities.€It€may€be€replied€that€the€initiativeŠ $ t Šin€such€matters€must€rest€with€Governments€and€if€they€choose€not€to€make€requests€there€is€littleŠ  ` Šmore€that€the€programme€can€do.€But€the€situation€is€one€of€"chicken€and€egg".€In€the€absence€of€aŠ ü L  Šwell-resourced€fund€for€this€purpose,€along€with€the€identification€of€experts€who€are€technicallyŠ č 8  Šcompetent,€and€targeted€suggestions€that€particular€States€should€avail€themselves€of€the€assistance,Š Ō$  Šthere€are€likely€to€continue€to€be€few€requests.€As€a€result,€the€advisory€services€programme€will€notŠ Ą  Šmake€a€significant€contribution€to€the€goals€of€reducing€the€incidence€of€non-reporting€or€improvingŠ ¬ü  Šthe€quality€of€reporting.Š ˜č  ŠŠ Š74.€€€€€€One€activity€which€has€been€funded€in€the€context€of€the€advisory€services€programme€is€theŠ pĄ Šorganization€of€regional€or€subregional€training€courses€in€relation€to€reporting.€It€is€not€at€all€clear,Š \¬ Šhowever,€that€this€approach€is€likely€to€be€cost-effective.€To€take€but€one€example,€a€regional€trainingŠ H˜ Šcourse€on€reporting€obligations€for€countries€of€a€particular€region,€held€over€five€days€in€NovemberŠ 4„ Š1996,€cost€the€United€Nations€$143,800.€The€budget€provided€for€the€involvement€of€30€governmentŠ  p Šrepresentatives,€along€with€6€consultants€and€3€staff€members.€If€each€of€the€Governments€in€theŠ  \ Šregion€sent€one€representative,€the€achievement€of€an€impact€in€each€country€concerned€wouldŠ ųH Šdepend€upon€the€relevant€individual€having€benefited€significantly€from€the€project,€being€in€a€jobŠ ä4 Šwhich€gives€him€or€her€responsibility€for€reporting,€being€kept€in€the€same€job€long€enough€for€theŠ Š  Šbenefits€to€take€effect,€and€having€the€time,€commitment€and€skills€required€to€convey€someŠ ¼  Šexpertise€or€insights€to€others€involved€in€reporting€at€the€national€level.€While€there€may€be€someŠ Øų Šindividuals€who€satisfy€all€these€requirements,€it€seems€unlikely€to€be€the€case€in€the€majority€ofŠ ”ä Šinstances.€The€"multiplier€effect"€of€a€substantial€expense€is€thus€extremely€limited.€By€contrast,€aŠ €Š Šspecially€trained€official€(or€consultant)€could€spend€an€entire€month€in€the€field€providing€carefullyŠ l¼ Štailored€training€and€advice€to€a€wide€range€of€individuals€(both€governmental€andŠ X Ø Šnon-governmental)€in€a€particular€country€at€a€cost€of€less€than€$15,000.€Thus,€concentratedŠ D!” Šassistance€could€have€been€supplied€for€one€month€each€in€ten€different€countries€for€the€sameŠ 0"€  Šamount€of€money,€or€probably€less.Š #l! ŠŠ Š75.€€€€€The€problem€of€expertise€has€also€yet€to€be€addressed.€It€seems€often€to€be€assumed€thatŠ ō$D # Šmembers€of€the€treaty€bodies€will€have€the€necessary€technical€competence,€pedagogical€and€draftingŠ ą%0!$ Šskills,€and€the€availability€to€carry€out€such€functions.€Leaving€aside€the€question€of€whether€someŠ Ģ&"% Šconflict€of€interest€might€arise€in€such€situations,€there€is€clearly€much€to€be€said€for€hiring€orŠ ø'#& Štraining€individuals€with€the€requisite€skills€than€relying€upon€the€inevitably€very€uneven€capacitiesŠ ¤(ō#' Šof€any€given€treaty€body€member.€Given€that€the€International€Labour€Organization€has€long€hadŠ )ą$( Šprogrammes€involving€regional€advisers€in€the€provision€of€such€expert€advice,€it€would€beŠ |*Ģ%) Šappropriate€for€the€Centre€for€Human€Rights€to€draw€directly€upon€that€experience€and€to€exploreŠ h+ø&* Šthe€possibilities€for€cooperative€training€and€advisory€activities.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, Š76.€€€€€The€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€should€thus€be€requested€to€draw€up€a€specificŠ ° Šproject€designed€to€provide€the€necessary€resources,€both€financial€and€technical,€for€the€preparationŠ œģ Šof€reports€for€those€States€which€clearly€lack€the€necessary€resources€to€do€so€for€themselves.€TheŠ ˆŲ Šproject€should€reflect€lessons€to€be€learned€from€the€experience€of€the€ILO€and€canvas€the€possibilityŠ tÄ Šof€collaboration,€as€appropriate,€with€that€body.Š `° ŠŠ Š77.€€€€€€€The€Board€of€Trustees€for€the€Voluntary€Fund€for€Technical€Cooperation€should€be€requestedŠ 8 ˆ Što€include€the€preparation€of€reports€to€the€treaty€bodies€as€a€specific€priority€project.€It€is€not€clearŠ $ t Šthat€it€falls€within€the€priorities€endorsed€by€the€Board€to€date€(see€E/CN.4/1996/90,€para.€47).Š  ` ŠĢĢņ ņņņÓ  ÓH.€Special€reportsóóó óŠ Ō$  ŠÓĆÓĢ78.€€€€€€A€defining€characteristic€of€the€work€of€some€of€the€treaty€bodies€in€recent€years€has€been€anŠ ¬ü  Šemphasis€upon€"special€reports"€or€"urgent€procedures".€The€Human€Rights€Committee€and€theŠ ˜č  ŠCommittee€on€the€Elimination€of€Racial€Discrimination,€respectively,€have€made€significant€use€ofŠ „Ō  Šthese€procedures€aimed,€in€the€words€of€the€latter€"at€responding€to€problems€requiring€immediateŠ pĄ Šattention€to€prevent€or€limit€the€scale€or€number€of€serious€violations"€(A/51/18,€para.€26€(b)).€TheseŠ \¬ Šinitiatives€can€be€traced€back€to€a€proposal€made€by€the€Secretary-General€in€1992€that€ways€shouldŠ H˜ Šbe€explored€"of€empowering€the€Secretary-General€and€expert€human€rights€bodies€to€bring€massiveŠ 4„ Šviolations€of€human€rights€to€the€attention€of€the€Security€Council€together€with€recommendationsŠ  p Šfor€action"€(A/47/1,€para.€101).€Subsequently€the€fourth€meeting€of€chairpersons€noted€the€importantŠ  \ Šrole€of€the€treaty€bodies€in€seeking€to€prevent,€as€well€as€to€respond€to,€human€rights€violations.€TheyŠ ųH Šthen€stated€that:Š ä4 ŠŠ Šą8  ą"It€is€thus€appropriate€for€each€treaty€body€to€undertake€an€urgent€examination€of€allŠ ¼  Špossible€measures€that€it€might€take,€within€its€competence,€both€to€prevent€humanŠ Øų Šrights€violations€from€occurring€and€to€monitor€more€closely€emergency€situationsŠ ”ä Šof€all€kinds€arising€within€the€jurisdiction€of€States€parties.€Where€proceduralŠ €Š Šinnovations€are€required€for€this€purpose,€they€should€be€considered€as€soon€asŠ l¼ Špossible"€(A/47/628,€para.€44).ŠX ØŠ Š  ŠĢ79.€€€€€€The€independent€expert€participated€actively€in€the€consensus€on€that€statement,€which€hasŠ 0"€  Šsince€been€endorsed€by€the€General€Assembly€and€subsequent€meetings€of€chairpersons.€Today,Š #l! Šhowever,€the€expert€questions€the€wisdom€of€the€manner€in€which€this€mandate€has€been€applied.Š $X" ŠIt€is€frustrating€for€a€treaty€body€to€have€to€remain€inactive€in€the€face€of€massive€violations€and€itŠ ō$D # Šrisks€sending€a€signal€of€impotence,€perhaps€disdain€and€certainly€marginality.€On€the€other€hand,Š ą%0!$ Šthe€invocation€of€relatively€formalist€and€inflexible€procedures€directed€at€States€in€which€chronicŠ Ģ&"% Šviolations€are€occurring€in€a€context€of€crisis€or€major€armed€conflict€would€seem€unlikely€to€achieveŠ ø'#& Ša€great€deal.€Experience€to€date€seems€largely€to€confirm€this€conclusion.€While€there€should€not€andŠ ¤(ō#' Šprobably€could€not€be€any€hard€and€fast€rules€in€this€regard,€and€while€the€treaty€bodies€should€retainŠ )ą$( Šappropriate€flexibility,€there€is€much€to€be€said€for€maintaining€what€has€been€referred€to€as€"aŠ |*Ģ%) Šdivision€of€labour..€whereby€the€special€rapporteurs,€representatives€or€experts€[of€the€CommissionŠ h+ø&* Šon€Human€Rights,€etc.]€would€remain€responsible€for€urgent€appeals,€whereas€the€treaty€bodiesŠ T,¤'+ Šwould€focus€mainly€on€State€party€reports"€(E/CN.4/1997/3,€para.€43).€Š @-(, Š‡Ģņ ņÓ  ÓIII.€Ō_ŌMEDIUM„TERMŌ_Ō€AND€LONG„TERM€REFORM€ISSUESó óŠ œģ ŠĢĢņ ņņņA.€Introductionóóó óŠ `° ŠÓtŠÓĢ80.€€€€€€€It€is€now€almost€eight€years€since€the€independent€expert€first€suggested€that€considerationŠ 8 ˆ Šmight€be€given€to€the€preparation€of€consolidated€reports€to€the€treaty€bodies€as€well€as€to€theŠ $ t Ševentual€consolidation€of€the€existing€treaty€bodies€into€"one€or€perhaps€two€new€treaty€bodies".€HeŠ  ` Šalso€called€for€"a€sustained€exchange€of€views"€on€these€proposals€(A/44/668,€paras.€179€and€182).Š ü L  ŠSince€that€time,€academic€and€other€observers€have€taken€up€the€challenge€while€the€treaty€bodiesŠ č 8  Šthemselves,€the€meetings€of€chairpersons€and€the€policy€organs€have€all€remained€virtually€silent.Š Ō$  ŠThere€is€good€reason€for€the€silence€of€the€treaty€bodies.€Their€members€are€in€the€process€ofŠ Ą  Šinvesting€considerable€time€and€energy€into€making€the€existing€procedures€work€and€they€can€hardlyŠ ¬ü  Šbe€expected€to€be€enthusiastic€about€the€elimination€of€either€the€procedures€they€are€struggling€toŠ ˜č  Šperfect€or€of€those€committees€as€they€currently€exist.€It€is€less€clear€why€the€policy€organs€haveŠ „Ō  Šremained€reluctant€to€engage€in€the€debate.€It€is€suggested€that€the€trends€documented€in€this€reportŠ pĄ Šhave€already€made€such€debate€urgent€and€that,€in€any€event,€the€unsustainability€of€the€existingŠ \¬ Šsystem€will€have€compelled€radical€changes€of€one€type€or€another€within€less€than€a€decade.€TheŠ H˜ Šonly€real€question€is€whether€they€will€be€of€an€ad€hoc,€reactive€and€incomplete€nature€or€whetherŠ 4„ Šthey€will€have€been€planned€logically€and€systematically.Š  p ŠĢĢņ ņņņÓ  ÓB.€The€nature€of€the€emerging€challengeóóó óŠ ä4 ŠÓŲÓĢ81.€€€€€€The€information€and€analysis€contained€in€this€report€support€a€number€of€conclusions€as€toŠ ¼  Šthe€future€evolution€of€the€treaty€body€system.€Over€the€course€of€the€next€decade,€close€to€universalŠ Øų Šratification€of€the€six€core€treaties€is€likely€to€be€achieved.€States€will€be€under€increased€pressureŠ ”ä Što€honour€their€reporting€obligations€and€significant€technical€and€financial€assistance€will€be€madeŠ €Š Šavailable€to€help€them€to€do€so.€States€which€do€not€report€will€often€be€subject€to€review€anyway.Š l¼ ŠStates€will€be€expected€to€produce€six€reports,€to€engage€in€six€separate€"constructive€dialogues",€toŠ X Ø Šanswer€to€additional€ad€hoc€requests€from€six€committees,€and€to€respond€to€complaints€emanatingŠ D!” Šfrom€perhaps€four€or€more€separate€communications€procedures.€They€will€also€be€expected€to€takeŠ 0"€  Šfull€account€of€general€comments€(or€their€equivalents)€emanating€from€six€different€committees€andŠ #l! Što€respond€to€increasingly€detailed€concluding€observations€from€the€same€number€of€committees.€Š $X" ŠŠ Š82.€€€€€€€In€addition€to€these€obligations,€within€a€decade€a€significant€number€of€countries€may€wellŠ ą%0!$ Šbe€required€to€report€under€the€International€Convention€on€the€Protection€of€the€Rights€of€AllŠ Ģ&"% ŠMigrant€Workers€and€Members€of€Their€Families.€That€would€add€a€seventh€reporting€procedure€andŠ ø'#& Šyet€another€committee€and€will€require€States€parties€to€report€in€relation€to€the€most€complex,Š ¤(ō#' Šdetailed€and€lengthy€of€all€of€the€human€rights€treaties.€Š )ą$( ŠŠ Š83.€€€€€€But€a€growing€burden€upon€States€will€not€be€the€only€consequence.€The€treaty€bodies€willŠ h+ø&* Šneed€to€at€least€double€their€existing€meeting€time€so€that€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€ChildŠ T,¤'+ Šalone€would€be€meeting€for€close€to€six€months€of€every€year.€Committees€which€already€have€a€veryŠ @-(, Šlarge€backlog€of€unexamined€communications€will€be€joined€by€others€in€the€same€situation€andŠ ° Štogether€they€will€need€to€find€the€time€and€the€expertise€to€deal€with€the€more€and€more€complexŠ œģ Šissues€which,€in€the€nature€of€things,€will€inevitably€be€brought€before€them.€The€size€of€theŠ ˆŲ Šsecretariat€servicing€the€treaty€bodies€would€need€at€least€to€be€doubled€just€in€order€to€maintainŠ tÄ Šexisting€levels€of€service€(which€almost€every€treaty€body€has€condemned€as€entirely€inadequate).Š `° ŠThe€costs€of€conference€servicing€(especially€translation€of€documents€and€interpretation)€will€riseŠ L œ Šexponentially,€thus€making€major€additional€demands€upon€resources€that€are€presently€subject€toŠ 8 ˆ Šdramatic€cuts.€Domestic€non-governmental€organizations€would€rapidly€lose€interest€in€reporting€toŠ $ t Ša€different€treaty€body€every€year€and€their€international€counterparts€will€be€unable€to€keep€up€withŠ  ` Šthe€demands€emanating€every€year€from€one€treaty€body€or€another€in€relation€to€every€country.€TheŠ ü L  Šmedia,€both€national€and€international,€are€likely€to€become€even€less€interested€than€is€currently€theŠ č 8  Šcase€in€relation€to€such€frequent,€and€most€likely€superficial,€procedures.€Š Ō$  ŠŠ Š84.€€€€€€€The€members€of€the€treaty€bodies€would€be€required€to€spend€between€one€third€and€one€halfŠ ¬ü  Šof€their€time€in€Geneva€or€New€York,€for€which€some€(members€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee,Š ˜č  Šthe€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€against€Women€and€the€Committee€on€theŠ „Ō  ŠRights€of€the€Child)€will€receive€US$€3,000€per€year€(apart€from€their€daily€allowances)€and€theŠ pĄ Šothers€(members€of€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights,€the€Committee€on€theŠ \¬ ŠElimination€of€Racial€Discrimination€and€the€Committee€against€Torture)€will€receive€nothing€(apartŠ H˜ Šfrom€the€same€allowances).€In€light€of€such€demands,€committee€membership€will€be€feasible€onlyŠ 4„ Šfor€governmental€officials€paid€by€their€national€authorities€(a€situation€unlikely€to€guarantee€eitherŠ  p Šindependence€or€expertise),€academics€subsidized€by€their€Governments€(since€in€today's€climate€ofŠ  \ Šbudget€cuts€and€a€user-pays€approach€most€universities€are€unlikely€to€be€prepared€to€subsidizeŠ ųH Šinternational€service€for€half€the€year),€or€retirees.Š ä4 ŠĢĢņ ņņņÓ  ÓC.€A€review€of€optionsóóó óŠ Øų ŠÓ4ėÓĢ85.€€€€€€In€essence,€there€would€seem€to€be€four€options€available€to€States€in€dealing€with€such€aŠ €Š Šscenario.€The€first€is€to€dismiss€the€concern€as€alarmist€and€misplaced€on€the€ground€that€theŠ l¼ Šsituation€will€not€in€fact€evolve€in€this€way.€States€will€not€move€towards€universal€ratification;€theyŠ X Ø Šwill€continue€to€be€chronically€overdue€in€reporting;€and€they€will€become€increasingly€blas€in€theirŠ D!” Šdealings€with€the€treaty€bodies.€The€response€by€the€latter€will€remain€essentially€as€it€is€today€and,Š 0"€  Šsomehow,€existing€resources€will€be€used€more€efficiently€in€order€to€enable€the€maintenance€of€theŠ #l! Šstatus€quo.€The€number€of€complaints€procedures€will€not€increase€and€the€number€ofŠ $X" Šcommunications€will€stabilize.€And€the€migrant€workers€convention€will€not€enter€into€force.€OverŠ ō$D # Štime,€this€option€will€lead€to€a€reporting€system€that€will€have€become€little€more€than€a€costlyŠ ą%0!$ Šcharade,€since€it€will€be€unable€to€cope€in€any€meaningful€way€with€the€various€functions€entrustedŠ Ģ&"% Što€it.Š ø'#& ŠŠ Š86.€€€€€€The€second€option€would€amount€to€the€fulfilment€of€the€dreams€of€some€reformers€and€ofŠ )ą$( Šmost€budget-cutters:€the€treaty€bodies€will€undertake€faršMšreaching€reforms€of€their€existingŠ |*Ģ%) Šprocedures,€and€will€manage€from€within€existing€resources.€Extensive€authority€will€be€delegatedŠ h+ø&* Što€the€Secretariat€to€undertake€preliminary€report€processing.€The€latter€will€be€staffed€largely€byŠ T,¤'+ Šinterns,€junior€professional€officers€(JPOs)€paid€for€on€a€voluntary€basis€by€the€industrializedŠ @-(, Šcountries,€and€by€individuals€from€other€countries€sponsored€by€foundations€or€their€ownŠ ° ŠGovernments.€Individual€committee€members€will€be€responsible€for€drafting€assessments€whichŠ œģ Šwill€be€reviewed€in€small€working€groups€and,€except€in€especially€controversial€cases,€will€beŠ ˆŲ Šrapidly€endorsed€in€plenary.€Any€"dialogue"€will€take€place€largely€in€writing.€No€report€would€beŠ tÄ Šconsidered€in€plenary€for€more€than€one€or€two€hours€and€each€expert€would€be€limited€to€fiveŠ `° Šminutes'€speaking€time€(thus€making€a€total€of€90€minutes€in€the€case€of€the€two€CovenantšMšrelatedŠ L œ Šcommittees,€for€example).€Communications€will€be€processed€in€a€similar€manner.€Summary€recordsŠ 8 ˆ Šwill€be€dispensed€with,€and€translation€will€only€be€available€for€the€final€products€of€theŠ $ t Šcommittees.€Interpretation€will€be€available€only€for€plenary€sessions€and€the€remaining€work€willŠ  ` Šbe€done€by€heterogeneous€language€groups€working€overwhelmingly€in€English.€Š ü L  ŠŠ Š87.€€€€€€Apart€from€the€difficulty€of€achieving€any€of€these€reforms,€the€main€problem€with€this€optionŠ Ō$  Šis€that€it€would€require€a€radical€change€in€many€of€the€assumptions€on€the€basis€of€which€the€currentŠ Ą  Šsystem€has€been€developed.€For€the€most€part,€States€have€shown€no€preparedness€to€make€suchŠ ¬ü  Šchanges.€Moreover,€the€quality€of€the€resulting€outcomes,€as€well€as€their€ability€to€command€respectŠ ˜č  Šand€generate€the€desired€domestic€responses,€is€unlikely€to€be€high.Š „Ō  ŠŠ Š88.€€€€€€The€third€option€is€the€provision€of€greatly€enhanced€budgetary€resources€to€support€allŠ \¬ Šaspects€of€the€procedures€with€a€view€to€more€or€less€maintaining€the€status€quo.€Funding€would€beŠ H˜ Šprovided€for€increased€Secretariat€staffing,€translation€and€interpretation€facilities,€and€a€largeŠ 4„ Štechnical€cooperation€budget€would€be€allocated€to€fund€an€extensive€array€of€advisory€servicesŠ  p Šdesigned€to€enable€States€to€meet€their€extensive€reporting€obligations.€Even€leaving€aside€theŠ  \ Šquestion€of€whether€this€would€be€a€workable€approach€in€practice,€current€as€well€as€foreseeableŠ ųH Šfuture€budget€trends€would€seem€to€be€moving€in€the€opposite€direction€to€that€required.€Š ä4 ŠŠ Š89.€€€€€€€The€fourth€option€is€a€more€complex€one,€drawing€on€elements€of€the€other€options,€andŠ ¼  Šbased€primarily€upon€the€adoption€of€some€or€all€of€the€reforms€canvassed€below.Š Øų ŠĢĢņ ņņņÓ  ÓD.€Consolidated€reportsóóó óŠ l¼ ŠÓ‰żÓĢ90.€€€€€€€€The€interim€report€by€the€independent€expert€outlined€a€proposal€for€the€preparation€of€aŠ D!” Šsingle€consolidated€report€by€each€State€party,€which€would€then€be€submitted€in€satisfaction€of€theŠ 0"€  Šrequirements€under€each€of€the€treaties€to€which€the€State€is€a€party.€That€proposal€is€for€individualŠ #l! ŠStates€to€consider€and€act€upon.€It€does€not€require€endorsement€or€other€formal€action€by€any€UnitedŠ $X" ŠNations€body€or€the€treaty€bodies.€The€detailed€analytical€study€called€for€by€the€General€AssemblyŠ ō$D # Šin€resolution€51/87€will,€when€completed,€assist€in€the€preparation€of€any€such€consolidated€reports.Š ą%0!$ ŠUltimately,€the€questions€and€concerns€that€have€been€raised€can€only€be€answered€definitively€onŠ Ģ&"% Šthe€basis€of€concrete€efforts€to€produce€and€work€on€the€basis€of€such€reports.Š ø'#& ŠĢĢņ ņņņÓ  ÓE.€Elimination€of€comprehensive€periodic€reports€in€their€present€formóóó óŠ |*Ģ%) ŠÓ”ÓĢ91.€€€€€€€Another€proposal,€previously€foreshadowed€by€the€independent€expert€but€not€developed€inŠ T,¤'+ Šany€detail,€would€be€to€eliminate€the€requirement€that€States€parties'€periodic€reports€should€beŠ @-(, Šcomprehensive.€Such€an€approach€would€clearly€not€be€appropriate€in€relation€to€initial€reports.Š ° ŠSimilarly,€it€might€be€better€suited€to€the€situation€of€some€treaty€bodies€than€others,€and€might€notŠ œģ Šbe€applied€in€all€cases.€The€broader€the€scope€of€a€treaty,€the€more€appropriate€it€would€seem€to€beŠ ˆŲ Što€seek€to€limit€the€range€of€issues€which€must€be€addressed€in€a€report.€In€effect,€the€reportingŠ tÄ Šguidelines€would€be€tailored€to€each€State's€individual€situation.€In€many€respects,€it€is€a€logicalŠ `° Šextension€of€an€approach€followed€by€the€Human€Rights€Committee€since€1989.Š L œ ŠŠ Š92.€€€€€Since€there€are€various€formulas€which€might€be€adopted,€the€following€process€is€onlyŠ $ t Šindicative.€It€would€begin€with€a€decision€by€the€committee€at€session€A€to€draw€up€a€list€ofŠ  ` Šquestions€at€session€B.€In€the€intervening€period€it€would€invite€submissions€of€information€from€allŠ ü L  Šrelevant€sources€and€would€request€the€Secretariat€to€prepare€a€country€analysis.€The€prešMšsessionalŠ č 8  Šworking€group€could€then€meet,€perhaps€immediately€before€or€during€session€B,€and€draft€a€specificŠ Ō$  Šand€limited€list€of€questions.€After€endorsement€by€the€Committee€at€session€B€the€list€would€beŠ Ą  Šforwarded€immediately€to€the€State€party€with€a€request€for€a€written€report€to€be€submitted€inŠ ¬ü  Šadvance€(in€sufficient€time€to€enable€translation)€of€session€C€or€D.€Such€a€procedure€would:€focusŠ ˜č  Šthe€dialogue€on€a€limited€range€of€issues;€entirely€eliminate€the€need€to€produce€a€lengthy€reportŠ „Ō  Šcovering€many€issues€of€little€particular€import€in€relation€to€the€country€concerned;€ensure€thatŠ pĄ Šissues€of€current€importance€are€the€principal€focus;€guarantee€that€a€report€would€be€examined€onŠ \¬ Šschedule;€enable€individuals€with€expertise€in€the€matters€under€review€to€participate€in€theŠ H˜ Šdelegation;€reduce€the€number€of€ministries€directly€involved€in€report€preparation;€enhance€theŠ 4„ Šcapacity€of€expert€members€of€the€committees€to€be€well€prepared€for€the€dialogue;€and€provide€aŠ  p Šstrong€foundation€for€more€detailed€and€clearly€focused€concluding€observations.Š  \ ŠŠ Š93.€€€€€€€It€is€therefore€recommended€that€each€committee€should€consider€the€extent€to€which€all€orŠ ä4 Šsome€of€its€principal€supervisory€functions€could€be€conducted€on€the€basis€not€of€general€reportsŠ Š  Šbased€on€universally€applicable€reporting€guidelines€but€of€more€limited€and€specially€tailoredŠ ¼  Šrequests€for€reports€as€described€above.€Š Øų ŠĢÓ  ÓĢņ ņņņF.€Towards€a€consolidation€of€the€treaty€bodiesóóó óŠ l¼ ŠÓSÓĢ94.€€€€Some€of€the€arguments€for€and€against€this€reform€have€already€been€explored€in€theŠ D!” Šindependent€expert's€1989€report€(A/44/668,€paras.€182šMš183).€For€that€reason,€they€will€not€beŠ 0"€  Šrepeated€here.€Given€the€limitations€of€space€it€must€suffice€to€note€in€this€context€that€while€theŠ #l! Šlegal€and€procedural€problems€inherent€in€such€an€initiative€would€not€be€negligible,€the€prior€issueŠ $X" Šis€whether€there€is€the€political€will€to€begin€exploring€in€any€detail€the€contours€of€such€a€reform.Š ō$D # ŠIf€that€will€were€manifest,€the€technical€challenges€would€be€resolvable.€It€is€therefore€recommendedŠ ą%0!$ Šthat€consideration€be€given€to€the€convening€of€a€small€expert€group,€with€an€appropriate€emphasisŠ Ģ&"% Šupon€international€legal€expertise,€to€prepare€a€report€on€the€modalities€that€might€be€considered€inŠ ø'#& Šthis€respect.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢĢņ ņņņÓ  ÓG.€The€desirability€of€additional€proactive€measuresóóó óŠ h+ø&* ŠÓŖÓĢ95.€€€€€€€In€addition€to€examining€the€possibility€of€steps€to€reduce€the€existing€number€of€treatyŠ @-(, Šbodies,€it€is€important€for€United€Nations€organs€which€are€involved€in€the€design€of€new€proceduresŠ ° Što€bear€in€mind€the€desirability€of€limiting€the€number€of€additional€bodies€to€be€created.€Viewed€inŠ œģ Šisolation,€and€on€their€individual€merits,€proposals€to€establish€new,€and€improved,€mechanisms€areŠ ˆŲ Šinevitably€attractive.€This€attraction€should,€however,€be€balanced€against€the€impact€on€the€systemŠ tÄ Šas€a€whole€of€new€bodies€competing€for€scarce€resources€and€perhaps,€in€some€respects€at€least,Š `° Šunnecessarily€duplicating€the€demands€upon€States€parties.€At€least€two€current€endeavours€mightŠ L œ Šbe€relevant€in€this€respect.€Š 8 ˆ ŠŠ Š96.€€€€€€The€first€concerns€a€procedure€which€has€already€been€finalized€and€enshrined€in€a€treaty.Š  ` ŠArticle€72€of€the€International€Convention€on€the€Protection€of€the€Rights€of€All€Migrant€WorkersŠ ü L  Šand€Members€of€Their€Families€provides€for€the€election€of€a€Committee€on€the€Protection€of€theŠ č 8  ŠRights€of€All€Migrant€Workers€and€Members€of€Their€Families€within€six€months€of€theŠ Ō$  ŠConvention's€entry€into€force.€This€occurs€when€there€are€20€States€parties.€Although€it€was€adoptedŠ Ą  Šsix€years€ago€(in€December€1990),€as€at€1€November€1996€there€were€only€seven€States€parties.€ByŠ ¬ü  Šacting€now€to€amend€the€treaty€so€as€to€provide€that€the€supervisory€functions€which€the€ConventionŠ ˜č  Šentrusts€to€a€new€committee€would€instead€be€performed€by€one€of€the€existing€committeesŠ „Ō  Š(presumably€either€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€or€the€Human€RightsŠ pĄ ŠCommittee)€the€United€Nations€could€avoid€the€expense€of€establishing€an€entire€new€supervisoryŠ \¬ Šapparatus,€States€parties€could€avoid€increasing€the€number€of€committees€to€which€they€must€reportŠ H˜ Šand€the€number€of€occasions€on€which€reports€must€be€presented€and€evaluated,€and€the€number€ofŠ 4„ ŠStates€which€would€have€to€ratify€the€amendment€would€be€minimal.€A€failure€to€act€now€will€onlyŠ  p Šresult€in€exacerbating€a€situation€that€most€States€already€consider€to€be€unwieldy.€Moreover,€oneŠ  \ Šof€the€major€obstacles€to€reform€in€all€such€matters€is€the€resistance€of€those€(including€experts,Š ųH ŠSecretariat€officials,€Governments,€NGOs,€etc.)€with€a€vested€interest€in€the€maintenance€of€theŠ ä4 Šstatus€quo.€Action€taken€at€this€stage€would€encounter€comparatively€very€little€resistance€from€suchŠ Š  Šsources.€But€if€delayed,€it€will€probably€become€impossible.Š ¼  ŠŠ Š97.€€€€€€The€second€example€concerns€the€draft€optional€protocol€to€the€Convention€against€TortureŠ ”ä Šand€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€the€drafting€of€which€is€currentlyŠ €Š Šbeing€undertaken€by€a€working€group€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights.€The€protocol€would,Š l¼ Šinter€alia,€provide€for€visits€to€places€of€detention€by€an€expert€body€entrusted€with€that€function.€AtŠ X Ø Šits€most€recent€session€the€working€group€took€note€of€two€different€views€as€to€the€relationship,€onŠ D!” Šthe€one€hand€between€the€new€instrument€and€the€existing€Convention,€and€on€the€other€handŠ 0"€  Šbetween€the€proposed€new€subcommittee€and€the€existing€Committee€against€Torture.€PersuasiveŠ #l! Šarguments€were€put€forward€in€favour€of€the€instrument€being€kept€quite€separate€from€theŠ $X" ŠConvention€and€of€the€sub-committee€being€entirely€independent€of€the€Committee€(seeŠ ō$D # ŠE/CN.4/1997/33,€paras.€14,€16,€19).€But€whatever€the€undoubted€merits€of€those€proposals,€theyŠ ą%0!$ Šwould€contribute€very€significantly€to€the€further€proliferation€of€instruments€and€committees,€whileŠ Ģ&"% Šdoing€nothing€to€ameliorate€the€present€situation.€A€more€appropriate€solution€would€seem€to€be€toŠ ø'#& Šarrive€at€a€formula€by€which€States€which€accepted€the€new€procedures€would€be€exempted€fromŠ ¤(ō#' Šmost,€if€not€all,€of€their€reporting€obligations€under€the€Convention€and€to€explore€all€possibleŠ )ą$( Šformulas€by€which€the€members€of€the€Committee€could€serve€on€the€new€mechanism€as€well.€ThisŠ |*Ģ%) Šwould€seem€to€be€a€case€in€which€the€Secretariat€should€be€requested€to€prepare€an€analytical€paperŠ h+ø&* Šexploring€different€options€in€a€creative€rather€than€mechanistic€fashion.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, Š‡ņ ņņņÓ  ÓH.€Amending€the€treatiesóóó óŠ ° ŠÓy&ÓĢ98.€€€€€€Since€the€submission€of€the€first€report€on€treaty€body€reform,€in€1989,€amendments€to€threeŠ ˆŲ Šof€the€six€treaties€have€been€approved€by€the€respective€Meetings€of€the€States€Parties€and€endorsedŠ tÄ Šby€the€General€Assembly.€They€seek€to€ensure€that€the€activities€of€both€the€Committee€on€theŠ `° ŠElimination€of€Racial€Discrimination€and€the€Committee€against€Torture€are€financed€from€theŠ L œ Šregular€budget€of€the€United€Nations€(rather€than€wholly€or€partly€by€the€States€parties€as€currentlyŠ 8 ˆ Šprovided€for€in€the€respective€treaties)€and€to€permit€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€ofŠ $ t ŠDiscrimination€against€Women€to€meet€for€longer€than€the€two€weeks€annually€specified€in€theŠ  ` ŠConvention.€A€fourth€proposed€amendment€would€expand€the€membership€of€the€Committee€on€theŠ ü L  ŠRights€of€the€Child€from€10€to€18.€The€fact€that€both€the€respective€Meetings€of€States€Parties,€asŠ č 8  Šwell€as€the€General€Assembly,€have€approved€these€amendments€is€an€indication€of€the€need€forŠ Ō$  Šreform€and€of€the€preparedness€of€Governments€to€endorse€such€reforms.€Š Ą  ŠŠ Š99.€€€€€€Despite€this€clear€consensus€none€of€the€amendments€has€yet€entered€into€force€and€theŠ ˜č  Šprospects€that€they€will€do€so€in€the€foreseeable€future€must€be€considered€slight.€Thus,€for€example,Š „Ō  Šover€a€period€of€four€years€only€20€of€the€148€(as€at€19€February€1997)€States€parties€to€theŠ pĄ ŠInternational€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination€had€accepted€theŠ \¬ Šamendments.€In€the€case€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€DegradingŠ H˜ ŠTreatment€or€Punishment€20€of€101€States€parties€had€done€so€(see€E/CN.4/1997/73,€para.€7).€TheŠ 4„ Šproblem€is€not€that€States€parties€are€opposed€to€the€amendment€or€that€they€are€reluctant€to€see€themŠ  p Šbrought€into€force.€This€is€illustrated€by€the€fact€that€every€State€party€stands€to€gain€financially€fromŠ  \ Šthe€amendments,€since€the€costs€involved€will€then€be€spread€among€the€entire€membership€of€theŠ ųH ŠUnited€Nations,€rather€than€falling€only€on€the€parties€to€the€relevant€treaty.€It€is€thus€the€nonšMšStatesŠ ä4 Šparties€that€would€have€a€financial€incentive€to€oppose€such€amendments,€but€they€have€chosen€notŠ Š  Što€do€so€when€called€upon€to€vote€in€the€General€Assembly.€Rather,€the€problem€lies€in€the€processŠ ¼  Šof€satisfying€all€of€the€domestic€legal€and€political€requirements€needed€to€approve€an€amendmentŠ Øų Što€a€treaty.€It€is€apparent€that€they€are€considered€by€many€Governments,€all€of€whom€are€confrontedŠ ”ä Šwith€an€ever-increasing€volume€of€international€agreements€to€"process",€to€be€too€time-consumingŠ €Š Šand€cumbersome€to€be€worth€the€effort.Š l¼ ŠŠ Š100.€€€€€€To€the€extent€possible,€the€General€Assembly€has,€in€each€instance,€authorized€temporaryŠ D!” Šmeasures€to€ameliorate€the€situation€in€the€intervening€period.€Such€flexibility€is€indispensable,€evenŠ 0"€  Šthough€it€might€have€the€unintended€consequence€of€further€discouraging€States€parties€from€takingŠ #l! Šthe€domestic€steps€required€to€effect€their€legal€acceptance€of€the€amendments.Š $X" ŠŠ Š101.€€€€€€Several€recommendations€emerge€from€this€situation:Š ą%0!$ ŠŠ Š(a)€€€All€future€human€rights€treaties€should€provide€for€a€simplified€process€to€be€followed€in€orderŠ ø'#& Što€amend€the€relevant€procedural€provisions.€While€the€specific€endorsement€of€this€proposal€by€theŠ ¤(ō#' ŠCommission€on€Human€Rights€could€not€be€binding€in€the€context€of€any€future€negotiations€itŠ )ą$( Šwould€constitute€a€clear€policy€guideline€and€help€to€facilitate€the€adoption€of€such€flexibility€in€theŠ |*Ģ%) Šfuture;Š h+ø&* ŠŠ Š(b)€€€A€report€should€be€requested€from€the€Legal€Counsel€which€would€explore€the€feasibility€ofŠ @-(, Šdevising€more€innovative€approaches€in€dealing€with€existing€and€future€amendments€to€the€humanŠ ° Šrights€treaties;Š œģ ŠŠ Š(c)€€€The€General€Assembly€should€request€the€Meetings€of€the€States€Parties€to€the€relevant€treatiesŠ tÄ Što€discuss€means€by€which€the€States€concerned€might€be€encouraged€to€attach€a€higher€priority€toŠ `° Šratification€of€the€amendments€already€approved;Š L œ ŠŠ Š(d)€€€Consideration€should€be€given€immediately€to€amending€the€International€Convention€on€theŠ $ t ŠProtection€of€the€Rights€of€All€Migrant€Workers€and€Members€of€Their€Families€in€line€with€theŠ  ` Šrecommendation€made€below;Š ü L  ŠŠ Š(e)€€€In€view€of€the€agreement€of€the€Meeting€of€States€Parties€and€of€the€General€Assembly€in€1992Š Ō$  Što€amend€article€8,€paragraph€6,€of€the€International€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€ofŠ Ą  ŠRacial€Discrimination€to€eliminate€the€responsibility€of€the€States€parties€for€the€expenses€of€theŠ ¬ü  ŠCommittee€members,€action€should€now€be€taken€to€write€off€the€continuing€backlog€ofŠ ˜č  Šcontributions€owed€for€that€purpose.€At€present,€57€States€parties€owe€a€total€of€US$€225,506,€or€anŠ „Ō  Šaverage€of€just€under€$4,000€each€(see€A/51/430,€annex€II).€Given€that€these€assessments€are€nowŠ pĄ Šanachronistic€and€that€the€cost€incurred€by€the€United€Nations€of€calculating,€updating€and€reportingŠ \¬ Šon€their€non-payment€will€soon€exceed€the€amount€involved,€agreement€should€be€sought€to€coverŠ H˜ Šthe€outstanding€amount€from€the€regular€budget€and€close€the€file.€For€legal€and€policy€reasons,€itŠ 4„ Šshould€be€indicated€that€no€precedent€of€broader€application€is€thereby€created.Š  p ŠĢÓ  ÓĢņ ņIV.€OTHER€ISSUESó óŠ ä4 ŠĢĢņ ņņņA.€The€unmentionable€language€questionóóó óŠ Øų ŠÓd?ÓĢ102.€€€€€€€The€question€of€languages€has€gone€largely€unaddressed€in€this€report.€For€the€most€part,Š €Š Šthis€is€merely€an€accurate€reflection€of€the€inability€of€the€United€Nations€and€its€Member€States€toŠ l¼ Šcome€to€grips€with€one€of€the€most€controversial€and€enduring€issues€confronting€the€OrganizationŠ X Ø Šas€a€whole.€Unfortunately,€it€is€also€one€which€is€of€particular€importance€to€the€treaty€bodies.€AnyŠ D!” Šattempt€by€the€independent€expert€to€resolve€the€dilemmas€would€be€both€presumptuous€and€doomedŠ 0"€  Što€failure.€Nevertheless,€it€is€appropriate€to€proffer€a€few€pertinent€observations.Š #l! ŠŠ Š103.€€€€€€In€the€first€place,€the€treaty€€bodies€have€€been€compelled€by€resource€€constraints€andŠ ō$D # Šdecisions€taken€elsewhere€to€privilege€the€two€principal€working€languages€of€the€Secretariat.€ThisŠ ą%0!$ Šis€reflected€in€the€production€of€summary€records€and€press€releases,€and€in€the€vast€majority€ofŠ Ģ&"% Šdrafting€exercises.€Simultaneous€interpretation€into€languages€other€than€Spanish,€unless€specificallyŠ ø'#& Šrequested,€seems€to€be€increasingly€less€common€in€the€dayšMštošMšday€work€of€the€treaty€bodies.Š ¤(ō#' ŠSecondly,€the€de€facto€dominance€of€English€as€the€main€working€language€of€the€committees€hasŠ )ą$( Šincreased€very€significantly€in€the€past€few€years.€While€this€may€be€regrettable€in€terms€of€theŠ |*Ģ%) Šmaintenance€of€linguistic€equality€and€diversity€it€is€largely€a€reflection€of€national€trends€which€areŠ h+ø&* Šoutside€the€control€of€the€treaty€bodies.€These€trends€seem€likely€to€accelerate€in€the€years€ahead€asŠ T,¤'+ Ša€result€of€the€emphasis€upon€English€in€business,€information€technology,€science,€media€and€otherŠ @-(, Šspheres€of€activity.€Thirdly,€for€a€variety€of€reasons€well€beyond€the€control€of€the€United€Nations,Š ° ŠEnglish€language€materials€tend€to€predominate€in€the€rapidly€growing€volume€of€information€whichŠ œģ Šmakes€up€the€background€materials€available€to€the€treaty€bodies€in€their€examination€of€individualŠ ˆŲ ŠState€reports.Š tÄ ŠŠ Š104.€€€Official€responses€within€the€United€€Nations€to€these€trends€€have€been€somewhatŠ L œ Šcontradictory.€On€the€one€hand,€the€General€Assembly€has€reaffirmed€its€strong€commitment€to€theŠ 8 ˆ Šprinciple€of€linguistic€diversity,€and€the€Secretariat€has€attached€renewed€emphasis€to€an€old€rule€byŠ $ t Šwhich€a€document€cannot€be€issued€in€any€language€until€it€is€available€in€all.€At€the€same€time,Š  ` Švarious€policies€and€practices€encourage€the€treaty€bodies€to€operate€with€as€few€languages€asŠ ü L  Špossible.€The€very€rapidly€increasing€number€of€individuals,€groups€and€agencies€obtaining€accessŠ č 8  Što€the€documentation€of€international€organizations€by€electronic€means€are,€and€are€virtually€certainŠ Ō$  Što€continue€to€be,€significantly€advantaged€if€they€can€work€in€English€rather€than€in€any€other€language.Š Ą  ŠŠ Š105.€€€€€€€€€The€official€rules€are€appropriate€reflections€of€a€commitment€to€multilingualism€andŠ ˜č  Šwould,€in€a€context€of€adequate€resources,€help€to€maintain€an€appropriate€balance.€But€in€a€situationŠ „Ō  Šof€dire€financial€stringency€the€resulting€inflexibility€will,€on€the€one€hand,€wreak€havoc€and€on€theŠ pĄ Šother,€provoke€resort€to€ever€more€creative€and€devious€strategies€to€circumvent€unworkable€rules.Š \¬ ŠSuch€strategies€invariably€add€to€overall€costs€and,€at€least€in€the€longer€term,€generate€a€range€ofŠ H˜ Šinefficient,€opaque€and€counter-productive€practices.€Understandable€resentment€of€the€extent€toŠ 4„ Šwhich€extraneous€factors€have€tended€to€undermine€the€policy€of€language€equality€has€tended€toŠ  p Šstifle€efforts€to€identify€a€range€of€medium-term€and€long-term€strategies€which€might€respond€toŠ  \ Šemerging€realities€in€a€more€nuanced€manner.€Š ųH ŠŠ Š106.€€€€€€€€In€the€context€of€the€treaty€bodies€the€importance€of€maintaining€linguistic€diversity€is,€forŠ Š  Šmany€reasons,€beyond€doubt.€By€the€same€token,€in€the€absence€of€a€substantial€increase€in€funds€forŠ ¼  Šinterpretation,€there€is€a€clear€need€for€the€different€committees€to€explore€ways€in€which€workingŠ Øų Šgroups€and€other€non-plenary€meetings€can€be€held€without€official€translation.€Greater€emphasisŠ ”ä Šshould€be€attached€to€the€ability€of€nominees€for€election€to€the€treaty€bodies€to€work€in€at€least€one,Š €Š Šand€preferably€two,€of€the€three€major€languages.€Ways€will€have€to€be€found€in€which€the€contentŠ l¼ Šof€materials€available€in€only€one€language€can€be€drawn€upon€more€efficiently€for€the€benefit€of€theŠ X Ø Šwhole€committee.€Consideration€will€need€to€be€given€to€delegating€certain€responsibilities€toŠ D!” Šworking€groups€capable€of€working€without€translation.€While€these€and€other€more€innovative€andŠ 0"€  Šflexible€steps€will€probably€be€considered€only€reluctantly,€necessity€will€have€its€way€sooner€ratherŠ #l! Šthan€later.Š $X" ŠĢĢĢņ ņņņÓ  ÓB.€Cooperation€with€the€specialized€agencies€and€other€bodiesóóó óŠ ø'#& ŠÓĮUÓĢ107.€€€€€Cooperation€between€the€specialized€agencies€€and€the€treaty€bodies€remains€moreŠ )ą$( Šproblematic€than€is€generally€recognized.€There€are€several€outstanding€examples€of€suchŠ |*Ģ%) Šcooperation,€most€notably€between€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€and€UNICEF,€ILO,Š h+ø&* ŠUNESCO€and€UNHCR,€and€between€the€ILO€and€several€of€the€other€treaty€bodies.€The€overallŠ T,¤'+ Šsituation€remains€unsatisfactory,€however.€There€have€been€many€calls€for€consultation€in€order€toŠ @-(, Šidentify€the€most€productive€and€sustainable€forms€of€cooperation,€but€little€has€resulted.€As€notedŠ ° Šabove,€a€request€by€the€sixth€meeting€of€chairpersons€for€such€a€discussion€to€take€place€at€a€highŠ œģ Šlevel€at€the€seventh€meeting€(in€1996)€resulted€in€the€active€involvement€of€very€few€agencies€andŠ ˆŲ Šan€inability€to€take€any€measures€of€consequence€in€relation€to€this€issue.€Similarly,€repeated€requestsŠ tÄ Šby€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights,€contained€in€resolutions€adopted€since€1993,€calling€for€anŠ `° Šexpert€seminar€to€be€organized€in€conjunction€with€the€international€financial€institutions€haveŠ L œ Šresulted€in€no€action€by€the€Centre€for€Human€Rights€despite€the€willingness€of€the€World€Bank€toŠ 8 ˆ Šproceed.€While€the€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€held€a€meeting€in€July€1996€with€theŠ $ t ŠPresident€of€the€World€Bank,€this€has€not€led€to€any€concrete€results€in€relation€to€the€work€of€theŠ  ` Štreaty€bodies.€As€a€result,€important€opportunities€are€being€missed.€Š ü L  ŠŠ Š108.€€€€€€€In€order€to€remedy€this€situation€it€is€recommended€that€the€Commission€on€Human€RightsŠ Ō$  Šshould€request€the€High€Commissioner€to€convene€a€highšMšlevel€meeting€over€a€period€of€two€daysŠ Ą  Šbetween€senior€representatives€of€the€key€specialized€agencies€and€other€bodies€(including€ILO,Š ¬ü  ŠWHO,€FAO,€UNESCO,€UNICEF,€UNHCR,€UNDP,€UNFPA€and€the€World€Bank),€senior€staff€ofŠ ˜č  Šthe€Centre€and€the€chairpersons€of€the€six€treaty€bodies.€In€order€to€minimize€costs€and€capitalize€onŠ „Ō  Šother€coordination€efforts,€the€meeting€should€take€place€immediately€before€or€after€one€of€theŠ pĄ Šannual€meetings€of€the€chairpersons.€The€purpose€should€be€to€explore€the€most€constructive,Š \¬ Šappropriate,€costšMšeffective,€and€mutually€rewarding€means€of€cooperation€between€these€bodies€andŠ H˜ Šthe€human€rights€committees.€Š 4„ ŠĢĢĢņ ņņņÓ  ÓC.€The€quality€of€concluding€observationsóóó óŠ ä4 ŠÓŲ`ÓĢ109.€€€€€€In€1990,€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€pioneered€the€practice€ofŠ ¼  Šadopting€concluding€observations€which€reflected€the€views€of€the€Committee€as€a€whole,€wereŠ Øų Šstructured€in€a€systematic€fashion€and€sought€to€be€as€specific€as€possible.€Although€it€was€theŠ ”ä ŠHuman€Rights€Committee€which,€in€1984,€had€first€made€use€of€the€phrase€"concludingŠ €Š Šobservations",€it€was€not€until€1992€that€that€Committee€began€to€adopt€collective€evaluations€of€theŠ l¼ Šreport€of€each€State.€The€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Racial€Discrimination€followed€theŠ X Ø Šexample€in€1993.€Prior€to€this€development€all€of€the€effort€required€on€the€part€of€the€relevantŠ D!” ŠGovernment,€the€United€Nations,€the€treaty€body€and€other€interested€parties€culminated€in€littleŠ 0"€  Šmore€than€a€few€disparate,€sometimes€inconsistent,€observations€made€in€the€name€of€individualŠ #l! Šmembers€of€the€committees.€While€the€present€approach€thus€constitutes€a€major€step€forward€thereŠ $X" Šis€still€considerable€room€for€improvement€in€the€quality€of€concluding€observations,€especially€inŠ ō$D # Šterms€of€their€clarity,€degree€of€detail,€level€of€accuracy€and€specificity.€This€will€require,€inter€alia,Š ą%0!$ Ša€more€sustained€expert€contribution€to€the€process€by€the€Secretariat.€A€marked€improvement€in€theŠ Ģ&"% Šlevel€of€sophistication€of€concluding€observations€is€indispensable€if€the€reporting€process€isŠ ø'#& Šultimately€going€to€justify€the€expense€and€effort€involved.€Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢÓ  ÓŠ Šņ ņV.€PRINCIPAL€RECOMMENDATIONSó óŠ h+ø&* ŠÓõgÓĢ110.€€€€€€This€section€summarizes€some€of€the€recommendations€made€in€the€report.Š @-(, ŠŠ Š111.€€€€The€goal€of€achieving€€universal€ratification€of€the€six€core€treaties€has€been€affirmedŠ œģ Šfrequently.€Concrete€measures€aimed€at€making€it€a€reality€are€needed.€They€should€include:€(a)Š ˆŲ Šconsultations€with€the€leading€international€agencies€to€explore€their€potential€involvement€in€aŠ tÄ Šratification€campaign€(para.€32);€(b)€the€appointment€of€special€advisers€on€ratification€and€reportingŠ `° Šand€the€earmarking€of€funds€for€those€purposes€(paras.€33-34);€(c)€special€measures€should€beŠ L œ Šexplored€to€streamline€the€reporting€process€for€States€with€small€populations€(para.€35);€and€(d)Š 8 ˆ Šparticular€attention€should€be€paid€to€other€substantial€categories€of€nonšMšparties.Š $ t ŠŠ Š112.€€€€€€€Non-reporting€has€reached€chronic€proportions.€In€addition€to€considering€reforms€to€theŠ ü L  Šoverall€system€(noted€below),€a€new€specially€tailored€project€for€the€provision€of€advisory€servicesŠ č 8  Šshould€be€implemented.€In€responding€to€cases€of€persistent€delinquency,€all€treaty€bodies€should€beŠ Ō$  Šurged€to€adopt€procedures€which€lead€eventually€to€the€examination€of€situations€even€in€the€absenceŠ Ą  Šof€a€report€(paras.€37-45).€Such€an€approach€should€reflect€thorough€research€and€lead€to€detailed,Š ¬ü  Šaccurate€and€comprehensive€"concluding€observations"€(para.€47).Š ˜č  ŠŠ Š113.€€€€€€€€The€present€€reporting€system€functions€only€because€€of€the€€large-scale€delinquency€€ofŠ pĄ ŠStates€which€either€do€not€report€at€all,€or€report€long€after€the€due€date.€If€many€were€to€report,Š \¬ Šsignificant€existing€backlogs€would€be€exacerbated,€and€major€reforms€would€be€needed€even€moreŠ H˜ Šurgently€(paras.€48šMš52).Š 4„ ŠŠ Š114.€€€€€€€€Proposed€documentation€limits€are€unworkable€within€the€context€of€existing€procedures.Š  \ ŠThe€issue€needs€to€be€dealt€with€in€a€far€more€transparent€manner€than€has€so€far€been€the€case€andŠ ųH Šfull€justification€for€any€cuts€need€to€be€provided.€The€Secretariat€should€draw€up€a€detailed€optionsŠ ä4 Špaper€to€enable€the€committees€to€consider€measured€and€innovative€responses€(paras.€53-54)€Š Š  ŠŠ Š115.€€€€€€€The€extent€of€documentation€€which€is€central€to€the€€dialogue€€but€which€is€nowhereŠ Øų Šofficially€recorded€is€an€important€problem€and€calls€for€appropriate€measures€to€be€devised€by€theŠ ”ä ŠSecretariat€(para.€55).€The€preparation€of€summary€records€is€an€indispensable€element€in€the€systemŠ €Š Šand€their€timely€preparation€should€be€accorded€priority.€The€continued€production€of€bound€andŠ l¼ Šedited€volumes€of€Official€Records€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee€(previously€known€asŠ X Ø ŠYearbooks)€is€difficult€to€justify€at€a€time€of€financial€stringency€(para.€58).€Priority€should€beŠ D!” Šaccorded€to€transferring€the€existing€data€on€to€electronic€databases€and€ensuring€the€timelyŠ 0"€  Špublication,€including€in€electronic€form,€of€all€summary€records€as€soon€as€they€are€available€(para.Š #l! Š59).Š $X" ŠŠ Š116.€€€€€€€€The€new€home€page€of€the€High€Commissioner/Centre€for€Human€Rights€constitutes€anŠ ą%0!$ Šunduly€delayed€but€very€welcome€development.€It€should€be€maintained€and€expanded€and€a€strategyŠ Ģ&"% Što€widen€access€should€be€devised.€Future€development€of€the€database€should€reflect€a€moreŠ ø'#& Šsystematic,€consultative€and€transparent€process€than€has€hitherto€been€the€case.€An€expert€seminarŠ ¤(ō#' Šshould€be€convened€for€that€purpose€and€an€external€advisory€group€appointed€(paras.€60-64).€TheŠ )ą$( ŠILO€should€consider€making€its€very€valuable€database€available€on€the€Web€to€the€human€rightsŠ |*Ģ%) Šcommunity€and€others€(para.€65).Š h+ø&* ŠŠ Š117.€€€€The€public€information€materials€relating€to€the€work€of€the€treaty€bodies€are€highlyŠ @-(, Šinadequate.€The€treaty€bodies€should€be€given€a€direct€input€into€future€decision-making€in€thisŠ ° Šregard.€A€public€information€budget€should€be€made€available€to€support€grassšMšroots€initiativesŠ œģ Šdesigned€to€disseminate€information€about€the€treaty€bodies€in€culturally€appropriate€and€moreŠ ˆŲ Špopular€formats€and€media.€Partnerships€with€academic€and€other€external€institutions€should€beŠ tÄ Šexplored€in€order€to€enhance€the€publications€programme.€An€external€advisory€group€should€beŠ `° Šasked€to€review€the€human€rights-related€publications€programme€and€make€recommendationsŠ L œ Š(paras.€66-70).€The€Secretary-General€should€report€on€the€actual€availability€of€treaty€bodyšMšrelatedŠ 8 ˆ Šmaterials€at€United€Nations€information€centres€(para.€71).Š $ t ŠŠ Š118.€€€€€€The€advisory€services€programme€has€not€provided€sufficient€support€for€surveys€requiredŠ ü L  Šprior€to€ratification€of€a€human€rights€treaty€or€for€the€preparation€of€reports€by€States€in€need€ofŠ č 8  Šassistance.€Regional€and€subregional€training€courses€in€relation€to€reporting€are€unlikely€to€produceŠ Ō$  Šresults€commensurate€with€their€cost.€A€specially€designed€programme€should€be€devised€to€addressŠ Ą  Šthe€needs€in€this€area€and€it€should€be€accorded€priority€(paras.€72-77).Š ¬ü  ŠŠ Š119.€€€€€€€The€effectiveness€of€"special€reports"€and€"urgent€procedures"€should€be€carefully€evaluatedŠ „Ō  Šby€the€committees€concerned.€At€present,€the€value€they€add€seems€low.€In€general,€the€division€ofŠ pĄ Šlabour€between€the€treaty€bodies€and€special€mechanisms€should€be€maintained€(paras.€78-79).€Š \¬ ŠŠ Š120.€€€€€€€In€light€of€current€trends€the€existing€reporting€system€is€unsustainable€(paras.€81-84).€FourŠ 4„ Šoptions€are€available€to€States:€(a)€to€dismiss€the€concern€as€alarmist€and€take€no€action;€(b)€to€urgeŠ  p Šthe€treaty€bodies€to€undertake€far-reaching€reforms€and€adapt€to€cope€with€existing€and€new€demandsŠ  \ Šfrom€within€existing€resources;€(c)€to€provide€greatly€enhanced€budgetary€resources€to€sustain€theŠ ųH Šstatus€quo;€(d)€to€combine€some€elements€of€(b)€and€(c)€with€the€adoption€of€some€far-reachingŠ ä4 Šreforms€(paras.€85-89).€The€latter€could€include:€the€preparation€of€"consolidated€reports"€(para.€90);Š Š  Šelimination€of€comprehensive€periodic€reports€in€their€present€form€and€replacement€by€reportingŠ ¼  Šguidelines€tailored€to€each€State's€individual€situation€(paras.€91-93);€and€a€consolidation€(reduction)Š Øų Šof€the€number€of€treaty€bodies€(para.€94).€If€the€political€will€exists€in€relation€to€the€latter,€a€smallŠ ”ä Šexpert€group€should€be€convened€to€examine€modalities.€Proactive€measures€should€also€beŠ €Š Šconsidered,€including€amending€the€migrant€workers€convention€to€entrust€the€supervisory€functionsŠ l¼ Što€an€existing€committee€and€giving€more€systematic€consideration€to€the€institutional€implicationsŠ X Ø Šof€the€proposed€optional€protocol€to€the€Convention€against€Torture€(paras.€96-98).Š D!” ŠŠ Š121.€€€€The€procedural€provisions€of€human€rights€treaties€need€to€be€made€more€susceptible€toŠ #l! Šamendment.€Various€recommendations€are€suggested€(para.€101).€Constructive€attention€needs€toŠ $X" Šbe€given€to€the€taboo€subject€of€working€languages€(paras.€102-106).€Existing€arrangements€forŠ ō$D # Šcooperation€with€the€specialized€agencies€and€other€bodies€have€been€improved€in€some€respects€butŠ ą%0!$ Šremain€very€inadequate.€The€High€Commissioner€should€convene€a€highšMšlevel€meeting€to€exploreŠ Ģ&"% Šbetter€means€of€cooperation€with€the€treaty€bodies€(para.€108).€Š ø'#& ŠŠ Š122.€€€€€Treaty€bodies€must€strive€to€further€improve€the€quality€of€their€"concluding€observations",Š )ą$( Šin€terms€of€their€clarity,€degree€of€detail,€level€of€accuracy€and€specificity€(para.€109).