ÿWPCo! ð«kJSxוd}ØZ&vªþšÑ#¼—J‹žÕðþ«ƒ~Еm}ô㢤ò Á\Åí=Ö°“ÕÅ=+„ü„ºDvÅ„€þEÅ8¸èØm™hìTUê 9 —ôÎÑß‘HLÛ’è;U,jE•õ‰ð›á£ ³÷Å!ã‚Yb£ØMÐ5Ças2êL(ßê‰&J{óÕiPQY]{ï"(]:¹£[b¾¹k ­¸é‘GÔ§€Æ®HrhÈE4ûéÀ]¾6CŠx8-I!æ´bUTS(×pEsË£ Ü:¨Î\Kf/– ym þCXWé*¦ ·œÈV54 KÒ˾´8€Õa¦æh’¤à{” IS:9 ±]ÌZPGr»J%ü;%¸?¯;oƒ/nóôIAV¹J#q¹È F)Â|ú¨ÊUʤÆKzÝû92ÒOûuÓ8ÜUFJ´Æ"%…k×vùj-Y;t›¬X{(?‘‰ÿçJI Ú`˜ÓЖßË«Œ«±ÿí¬}iWéêN$j_èHõxzq½ðx4Φt‹Ð#€Æ|Á,ÊPõÏ%eEœ¼1¥<;ìç¸ÌH߄߭RƒØ•»ü»ÛRÔ%•á®Ò‹[¡’#ÉüUNÅ % 0:U6S 1‡‰fa^ &w2Æ6 0Vü 0KR D+ AÈ4eyˆ 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¤Ë ˜\\green\csb3031ØÈÈØØÈØÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ö\$¡¡ÔCEUS.,Ô<4šÛ 9Z+‹Courier New(5hCEKQW]cioAutoList1I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.|QTABLE AÄ$4.— Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(.3½g$££Ý ƒö\!ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  Ý( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó'ÈÈÈÈdxd  I&mage <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKB¹2.ê:i¢Ø+003|x#ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀTABLE B3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)(;3£$´´Ô2#ÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0  à(EhCEKQW]cioAutoList2IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIi)TABLE C d(ÍO$——ÔÿÔòòóóÔÿÔ(>>e,$ÌÌÔ€Xk=XXXÔÔ€ôÌòXXk=ÔÔ€Xk=XXXÔÔ€ôÌòXXk=ÔÝ ƒö\!ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔE/CN.4/1997/74Ð ° Ð27€March€1997Ð œì ÐÐ ÐÐ Ðò òCOMMISSION€ON€HUMAN€RIGHTSÐ `° ÐFifty-third€session€Ð L œ Ðó óÐ ÐÐ йÓ  Óò òEFFECTIVE€FUNCTIONING€OF€BODIES€ESTABLISHED€PURSUANT€TO€Ð ü L  ÐUNITED€NATIONS€HUMAN€RIGHTS€INSTRUMENTSó óÐ è 8  Ðò òÐ ÐòòFinal€report€on€enhancing€the€long-term€effectiveness€of€theÐ À  ÐUnited€Nations€human€rights€treaty€systemóóó óÐ ¬ü  Ðò òÌòòNote€by€the€Secretary-Generalóóó óÐ „Ô  ÐÌÌÓ  ÓThe€Secretary-General€has€the€honour€to€transmit€to€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€the€finalÐ H˜ Ðreport€on€enhancing€the€long-term€effectiveness€of€the€United€Nations€human€rights€treatyÐ 4„ Ðsystem,€prepared€by€an€independent€expert,€Mr.€Philip€Alston.Ð  p ÐÐ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à¹Ô*’ƒ°ddd Xdd Xdd X°(#°(#’ÔÔ_ÔÔ,‘ò ÔÔ,Â¥d ÔÔ,Xdd ÔÔ,dd ÔÔ,¯dd ÔÔ+  ÔÐ ä4ä4 ……ÐÓ  ÓCONTENTS€BY€PARAGRAPHà @„ àà @Ü àà @4 àòòóóÐ !H˜  !ÐÐ  È ÐIÐ  È ……ÐINTRODUCTION€Ð ! È „„!ÐÐ È ÐÐ  H˜ ÐÐ  H˜ ÐA.Ð  H˜ ÐBackgroundÐ  H˜  „„Ð1€„€3Ð H˜! ÐÐ  È" ÐÐ  È# ÐB.Ð  È$ ÐProgress€achieved€since€the€previous€reports€byÐ È% Ðthe€independent€expertÐ  ´& „„ÐÌ4€„€6Ð ´( ÐÐ  4!„) ÐÐ  4!„* ÐC.Ð  4!„+ ÐA€thumbnail€sketch€of€the€present€situation€Ð  4!„, „„Ð7€„€8Ð 4!„- ÐÐ  ´". ÐÐ  ´"/ ÐD.Ð  ´"0 ÐThe€premises€upon€which€this€report€is€based€Ð  ´"1 „„Ð9€„€13Ð ´"2 ÐÐ  4$„3 ÐIIÐ  4$„4 ……ÐMAJOR€CURRENT€POLICY€ISSUESÐ ! 4$„5 „„!ÐÐ 4$„6 ÐÐ  ´%!7 ÐÐ  ´%!8 ÐA.Ð  ´%!9 ÐTowards€universal€ratificationÐ  ´%!: „„Ð14€„€36Ð ´%!; ÐÐ  4'„"< ÐÐ  4'„"= ÐB.Ð  4'„"> ÐResponding€to€the€problem€of€significantlyÐ 4'„"? Ðoverdue€reportsÐ   (p#@ „„ÐÌ37€„€47Ð  (p#B ÐÐ   )ð$C ÐÐ   )ð$D ÐC.Ð   )ð$E ÐThe€inadequacy€of€the€current€system€to€dealÐ  )ð$F Ðwith€the€timely€submission€of€reportsÐ  Œ*Ü%G „„ÐÌ48€„€52Ð Œ*Ü%I ÐÐ   ,\'J ÐÐ   ,\'K ÐD.Ð   ,\'L ÐProblems€in€relation€to€documentationÐ   ,\'M „„Ð53€„€59Ð  ,\'N ÐÐ  Œ-Ü(O ÐÐ  Œ-Ü(P ÐE.Ð  Œ-Ü(Q ÐThe€development€and€use€of€electronic€databasesÐ  Œ-Ü(R „„Ð60€„€66Ð Œ-Ü(S ÐÐ  d ÐÐ  d ÐF.Ð  d ÐPublic€informationÐ  d „„Ð67€„€71Ð d ÐÐ  ”ä ÐÐ  ”ä ÐG.Ð  ”ä ÐAdvisory€servicesÐ  ”ä  „„Ð72€„€77Ð ”ä  ÐÐ  d  ÐÐ  d  ÐH.€Ð  d  ÐSpecial€reportsÐ  d „„Ð78€„€79Ð d ÐÐ  ” ä ÐIIIÐ  ” ä ……ÐMEDIUM„TERM€AND€Ô_ÔLONG„TERMÔ_Ô€REFORMÐ ” ä ÐISSUESÐ  € Ð ÐÐ  ” ä ÐÐ   P ÐÐ   P ÐA.Ð   P ЀIntroductionÐ 5+  P  T@80‰T@‰5Ð80Ð 4*( P  T@80 T@ 4ÐÐ  € Ð ÐÐ  € Ð ÐB.Ð  € Ð ÐThe€nature€of€the€emerging€challengeÐ  € Ð Ð81€„€84Ð  € Ð ÐÐ  P  ÐÐ  P  ÐC.Ð  P ! ÐA€review€of€optionsÐ  P " Ð85€„€89Ð  P # ÐÐ  €Ð $ ÐÐ  €Ð % ÐD.Ð  €Ð & ÐConsolidated€reportsÐ 5+ €Ð '  €V@90‰€V@‰5Ð90Ð 4*(€Ð (  €V@90 €V@ 4ÐÐ  P ) ÐÐ  P * ÐE.Ð  P + ÐElimination€of€comprehensive€periodic€reportsÐ P , Ðin€their€present€formÐ  ì<- ÐÌ91€„€93Ð  ì</ ÐÐ  l¼0 ÐÐ  l¼1 ÐF.Ð  l¼2 ÐTowards€a€consolidation€of€the€treaty€bodiesÐ 5+ l¼3  €W@94‰€W@‰5Ð94Ð 4*(l¼4  €W@94 €W@ 4ÐÐ  ì<5 ÐÐ  ì<6 ÐG.Ð  ì<7 ÐThe€desirability€of€additional€proactive€measuresÐ  ì<8 Ð95€„€97Ð  ì<9 ÐÐ  l¼: ÐÐ  l¼; ÐH.Ð  l¼< ÐAmending€the€treatiesÐ  l¼= Ð98€„€101Ð  l¼> ÐÐ  ì<? ÐIVÐ  ì<@ ……ÐOTHER€ISSUESÐ  ì<A ÐÐ  ì<B ÐÐ  l¼C ÐÐ  l¼D ÐA.Ð  l¼E ÐThe€unmentionable€language€questionÐ  l¼F Ð102€„€106Ð  l¼G ÐÐ  ì<H ÐÐ  ì<I ÐB.Ð  ì<J ÐCooperation€with€the€specialized€agencies€andÐ ì<K Ðother€bodiesÐ  Ø(L ÐÌ107€„€108Ð  Ø(N ÐÐ  X¨O ÐÐ  X¨P ÐC.Ð  X¨Q ÐThe€quality€of€concluding€observationsÐ 6, X¨R @[@109‰@[@‰6Ð109Ð 5+)X¨S @[@109 @[@ 5ÐÐ  Ø(T ÐVÐ  Ø(U ……ÐPRINCIPAL€RECOMMENDATIONSÐ  Ø(V ˆˆÐ110€„€122ÐØ(W  ÐÌÌÌÌò òÔ_ÔI.ð  ðð  ðINTRODUCTIONÔ_Ôó óÐ ¤$ô[ ÐÌÌò òòòA.€Backgroundóóó óÐ h'¸"^ ÐÌ1.€€€€This€report€is€submitted€by€the€independent€expert,€Mr€Philip€Alston,€appointed€by€theÐ @)$` ÐSecretary-General€pursuant€to€General€Assembly€resolution€43/115€of€8€December€1988€andÐ ,*|%a ÐCommission€on€Human€Rights€resolution€1989/47€of€6€March€1989.€A€first€report€was€submittedÐ +h&b Ðto€the€General€Assembly€at€the€fortyðMðfourth€session€(A/44/668)€and€an€interim€report€wasÐ ,T'c Ðsubmitted€to€the€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights€(A/Ô_ÔCONFÔ_Ô.157/PC/62/Add.11/Rev.1);€bothÐ ð,@(d Ðthe€Assembly€and€the€Commission€have€subsequently€requested€the€completion€of€the€report.Ð Ü-,)e ÐÔ_ÔThe€aim€of€the€study€is€to€identify,€in€as€concise€a€way€as€possible,€some€of€the€key€measures€thatÐ ° Ðmight€be€taken€to€improve€the€effective€functioning€of€the€United€Nations€human€rights€treatyÐ œì Ðsystem.€Ð ˆØ ÐÐ Ð2.€€€€€€€The€report€builds€upon€the€two€previous€reports.€For€the€most€part,€neither€the€analysis€ofÐ `° Ðnor€the€recommendations€in€those€reports€are€repeated€herein.€The€purpose€of€the€present€reportÐ L œ Ðis€to€update€the€previous€analyses€in€light€of€recent€developments€and€to€present€specificÐ 8 ˆ Ðrecommendations€in€relation€to€a€selected€range€of€issues€for€consideration€by€the€relevant€bodies.Ð $ t ÐÐ Ð3.€€€€€€The€independent€expert€is€currently€Chairperson€of€the€Committee€on€Economic,€SocialÐ ü L  Ðand€Cultural€Rights,€and€served€as€ChairmanðMðRapporteur€of€the€meeting€organized€at€the€time€ofÐ è 8  Ðthe€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights€which,€for€the€first€time€ever,€brought€together€theÐ Ô$  Ðpresidents,€chairpersons€or€their€representatives€of€the€African€Commission€of€Human€andÐ À  ÐPeoples'€Rights,€the€European€Court€of€Human€Rights€and€the€European€Commission€on€HumanÐ ¬ü  ÐRights,€the€Inter-American€Court€of€Human€Rights€and€the€Inter-American€Commission€onÐ ˜è  ÐHuman€Rights,€the€six€United€Nations€treaty€bodies€and€the€Committee€of€Experts€on€theÐ „Ô  ÐApplication€of€Conventions€and€Recommendations€of€the€International€Labour€Organization.€HeÐ pÀ Ðhas€participated€in€five€of€the€seven€meetings€of€persons€chairing€the€United€Nations€humanÐ \¬ Ðrights€treaty€bodies€that€have€been€held€to€date€(in€1988,€1990,€1992,€1994€and€1996).€He€alsoÐ H˜ Ðserved€as€Chairman-Rapporteur€of€the€Task€Force€on€Computerization€established€by€theÐ 4„ ÐCommission€on€Human€Rights€in€1989.€Discussions€in€these€various€contexts€have€beenÐ  p Ðinvaluable€as€a€source€of€information€in€the€preparation€of€the€present€report.Ð  \ ÐÌÌò òòòB.€Progress€achieved€since€the€previous€reports€by€the€independent€expertóóó óÐ Ð  ÐÌ4.€€€€€€€Many€of€the€recommendations€contained€in€the€earlier€reports€have€been€put€into€effect.Ð ¨ø ÐFrom€the€1989€report,€they€include:€the€preparation€of€a€study€on€overlapping€provisions€of€theÐ ”ä Ðdifferent€treaties€and€the€potential€for€the€use€of€cross-referencing€in€reporting;€the€amendment€ofÐ €Ð Ðthe€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€orÐ l¼ ÐPunishment€and€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination€toÐ X ¨ Ðprovide€for€regular€budget€funding€and€the€adoption€of€interim€measures€to€assure€the€necessaryÐ D!” Ðfunding;€extension€of€the€meeting€time€available€to€several€of€the€treaty€bodies;€advanceÐ 0"€  Ðpreparation€by€most€committees€of€a€list€of€written€questions€to€facilitate€the€dialogue€with€theÐ #l! ÐState€party;€acceptance€of€all€sources€of€information€as€being€potentially€relevant;€the€adoption€ofÐ $X" Ðsubstantive€and€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€conclusive€observations;€and€the€regular€publication€of€an€inventory€ofÐ ô$D # Ðall€international€human€rights€standard-setting€activities.€Ð à%0!$ ÐÐ Ð5.€€€€€€€From€the€1993€report,€reference€can€be€made€to:€the€adoption€of€specific€target€dates€forÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€achievement€of€universal€ratification€of€at€least€some€of€the€treaties;€the€continuing€search€forÐ ¤(ô#' Ðeffective€responses€to€the€nonðMðsubmission€of€reports,€including,€if€necessary,€consideration€ofÐ )à$( Ðthe€situation€in€the€absence€of€a€report;€a€diminution€in€the€number€of€requests€directed€to€StatesÐ |*Ì%) Ðfor€reports€outside€the€convention-based€reporting€system;€the€provision€of€minimal€officeÐ h+¸&* Ðfacilities€for€one€or€two€members€of€the€treaty€bodies€in€Geneva;€the€move€towards€establishing€aÐ T,¤'+ Ðdocumentation€facility€within€the€Centre;€greater€emphasis€upon€electronic€information€sources;Ð @-(, Ðand€other€more€minor€reforms.Ð ° ÐÐ Ð6.€€€€€€€By€the€same€token,€many€of€the€recommendations€have€remained€unaddressed.€Some€ofÐ ˆØ Ðthese€are€taken€up€again€in€the€present€report.Ð tÄ ÐÌÌò òòòC.€A€thumbnail€sketch€of€the€present€situationóóó óÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌ7.€€€€€€Despite€the€progress€that€has€been€achieved€in€recent€years,€the€principal€characteristics€ofÐ  ` Ðthe€situation€have€not€changed€fundamentally€since€the€independent€expert's€interim€report€inÐ ü L  Ð1993.€The€following€elements€are€significant€in€this€regard:Ð è 8  ÐÐ Ð(a)€€€Since€1993€the€number€of€ratifications€has€grown€by€some€26€per€cent€with€the€most€notableÐ À  Ðincreases€occurring€in€relation€to€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€and€the€ConventionÐ ¬ü  Ðon€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€Women.€Nevertheless,€31€per€cent€ofÐ ˜è  ÐStates€are€not€parties€to€either€of€the€International€Covenants€and€almost€50€per€cent€of€StatesÐ „Ô  Ðhave€not€become€parties€to€the€Convention€against€Torture;€Ð pÀ ÐÐ Ð(b)€€€€The€operation€of€the€International€Convention€on€the€Suppression€and€Punishment€of€theÐ H˜ ÐCrime€of€Apartheid€has€been€suspended.€This€is€a€blessing€for€the€system€as€a€whole€since€theÐ 4„ Ðdelinquency€in€submitting€reports€under€that€Convention€was€so€great€that€one€very€experiencedÐ  p Ðobserver€characterized€the€situation€as€a€"fiasco";€Ð  \ ÐÐ ÐÔ_Ô(cÔ_Ô)€€€€No€new€treaty€bodies€have€been€created€and€no€new€treaties€providing€for€the€establishmentÐ ä4 Ðof€monitoring€bodies€have€entered€into€force.€The€approved€meeting€time€of€three€of€theÐ Ð  Ðcommittees€has,€however,€increased€notably;Ð ¼  ÐÐ Ð(d)€€€The€number€of€overdue€reports€has€increased€by€34€per€cent€and€the€delays€experienced€byÐ ”ä ÐStates€parties€between€the€submission€and€examination€of€their€reports€have€increased€to€theÐ €Ð Ðpoint€where€some€States€will€wait€almost€three€years€before€their€reports€are€examined;Ð l¼ ÐÐ Ð(e)€€€€The€number€of€communications€being€processed€under€the€various€complaints€proceduresÐ D!” Ðhas€greatly€increased€and€existing€backlogs€are€unacceptably€high.€At€the€same€time,€there€is€aÐ 0"€  Ðclear€need€to€create€additional€complaints€systems€in€order€to€ensure€that€due€attention€is€paid€toÐ #l! Ðeconomic,€social€and€cultural€rights€and€to€the€full€range€of€women's€rights.€Specific€proposals€inÐ $X" Ðrelation€to€both€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€againstÐ ô$D # ÐWomen€and€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€are€currentlyÐ à%0!$ Ðunder€consideration;€Ð Ì&"% ÐÐ Ð(f)€€€€The€resources€available€to€service€this€sizeable€expansion€in€the€system€have€actuallyÐ ¤(ô#' Ðcontracted€rather€than€expanded€and€there€have€been€consistent€calls,€escalating€in€volume€andÐ )à$( Ðintensity,€by€the€various€committees,€and€especially€by€the€meetings€of€chairpersons,€forÐ |*Ì%) Ðincreased€resources€and€improved€servicing€to€be€made€available;Ð h+¸&* ÐÐ Ð(g)€€At€the€same€time,€conference€servicing€officials€in€Geneva€have€proposed€that€a€limit€of€anÐ @-(, Ðaverage€of€50€pages€per€State€party€report€be€imposed.€The€production€of€summary€records€isÐ ° Ðnow€confined€to€two€languages€(English€and€French)€and€the€translation€into€the€second€languageÐ œì Ð(whichever€one€it€might€be)€is€generally€significantly€delayed.Ð ˆØ ÐÐ Ð8.€€€€€The€extent€of€the€shortcomings€€inherent€in€€the€treaty€monitoring€€system€has€led€someÐ `° Ðobservers€to€propose€radical€solutions.€Thus,€for€example,€in€1994€one€commentator€proposed,Ð L œ Ðinter€alia,€that€States€which€do€not€satisfy€a€set€of€minimum€requirements€drawn€from€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðrelevant€treaties€should€be€expelled€from€the€treaty€regime;€the€system€of€State€reporting€shouldÐ $ t Ðbe€discontinued;€the€treaty€bodies€should€undertake€on-site€fact-finding€in€every€State€party;€andÐ  ` Ðacceptance€of€a€right€to€petition€under€all€six€treaties€should€be€made€mandatory.€Writing€inÐ ü L  ÐAugust€1996,€in€a€report€for€the€International€Law€Association,€the€same€commentatorÐ è 8  Ðconsidered€there€to€be€an€"implementation€crisis€...€of€dangerous€proportions".€In€her€view,€"theÐ Ô$  Ðtreaty€regime€has€been€depreciated€by€chronic€levels€of€non-compliance,€both€with€theÐ À  Ðsubstantive€terms€of€the€treaties,€and€with€existing€enforcement€mechanisms".€Other€observersÐ ¬ü  Ðhave€been€much€more€optimistic€about€the€potential€of€the€supervisory€system€to€achieve€itsÐ ˜è  Ðobjectives.€Ð „Ô  ÐÌÌò òòòD.€The€premises€upon€which€this€report€is€basedóóó óÐ H˜ ÐÌ9.€€€€€€€The€present€report€is€based€upon€several€premises.€The€first€is€that€the€basic€assumptions€ofÐ  p Ðthe€treaty€supervisory€system€are€sound€and€remain€entirely€valid.€In€other€words,€the€principle€ofÐ  \ Ðholding€States€accountable€for€non-compliance€with€their€treaty€obligations€by€means€of€anÐ øH Ðobjective€and€constructive€dialogue,€on€the€basis€of€comprehensive€information€and€inputs€fromÐ ä4 Ðall€interested€parties,€has€been€vindicated€in€practice€and€has€the€potential€to€be€an€important€andÐ Ð  Ðeffective€means€by€which€to€promote€respect€for€human€rights.€The€potential€contribution€that€itÐ ¼  Ðcan€make€has€not€in€any€way€been€superseded€by€other€approaches€or€mechanisms€that€have€beenÐ ¨ø Ðcreated.€The€second€premÔ_ÔiseÔ_Ô€is€that€considerable€achievements€have€been€recorded€by€all€of€theÐ ”ä Ðtreaty€bodies€in€recent€years,€although€there€has€been€significant€unevenness€in€that€regard.€TheÐ €Ð Ðthird€is€that€progress,€both€in€improving€the€quality€and€effectiveness€of€monitoring€and€inÐ l¼ Ðreforming€the€procedures€and€institutions,€is€inevitably€a€gradual€process€and€there€are€noÐ X ¨ Ð"miracle€cures"€to€be€found.€Ð D!” ÐÐ Ð10.€€€€€€€The€fourth€premise€is€that€the€present€system€is€unsustainable€and€that€significant€reformsÐ #l! Ðwill€be€required€if€the€overall€regime€is€to€achieve€its€objectives.€This€is€a€function€of€severalÐ $X" Ðdevelopments€including€the€immense€expansion€of€the€human€rights€treaty€system€in€a€period€ofÐ ô$D # Ðless€than€two€decades,€the€expanding€reach€and€increasing€demands€of€regional€human€rightsÐ à%0!$ Ðsystems,€the€proliferation€of€reporting€obligations€in€other€contexts,€especially€in€theÐ Ì&"% Ðenvironmental€field,€and€the€increasing€pressures€upon€Governments€and€the€United€NationsÐ ¸'#& Ðsystem€to€reduce€their€budgetary€outlays€and€streamline€their€programmes.€The€treaty€bodiesÐ ¤(ô#' Ðcannot,€and€nor€should€they€seek€to,€remain€immune€to€these€pressures.Ð )à$( ÐÐ Ð11.€€€€Indeed,€predictions€as€to€likely€future€levels€of€resource€availability€are€critical€to€anyÐ h+¸&* Ðassessment€of€what€needs€to€be€done€in€relation€to€the€treaty€system.€While€firm€predictions€areÐ T,¤'+ Ðdifficult€at€best,€there€is€very€little€cause€to€think€that€there€will€be€a€dramatic€increase€in€existingÐ @-(, Ðresource€levels€in€the€years€ahead.€In€part€this€is€a€reflection€of€global€budgetary€pressures€andÐ ° Ðtheir€impact€on€the€United€Nations€as€a€whole.€But,€more€significantly,€it€reflects€the€perhapsÐ œì Ðinevitable,€although€nonetheless€short-sighted€and€regrettable,€reluctance€of€Governments€toÐ ˆØ Ðprovide€adequate€resources€for€the€development€of€mechanisms€which€might€be€able€to€monitorÐ tÄ Ðtheir€human€rights€performance€more€effectively.Ð `° ÐÐ Ð12.€€€€€€€In€many€respects,€this€is€the€key€issue€both€for€those€who€are€persuaded€of€the€need€toÐ 8 ˆ Ðreform€the€system€and€for€those€who€are€not.€In€considering€the€future€of€the€treaty€supervisoryÐ $ t Ðsystem,€much€depends€upon€the€assumptions€that€are€made€as€to€the€future€availability€ofÐ  ` Ðresources.€If€it€is€assumed€that,€over€time,€even€if€not€in€the€immediate€future,€considerably€moreÐ ü L  Ðresources€will€be€made€available,€then€the€focus€should€be€upon€seeking€to€perfect,€or€at€leastÐ è 8  Ðimprove,€the€system€in€the€form€in€which€it€is€currently€developing.€But€if€the€assumption€is€thatÐ Ô$  Ðthe€existing€level€of€funding€is€unlikely€to€be€increased€in€the€years€ahead,€then€the€currentÐ À  Ðsystem€is€simply€not€sustainable€and€we€will€witness€a€steady€diminution€in€the€support€availableÐ ¬ü  Ðto€each€treaty€body€and€in€the€ability€of€each€to€function€in€a€meaningful€way.Ð ˜è  ÐÐ Ð13.€€€€€€Before€examining€specific€reform€proposals,€it€is€appropriate€to€recall€the€cautionaryÐ pÀ Ðcomment€made€earlier€by€the€independent€expert€in€his€interim€report€that€the€quest€for€reformÐ \¬ Ð"must€not€be€embarked€upon€without€acknowledging€the€very€considerable€achievements€to€dateÐ H˜ Ðand€the€importance€of€proceeding€with€sensitivity€and€sophistication€in€order€to€ensure€that€theÐ 4„ Ðfundamental€integrity€of€the€system,€and€particularly€its€ability€to€safeguard€human€rights,€are€notÐ  p Ðsacrificed€to€illusory€notions€of€streamlining€and€efficiency"€(A/Ô_ÔCONFÔ_Ô.157/PC/62/Add.11/Rev.1,Ð  \ Ðpara.€12).Ð øH ÐÌÌò òII.€MAJOR€CURRENT€POLICY€ISSUESó óÐ ¼  ÐÌÐ Ðò òòòA.€Towards€universal€ratificationóóó óÐ €Ð ÐÌ14.€€€€€€€Universal€ratification€of€the€six€core€United€Nations€human€rights€treaties€would€establishÐ X ¨ Ðthe€best€possible€foundations€for€international€endeavours€to€promote€respect€for€human€rights.€InÐ D!” Ðhis€interim€report€in€1993€the€independent€expert€recommended€that€the€year€2000€be€set€as€aÐ 0"€  Ðtarget€date€for€achieving€that€objective.€In€the€event,€the€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights,€inÐ #l! Ðthe€Vienna€Declaration€and€Programme€of€Action,€endorsed€three€sets€of€measures€in€relation€to€ratification:Ð $X" ÐÐ Ð(a)€€it€set€the€following€goals:€the€year€1995€as€the€target€date€for€universal€ratification€of€theÐ à%0!$ ÐConvention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€(Part€I,€para.€21),€the€year€2000€as€the€target€date€inÐ Ì&"% Ðrelation€to€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€WomenÐ ¸'#& Ð(Part€II,€para.€39)€and,€in€relation€to€the€others,€urged€"the€universal€ratification€of€human€rightsÐ ¤(ô#' Ðtreaties"€(Part€I,€para.€26);€Ð )à$( ÐÌ(b)€€it€"strongly€Ô_Ôrecommend[edÔ_Ô]€that€a€concerted€effort€be€made€to€encourage€and€facilitate€theÐ h+¸&* Ðratification€of€and€accession€or€succession€to€international€human€rights€treaties€and€protocolsÐ T,¤'+ Ðadopted€within€the€framework€of€the€United€Nations€system€with€the€aim€of€universalÐ @-(, Ðacceptance.€The€Secretary-General,€in€consultation€with€treaty€bodies,€should€consider€opening€aÐ ° Ðdialogue€with€States€not€having€acceded€to€these€human€rights€treaties,€in€order€to€identifyÐ œì Ðobstacles€and€to€seek€ways€of€overcoming€them"€(Part€II,€para.€4);Ð ˆØ ÐÐ ÐÔ_Ô(cÔ_Ô)€€it€also€recommended€that€when€the€five-year€review€of€the€implementation€of€the€ViennaÐ `° ÐDeclaration€and€Programme€of€Action€is€undertaken€in€1998€"[Ô_Ôs]pecialÔ_Ô€attention€should€be€paidÐ L œ Ðto€assessing€the€progress€towards€the€goal€of€universal€ratification€..."€(Part€II,€para.€100).Ð 8 ˆ ÐÐ Ð15.€€€€€€€Since€the€Vienna€Conference€there€has€been€a€very€significant€improvement€in€theÐ  ` Ðratification€rate€of€the€principal€treaties.€On€1€January€1993€there€were€678€States€parties€to€theÐ ü L  Ðsix€treaties.€By€30€June€1996€this€figure€had€risen€to€853,€an€increase€of€175€or€26€per€cent.€ThisÐ è 8  Ðconstitutes€an€impressive€achievement€but€there€is€also€another€side€to€the€coin€which€isÐ Ô$  Ðillustrated€by€the€fact€that€31€per€cent€of€States€(59€out€of€193)€have€not€become€a€party€to€eitherÐ À  Ðof€the€two€International€Covenants€on€Human€Rights,€despite€their€centrality€to€the€overallÐ ¬ü  Ðhuman€rights€regime.€Ð ˜è  ÐÐ Ð16.€€€€€Equally€surprising€is€the€fact€that€almost€50€€per€cent€of€States€(95€out€of€193)€have€notÐ pÀ Ðbecome€parties€to€the€Convention€against€Torture.€When€it€is€recalled€that€the€Convention€on€theÐ \¬ ÐRights€of€the€Child€contains€a€comprehensive€prohibition€against€torture€in€the€case€of€all€personsÐ H˜ Ðcovered€by€that€treaty€(in€essence,€all€persons€below€the€age€of€18),€it€is€not€clear€why€so€manyÐ 4„ ÐStates€can€accept€that€obligation€but€not€the€equivalent€obligation€in€the€Convention€againstÐ  p ÐTorture.€Similarly,€there€are€36€States€which€have€accepted€the€obligation€not€to€torture€under€theÐ  \ ÐInternational€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€but€have€not€yet€ratified€the€ConventionÐ øH Ðagainst€Torture.Ð ä4 ÐÐ Ð17.€€€€€€The€increase€in€the€total€number€of€ratifications€also€needs€to€be€viewed€in€the€light€ofÐ ¼  Ðthree€important€factors€which€partly€account€for€the€success.€The€first€is€that€a€number€of€newÐ ¨ø ÐStates€succeeded€to€the€treaties€during€this€period,€thus€expanding€the€number€of€totalÐ ”ä Ðratifications€but€not€thereby€reducing€the€number€of€States€which€had€not€become€parties€to€theÐ €Ð Ðvarious€treaties€by€the€time€of€the€Vienna€Conference.€The€second€factor€is€the€impact€of€theÐ l¼ ÐFourth€World€Conference€on€Women,€both€before€and€after€the€event,€in€terms€of€encouragingÐ X ¨ ÐStates€to€ratify€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€againstÐ D!” ÐWomen.€Ratifications€of€the€Convention€went€from€114€on€1€January€1993€to€153€on€30€JuneÐ 0"€  Ð1996,€an€increase€of€39€States€parties,€or€34€per€cent.€The€Beijing€Platform€for€Action€called€forÐ #l! Ðuniversal€ratification€of€the€Convention€by€the€year€2000.Ð $X" ÐÐ Ð18.€€€€€The€third€factor€is€the€extraordinary€success€of€efforts€to€promote€ratification€of€theÐ à%0!$ ÐConvention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child.€As€a€result,€30€per€cent€of€the€overall€increase€inÐ Ì&"% Ðratifications€during€this€three€and€a€half€year€period€(53€ratifications)€was€attributable€exclusivelyÐ ¸'#& Ðto€that€Convention,€the€number€of€States€parties€to€which€went€from€134€to€187.€Taken€togetherÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthose€two€conventions€accounted€for€92€of€the€new€ratifications,€or€some€53€per€cent.Ð )à$( ÐÐ Ð19.€€€€€€€€There€are€some€important€lessons€to€be€learned€from€the€successes€achieved€in€relation€toÐ h+¸&* Ðthe€two€conventions€which€have€attracted€so€many€new€ratifications€in€recent€years.€The€firstÐ T,¤'+ Ðconcerns€the€importance€of€political€will,€whether€expressed€through€the€holding€of€internationalÐ @-(, Ðconferences€which€place€appropriate€emphasis€upon€the€convention€in€question€or€throughÐ ° Ðconsistent€efforts€by€international€organizations.€In€contrast,€the€lead-up€to€internationalÐ œì Ðconferences€Ô_ÔfocusingÔ_Ô€on€social€development€(Copenhagen)€and€human€settlements€(Istanbul)€sawÐ ˆØ Ðno€attention€at€all€to€efforts€to€promote€ratification€of€the€relevant€human€rights€treaties.€TheÐ tÄ Ðsecond€lesson€concerns€the€importance€of€mobilizing€domestic€constituencies€(in€this€case,Ð `° Ðwomen's€and€children's€nonðMðgovernmental€organizations)€in€support€of€the€goals€andÐ L œ Ðmechanisms€reflected€in€the€treaty,€thus€making€it€easier€for€Governments€to€undertakeÐ 8 ˆ Ðratification.€Ð $ t ÐÐ Ð20.€€€€The€third€lesson,€and€in€the€case€of€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€the€mostÐ ü L  Ðimportant,€concerns€the€provision€of€assistance€and€advice€by€an€international€agency,€which€inÐ è 8  Ðthis€instance€was€the€United€Nations€Children's€Fund.€Such€agencies€can,€whenever€requested,Ð Ô$  Ðassist€Governments€and€the€principal€social€partners€in€various€ways,€including:€by€explaining€theÐ À  Ðsignificance€of€the€treaty€as€a€whole€and€of€its€specific€provisions;€by€promoting€an€awareness€ofÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€treaty€which€facilitates€domestic€consultations€and€discussions;€by€shedding€light€upon€theÐ ˜è  Ðrequirements€of€the€treaty€in€the€event€of€ratification;€by€providing€assistance€to€enable€anyÐ „Ô  Ðnecessary€preðMðratification€measures€to€be€identified€and€implemented;€by€assisting€in€relation€toÐ pÀ Ðthe€preparation€of€reports,€both€indirectly€through€the€agency's€own€situation€analyses,€andÐ \¬ Ðdirectly€through€the€provision€of€expert€assistance€where€appropriate;€and€by€reassuringÐ H˜ Ðdeveloping€countries€in€particular€that€ratification€should€bring€with€it€enhanced€access€to€at€leastÐ 4„ Ðsome€of€the€expert€or€financial€resources€needed€to€implement€key€provisions€of€the€treaty.Ð  p ÐÐ Ð21.€€€€€€€In€this€respect€the€success€of€the€effort€to€promote€ratification€of€the€Convention€on€theÐ øH ÐRights€of€the€Child€indicates€that€there€is€no€(or€at€least€no€longer)€deep-rooted€resistance€to€theÐ ä4 Ðprinciple€of€participation€in€human€rights€supervisory€arrangements.€Given€the€relativeÐ Ð  Ðcomprehensiveness€of€the€Convention,€along€with€the€integral€links€between€respect€forÐ ¼  Ðchildren's€rights€and€those€of€the€rest€of€the€community,€it€might€be€thought€that€the€reasonsÐ ¨ø Ðwhich€had€previously€led€various€States€not€to€ratify€all€six€of€the€core€human€rights€treaties€areÐ ”ä Ðno€longer€compelling€and€that€there€will€be€a€new€openness€to€increased€participation€in€theÐ €Ð Ðoverall€treaty€regime.€Indeed,€there€is€something€odd€about€a€situation€in€which€all€States€but€fourÐ l¼ Ðhave€become€parties€to€such€a€far-reaching€Convention€while€almost€one€State€in€every€three€hasÐ X ¨ Ðnot€become€a€party€to€either€of€the€two€International€Covenants.Ð D!” ÐÐ Ð22.€€€€€€The€success€of€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child,€and€the€factors€that€contributedÐ #l! Ðto€that€success,€would€also€seem€to€vindicate€the€following€analysis€contained€in€the€independentÐ $X" Ðexpert's€interim€report€to€the€Vienna€Conference:Ð ô$D # ÐÐ Ðà8  à"Among€the€reasons€that€might€well€be€impeding€ratification€or€accession€in€someÐ Ì&"% Ðcountries€are€the€following:€a€lack€of€understanding€of€the€implications€of€theÐ ¸'#& Ðinstrument€on€the€part€of€mid-level€officials€who€would€need€to€prepare€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðground€before€the€Government€could€act;€a€lack€of€trained€personnel€who€couldÐ )à$( Ðexplain€the€implications€of€ratification€with€the€necessary€sophistication€and€detailÐ |*Ì%) Ðto€the€relevant€government€minister;€the€existence€of€an€element€of€confusionÐ h+¸&* Ðbetween€the€treaty€body€procedures€and€the€special€procedures€of€the€CommissionÐ T,¤'+ Ðon€Human€Rights;€a€low€budget€priority€for€the€measures€needed€to€precede€orÐ @-(, Ðaccompany€ratification€or€accession,€such€as€the€undertaking€of€a€survey€ofÐ ° Ðexisting€law€and€practice,€the€drafting€of€necessary€legislation€or€regulations,€theÐ œì Ðtraining€of€officials,€etc.;€the€lack€of€an€informed€domestic€constituency€whichÐ ˆØ Ðwould€support€government€proposals€to€ratify€or€accede€to€an€instrument;€and€aÐ tÄ Ðfear€that€the€reporting€obligations€would€be€too€onerous€for€the€countryÐ `° Ðconcerned"€(A/Ô_ÔCONFÔ_Ô.157/PC/62/Add.11/Rev.1.,€para.€84).ÐL œÐ Ð  ÐÌ23.€€€€€€The€emphasis€upon€promoting€universal€ratification€is€an€essential€one€in€order€toÐ $ t Ðstrengthen€and€consolidate€the€universalist€foundations€of€the€United€Nations€human€rightsÐ  ` Ðregime.€Despite€the€fears€of€some€critics,€the€quest€for€universal€ratification€need€not€have€anyÐ ü L  Ðnegative€consequences€for€the€treaty€regime€as€a€whole.€One€such€critic,€Professor€Ô_ÔBayefskyÔ_Ô,€hasÐ è 8  Ðargued€that€the€"implementation€crisis"€which€she€perceives€to€exist€is€due€in€part€to€"a€deliberateÐ Ô$  Ðemphasis€on€ratification"€which€for€many€States,€has€"become€an€end€in€itself,€a€means€to€easyÐ À  Ðaccolades€for€empty€gestures".€In€her€view,€ratification€is€often€"purchased€at€a€price,€namely,Ð ¬ü  Ðdiminished€obligations,€lax€supervision,€and€few€adverse€consequences€from€nonðMðcompliance".Ð ˜è  ÐBut€such€an€analysis€would€seem€to€confuse€two€processes€which€should€remain,€and€for€theÐ „Ô  Ðmost€part€have€remained,€separate.€It€is€difficult€to€accept€the€proposition€that€the€treaty€bodiesÐ pÀ Ðhave€been€lax€in€their€supervision€in€order€to€entice€more€States€to€accept€the€obligations€inÐ \¬ Ðquestion.€Indeed,€the€experience€of€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€would€seem€clearlyÐ H˜ Ðincompatible€with€such€an€analysis.€The€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€has,€to€date,€beenÐ 4„ Ðone€of€the€most€demanding€and€conscientious€of€the€treaty€bodies,€but€this€has€in€no€wayÐ  p Ðimpeded€the€dramatic€movement€towards€the€achievement€of€near-universal€ratification€of€theÐ  \ ÐConvention.€In€the€view€of€the€independent€expert€more,€rather€than€less,€should€be€done€toÐ øH Ðexplore€ways€in€which€to€overcome€the€legitimate,€as€opposed€to€the€inappropriate,€concerns€ofÐ ä4 Ðcertain€identifiable€groups€of€countries€that€have€so€far€been€reluctant€to€ratify.Ð Ð  ÐÐ Ð24.€€€€€€Perhaps€the€most€obvious€such€group€consists€of€those€States€with€a€population€of€1Ð ¨ø Ðmillion€or€less.€Twenty-nine€such€States€have€not€ratified€either€of€the€two€InternationalÐ ”ä ÐCovenants€on€Human€Rights.€As€of€1996,€21€of€those€were€estimated€to€have€a€Gross€NationalÐ €Ð ÐProduct€per€capita€of€below€US$€5,000€per€annum,€and€with€11€of€them€being€below€the€$2,000Ð l¼ Ðper€annum€level.€In€relation€to€those€States€the€independent€expert€recalls€the€analysis€containedÐ X ¨ Ðin€his€interim€report:Ð D!” ÐÐ Ðà8  à"Provided€that€the€usual€caveats€in€relation€to€such€generalizations€are€kept€inÐ #l! Ðmind,€several€conclusions€might€reasonably€be€drawn€from€this€data.€Firstly,€atÐ $X" Ðleast€some€of€these€small€States€are€probably€concerned€that€the€legal,Ð ô$D # Ðbureaucratic€and€administrative€requirements€involved€are€too€onerous€given€theÐ à%0!$ Ðsize€of€their€population.€Secondly,€the€reporting€requirements€might€well€act€as€aÐ Ì&"% Ðsignificant€deterrent€in€such€cases.€Thirdly,€the€...€States€with€very€low€populationsÐ ¸'#& Ðand€low€per€capita€GNP€might€be€strongly€influenced€by€the€resource€implicationsÐ ¤(ô#' Ðof€ratification"€(A/Ô_ÔCONFÔ_Ô.157/PC/62/Add.11/Rev.1,€para.€87).Ð)à$(Ð Ð  ÐÌ25.€€€€€This€in€turn€raises€the€question€of€whether€the€international€community€should€beÐ h+¸&* Ðproviding€resources€to€facilitate€the€ratification€of€treaties€by€such€States€and€to€assist€them€inÐ T,¤'+ Ðmeeting€the€subsequent€reporting€burden,€at€least€initially.€Curiously,€it€has€yet€to€beÐ @-(, Ðacknowledged€that€such€activities,€which€are€essential€to€laying€the€foundations€for€a€stable€andÐ ° Ðpeaceful€world€in€which€human€rights€are€respected,€should€be€funded€adequately€within€theÐ œì ÐUnited€Nations€framework.€It€almost€seems€to€be€thought€that€efforts€to€promote€the€acceptanceÐ ˆØ Ðof€human€rights€norms€would€somehow€be€tainted€if€progress€were€purchased€at€a€price,€in€termsÐ tÄ Ðof€the€necessary€technical€assistance.€In€contrast,€the€principle€was€recognized€long€ago€in€theÐ `° Ðenvironmental€area€in€which€many€of€the€arrangements€made€in€relation€to€key€treaties€provideÐ L œ Ðfor€financial€and€other€forms€of€assistance€to€help€States€to€undertake€the€necessary€monitoring,Ð 8 ˆ Ðto€prepare€reports€and€to€implement€some€of€the€measures€required€in€order€to€ensure€complianceÐ $ t Ðwith€treaty€obligations.€Ð  ` ÐÐ Ð26.€€€€€€Thus€the€principal€question€in€the€present€context€is€what€measures€might€be€taken€inÐ è 8  Ðorder€to€facilitate€achievement€of€the€oft-confirmed€goal€of€universal€ratification€of€the€six€coreÐ Ô$  Ðtreaties?€Following€the€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights,€the€General€Assembly,€in€resolutionÐ À  Ð48/121€of€20€December€1993,€endorsed€the€Vienna€Declaration€and€Programme€of€Action€(para.Ð ¬ü  Ð2)€and€requested€the€Secretary-General€to€implement€the€relevant€recommendations€(para.€9).€AtÐ ˜è  Ðthat€time,€provision€was€made€to€undertake€a€study€on€the€encouragement€of€ratifications,€as€wellÐ „Ô  Ðas€a€study€on€questions€relating€to€reservations,€and€for€two€regional€meetings€to€be€held€aroundÐ pÀ Ðthese€issues.€In€the€intervening€three€years€neither€of€these€studies€has€been€commissioned€andÐ \¬ Ðonly€one€of€the€regional€seminars€has€been€held.€It€took€place€in€Addis€Ababa€in€May€1996€andÐ H˜ ÐÔ_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€on€the€African€region.€The€four-day€meeting€did€not€produce€any€official€report,€butÐ 4„ Ðinformal€reports€indicate€that€the€significance€of€the€various€elements€identified€above€wasÐ  p Ðstrongly€affirmed.Ð  \ ÐÐ Ð27.€€€€€€Before€examining€specific€measures€that€might€be€taken€to€promote€universal€ratificationÐ ä4 Ðit€is€appropriate€to€consider€the€existing€and€potential€contribution€made€in€this€regard€by€bodiesÐ Ð  Ðother€than€the€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights.€One€of€the€major€consequences€of€theÐ ¼  Ðending€of€the€Cold€War€has€been€the€greatly€increased€attention€given€to€the€human€rightsÐ ¨ø Ðdimensions€of€their€activities€by€intergovernmental€bodies€which€are€not€per€se€part€of€the€humanÐ ”ä Ðrights€framework€as€narrowly€defined.€This€is€specifically€reflected€in€the€coordination€mandateÐ €Ð Ðgiven€to€the€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€by€the€General€Assembly€in€resolutionÐ l¼ Ð48/141.€Similarly,€agencies€such€as€the€United€Nations€Development€Programme€(Ô_ÔUNDPÔ_Ô)€andÐ X ¨ Ðthe€World€Bank€have€acknowledged€the€importance€of€respect€for€human€rights€(and€ofÐ D!” Ðintimately€related€issues€such€as€democratization,€governance€and€the€rule€of€law)€in€the€broadÐ 0"€  Ðcontext€of€their€own€programmes.€Curiously,€however,€those€agencies€have€never€viewed€theÐ #l! Ðcommitment€to€promote€the€universal€ratification€of€the€core€treaties€as€something€of€directÐ $X" Ðrelevance€to€their€own€work.€Yet,€to€take€one€example,€the€centrality€of€the€rights€recognized€inÐ ô$D # Ðthe€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€Women€to€theÐ à%0!$ Ðprogrammes€of€those€agencies€is€such€that€it€might€reasonably€be€expected€that€they€would€haveÐ Ì&"% Ðadopted€some€active€measures€aimed€at€encouraging€ratification.€The€same€applies€in€relation€toÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€two€International€Covenants€on€Human€Rights.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÐ Ð28.€€€€€€The€vital€importance€of€the€role€that€might€potentially€be€played€by€these€agencies€inÐ |*Ì%) Ðpromoting€the€achievement€of€universal€ratification€has€been€recognized€by€the€chairpersons€ofÐ h+¸&* Ðthe€treaty€bodies.€At€their€sixth€meeting,€in€1995,€the€chairpersons€recommended€that€such€a€roleÐ T,¤'+ Ðbe€played€and€in€that€regard€recommended€that,€at€their€seventh€meeting,€"a€dialogue€[should]Ð @-(, Ðtake€place€with€senior€officials€of€key€organizations€and€agencies,€to€include,€inter€alia",€theÐ ° ÐÔ_ÔUNDPÔ_Ô€(A/50/505,€para.€18).€Yet,€at€the€seventh€meeting,€Ô_ÔUNDPÔ_Ô,€the€World€Bank€and€FAO€wereÐ œì Ðnot€represented,€and€the€WHO€and€UNESCO€representatives€were€present€only€briefly€and€didÐ ˆØ Ðnot€speak.€In€other€words,€there€was€no€dialogue€at€a€senior€level,€and€indeed€no€dialogue€at€allÐ tÄ Ðon€the€contribution€that€might€be€made€by€the€agencies€to€the€promotion€of€universal€ratification.Ð `° ÐSimilarly,€although€a€Ô_ÔUNDPÔ_Ô€senior€official€addressed€the€sixteenth€session€of€the€Committee€onÐ L œ Ðthe€Elimination€of€Discrimination€against€Women€(in€January€1997)€and€was€asked€about€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðpotential€role€of€that€agency€in€encouraging€ratifications€or€assisting€States€in€the€preparation€ofÐ $ t Ðreports,€the€relevant€press€release€(Ô_ÔWOMÔ_Ô/948)records€no€response.Ð  ` ÐÐ Ð29.€€€€€€€A€related€question€that€should€also€be€addressed€is€whether€those€agencies€which€haveÐ è 8  Ðplayed€an€active€role€in€the€promotion€of€specific€human€rights€treaties€-€most€notably€UNICEFÐ Ô$  Ðin€relation€to€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€and€ILO€in€relation€to€ILO€conventions€-Ð À  Ðcould€not€also€take€it€upon€themselves€to€explicitly€encourage€the€ratification€of€key€treaties€suchÐ ¬ü  Ðas€the€two€International€Covenants€and€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€ofÐ ˜è  ÐDiscrimination€against€Women.Ð „Ô  ÐÐ Ð30.€€€€€€€Regional€organizations€might€also€be€asked€to€contribute€to€the€effort€to€encourageÐ \¬ Ðuniversal€ratification.€The€Organization€for€Security€and€Cooperation€in€Europe€(Ô_ÔOSCEÔ_Ô)€isÐ H˜ Ðparticularly€relevant€in€that€regard.€Since€its€considerable€human€rights-related€activities€are€notÐ 4„ Ðbased€on€formally€binding€instruments€its€various€normative€and€other€pronouncements€haveÐ  p Ðrelied€extensively€upon€the€International€Covenants€and€other€treaties.€It€would€seem€especiallyÐ  \ Ðappropriate,€therefore,€for€a€joint€effort€to€be€made€by€the€Ô_ÔOSCEÔ_Ô€and€the€United€Nations€in€regardÐ øH Ðto€ratification€of€the€six€core€United€Nations€treaties.Ð ä4 ÐÐ Ð31.€€€€€€€€€A€variety€of€recommendations€relating€to€universal€ratification€follow€from€theÐ ¼  Ðforegoing€analysis.Ð ¨ø ÐÐ Ð32.€€€€€€€The€High€Commissioner€on€Human€Rights€should€be€requested€to€consult€specificallyÐ €Ð Ðwith€the€relevant€international€agencies,€including€Ô_ÔUNDPÔ_Ô,€the€World€Bank,€UNESCO,€WHO€andÐ l¼ ÐFAO,€with€a€view€to€ascertaining€what€initiatives,€if€any,€they€might€be€prepared€to€take€in€orderÐ X ¨ Ðto€encourage€States€with€which€they€are€dealing€to€ratify€any€of€the€six€core€treaties€to€which€theyÐ D!” Ðare€not€already€a€party.€The€High€Commissioner€should€be€asked€to€report€in€writing€to€the€eighthÐ 0"€  Ðmeeting€of€chairpersons,€expected€to€be€held€in€September€1997.Ð #l! ÐÐ Ð33.€€€€€€The€dialogue€recommended€by€the€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights€for€the€purpose€ofÐ ô$D # Ðidentifying€"obstacles€and€to€seek€ways€of€overcoming€them"€must€be€undertaken.€It€should€beÐ à%0!$ Ðapproached€in€a€systematic,€even-handed€and€constructive€manner.€Given€the€resourceÐ Ì&"% Ðconstraints,€which€partly€explain€the€absence€of€any€organized€or€systematic€dialogue€to€date,€it€isÐ ¸'#& Ðrecommended€that€a€specific€trust€fund€be€established€for€the€purpose€of€employing€two€advisersÐ ¤(ô#' Ðto€the€High€Commissioner€on€ratification€and€reporting.€Their€tasks€would€be€to€assist€States€inÐ )à$( Ðthe€ways€outlined€above.€One€of€these€persons€would€be€a€political€adviser€and€the€other€aÐ |*Ì%) Ðtechnical€expert€with€the€capacity€to€undertake€or€oversee€pre-ratification€surveys€as€well€as€theÐ h+¸&* Ðpreparation€of€initial€reports.€This€unit€should€be€established€for€a€threeðMðyear€period€withÐ T,¤'+ Ðsufficient€earmarked€funding€to€enable€assistance€to€be€provided€in€national€capitals€rather€thanÐ @-(, Ðin€Geneva.€The€special€advisers€on€ratification€should€be€urged€to€adopt€clear€priority€groups€ofÐ ° Ðcountries€in€order€to€maximize€the€effectiveness€of€their€activities.Ð œì ÐÐ Ð34.€€€€€€€Specific€funding€should€be€earmarked€from€the€advisory€services€programme€to€supportÐ tÄ Ðthe€preparation€of€initial€reports€by€newly-ratifying€developing€countries.€Since€the€preparation€ofÐ `° Ðsubsequent€reports€is,€in€most€respects,€considerably€less€demanding,€and€would€be€greatlyÐ L œ Ðfacilitated€by€the€experience€gained€in€connection€with€the€initial€report,€the€subsequent€reportingÐ 8 ˆ Ðburden€would€not€be€unduly€onerous.€Ð $ t ÐÐ Ð35.€€€€€€€The€meeting€of€chairpersons€should€be€asked€to€consider€various€ways€in€which€theÐ ü L  Ðreporting€process€might€be€streamlined€and€made€less€burdensome€in€relation€to€all€States€withÐ è 8  Ðpopulations€of€1€million€or€fewer€people.Ð Ô$  ÐÐ Ð36.€€€€The€special€advisers€on€ratification€and€reporting€should€explore€and€report€on€the€mostÐ ¬ü  Ðappropriate€methodology€by€which€to€enable€those€32€States€which€have€ratified€either€theÐ ˜è  ÐInternational€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€alone€or€that€Convention€and€only€one€otherÐ „Ô  Ðtreaty€(in€most€cases€either€the€International€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€ofÐ pÀ ÐRacial€Discrimination€or€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€DiscriminationÐ \¬ Ðagainst€Women)€to€prepare€a€consolidated€report€which,€by€building€upon€the€one€or€two€reportsÐ H˜ Ðthey€are€already€obliged€to€prepare,€would€enable€them€to€become€parties€to€the€remainingÐ 4„ Ðtreaties€without€thereby€significantly€increasing€their€reporting€burden.€Ð  p ÐÌÌò òòòB.€Responding€to€the€problem€of€significantly€overdue€reportsóóó óÐ ä4 ÐÌ37.€€€€€Most€of€the€committees€continue€to€express€concern€over€the€consequences€of€the€largeÐ ¼  Ðnumber€of€significantly€overdue€reports.€Table€1,€below,€shows€the€extent€of€the€problem€at€theÐ ¨ø Ðtime€of€the€independent€expert's€interim€report€in€1993€in€comparison€with€the€situation€at€theÐ ”ä Ðend€of€1996.Ð €Ð ÐÌÐ ÐòòTable€1:€The€trend€in€relation€to€overdue€reports,€1993-1996óóÐ D!” ÐÌÔ*±ƒ³°d‘ò ‘Â¥d ÂXdd Xdd ¯dd ¯°(#°(#±ÔÔ,[dd ÔÔ,[dd"ÔÔ,[dd"ÔÔ,[dd"ÔÔ,[dd"ÔÔ,[dd"ÔÔ,[dd"ÔÔ+  ÔÐ -##l!#l €Ø€„„……-ÐTreatyÐ <2#€#Ð"0ÀÀ „„……<ÐÓ  ÓState€partiesÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ €#Ð# ÐŽÐ €#Ð# ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ /%l$¼$ „„……/ÐParties€with€overdueÔ_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ €#Ð% ÐreportsŽÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ /%€#Ð% „„……/ÐTotal€overdue€reportsÐ 8.€#Ð& Ø  €Ø€„„……8ÐÐ ! ô$D & „„!ÐÓ  Ó1993Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ X%¨ ' ÐŽÐ X%¨ ' ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (D&”!( „„(ÐÓ  Ó1996Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ X%¨ ) ÐŽÐ X%¨ ) ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (D&”!* „„(ÐÓ  Ó1993Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ X%¨ + ÐŽÐ X%¨ + ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (D&”!, „„(ÐÓ  Ó1996Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ X%¨ - ÐŽÐ X%¨ - ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (D&”!. „„(ÐÓ  Ó1993Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ X%¨ / ÐŽÐ X%¨ / ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (D&”!0 „„(ÐÓ  Ó1996Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ X%¨ 1 ÐŽÐ X%¨ 1 ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ 2(D&”!2 Ø  €Ø€„„2ÐÔ_ÔICESCRÔ_ÔÐ '0'€"3 „„'Ð119Ð '0'€"4" „„'Ð134Ð '0'€"5" „„'Ð65Ð '0'€"6" „„'Ð97Ð '0'€"7" „„'Ð65Ð '0'€"8" „„'Ð115Ð 1'0'€"9" Ø €Ø€„„1ÐÔ_ÔICCPRÔ_ÔÐ ')X$: „„'Ð115Ð ')X$;" „„'Ð134Ð ')X$<" „„'Ð64Ð ')X$=" „„'Ð84Ð ')X$>" „„'Ð83Ð ')X$?" „„'Ð114Ð 1')X$@" Ø €Ø€„„1ÐÔ_ÔCERDÔ_ÔÐ 'à*0&A „„'Ð132Ð 'à*0&B" „„'Ð147Ð 'à*0&C" „„'Ð112Ð 'à*0&D" „„'Ð126Ð 'à*0&E" „„'Ð342Ð 'à*0&F" „„'Ð401Ð 1'à*0&G" Ø €Ø€„„1ÐÔ_ÔCEDAWÔ_ÔÐ '¸,(H „„'Ð118Ð '¸,(I" „„'Ð153Ð '¸,(J" „„'Ð78Ð '¸,(K" „„'Ð115Ð '¸,(L" „„'Ð127Ð '¸,(M" „„'Ð189Ð 1'¸,(N" Ø €Ø€„„1ÐCATÐ 'd „„'Ð71Ð 'd" „„'Ð98Ð 'd" „„'Ð36Ð 'd" „„'Ð61Ð 'd" „„'Ð38Ð 'd" „„'Ð67Ð 1'd" Ø €Ø€„„1ÐCRCÐ 'ì< „„'Ð126Ð 'ì< " „„'Ð187Ð 'ì< " „„'Ð59Ð 'ì< " „„'Ð71Ð 'ì< " „„'Ð59Ð 'ì< " „„'Ð71Ð 1'ì<" Ø €É€„„1ÐTotalÐ 'Ä „„'Ð680Ð 'Ä" „„'Ð853Ð 'Ä" „„'Ð414Ð 'Ä" „„'Ð554Ð 'Ä" „„'Ð714Ð H>Ä" è@957„„‰è@‰HÐÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÌŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÓ  ÓÔ_Ô959599999¼9999ŽÔ_Ô€957ŽÔ  ÔÐH><Ä è@957 É  è@ HÐÐ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àÐ Ð38.€€€€€€€€In€its€1996€annual€report€(A/51/44)€the€Committee€against€Torture€noted€in€paragraph€1Ð  Q Ðthat€there€were€96€States€parties€and€in€paragraph€21€that€there€were€55€States€with€overdueÐ í = Ðreports.€The€Committee€went€on€to€deplore€the€failure€of€those€States€whose€reports€were€moreÐ Ù )  Ðthan€four€years€overdue€and€recounted€how€numerous€reminders€had€been€sent€by€theÐ Å  ÐSecretary-General€and€various€letters€sent€by€the€Chairman€of€the€Committee.€The€CommitteeÐ ±  Ðtook€two€measures€in€response.€The€first€was€to€issue€a€separate€document€listing€overdueÐ í  Ðreports.€The€second€was€to€give€wide€publicity€to€the€list€at€its€end€of€session€press€conferences.Ð ‰Ù  ÐÐ Ð39.€€€€€In€its€1996€annual€report€(A/51/40)€the€Human€Rights€Committee€expressed€"its€seriousÐ a± Ðconcern"€that€"more€than€two€thirds€of€all€States€parties€...€were€in€arrears€with€their€reports",€andÐ M  Ðnoted€that€this€"state€of€affairs€seriously€impedes€[its]€ability€to€monitor€the€implementation€ofÐ 9‰! Ðthe€Covenant"€(para.€45).€The€Committee€has€continued€to€seek€new€means€by€which€toÐ %u" Ðencourage€delinquent€States€parties€to€submit€reports.€In€addition€to€the€regular€sending€ofÐ a# Ðreminders€and€the€holding€of€meetings€between€members€of€the€Bureau€of€the€Committee€withÐ ýM$ Ðthe€permanent€representatives€of€the€relevant€States,€the€Committee€began€in€1994€to€include€aÐ é9% Ðseparate€list€in€the€main€part€of€its€annual€report€indicating€those€States€that€have€more€than€oneÐ Õ%& Ðreport€overdue.€In€its€1996€report€the€Committee€went€further€and€"reserved€the€right€to€makeÐ Á' Ðpublic€a€list€of€[those€States]€during€the€press€conference€convened€at€the€end€of€each€session€ofÐ ­ý( Ðthe€Committee"€(para.€32).€Ð ™é) ÐÐ Ð40.€€€€€€€Measures€such€as€those€resorted€to€by€these€two€committees€show€an€admirable€faith€inÐ qÁ+ Ðthe€extent€of€the€readership€of€annual€reports€by€committees€and€in€the€newsworthiness€ofÐ ]­, Ðdelinquency€by€a€State€in€its€reporting€to€a€United€Nations€body.€Nevertheless,€it€is€difficult€toÐ I ™- Ðavoid€the€conclusion€that€they€are€unlikely€to€have€a€significant€impact€upon€the€behaviour€of€theÐ 5!…. ÐStates€concerned.€Thus,€for€example,€in€the€case€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee,€five€StatesÐ !"q/ Ðhave€each€received€20€or€more€reminders€over€a€period€of€10€years€or€more€and€have€failed€toÐ  #]0 Ðrespond€(A/51/40,€para.€45).Ð ù#I1 ÐÐ Ð41.€€€€€Other€responses€might€include€an€easing€of€the€reporting€requirements€under€certainÐ Ñ%!!3 Ðcircumstances.€Thus,€at€its€sixteenth€session,€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€ofÐ ½& "4 ÐDiscrimination€against€Women€considered€an€oral€report€presented€by€one€State€party.€TheÐ ©'ù"5 ÐCommittee€emphasized,€however,€that€it€had€done€so€on€an€exceptional€basis€and€as€a€matter€ofÐ •(å#6 Ðcourtesy€to€the€delegation€and€insisted€that€the€presentation€of€a€written€report€be€scheduled.€TheÐ )Ñ$7 ÐHuman€Rights€Committee€decided€in€1996€that,€"under€very€exceptional€circumstances",€when€aÐ m*½%8 Ðreport€is€overdue€"because€of€material€difficulties",€the€State€party€could€be€invited€to€send€aÐ Y+©&9 Ðdelegation€to€discuss€those€difficulties€or€be€asked€to€submit€a€provisional€report€dealing€onlyÐ E,•': Ðwith€certain€aspects€of€the€Covenant€(A/51/40,€para.€32).€Such€initiatives€raise€two€types€ofÐ 1-(; Ðquestions.€The€first€is€whether,€from€a€pragmatic€perspective,€they€are€likely€to€succeed€inÐ ° Ðenabling€more€States€to€report.€Only€time€will€provide€a€definitive€answer,€but€it€seems€that€aÐ œì Ðsignificant€response€rate€could€only€come€as€a€result€of€important,€caseðMðbyðMðcase,€concessions€inÐ ˆØ Ðrelation€to€the€principle€that€all€States€parties€must€report€in€accordance€with€the€generalÐ tÄ Ðguidelines.€That€leads€to€the€second€question,€which€is€whether€real€concessions€(of€the€type€thatÐ `° Ðwill€act€as€an€incentive€to€otherwise€recalcitrant€States)€can€be€made€without€undermining€theÐ L œ Ðcentral€tenets€of€the€reporting€system.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÐ Ð42.€€€€€€Another€approach,€€which€would€be€applicable€across€the€board,€rather€than€on€an€ad€hocÐ  ` Ðbasis,€but€at€the€same€time€permit€a€more€tailored€and€flexible€approach€to€reporting,€would€be€toÐ ü L  Ðeliminate€the€obligation€to€provide€comprehensive€periodic€reports,€in€the€form€in€which€theyÐ è 8  Ðpresently€exist.€This€option€is€discussed€below.Ð Ô$  ÐÐ Ð43.€€€€€Broadly€stated,€there€are€two€reasons€why€States€do€not€report:€administrative€incapacityÐ ¬ü  Ðincluding€a€lack€of€specialist€expertise€or€lack€of€political€will,€or€a€combination€of€both.€In€theÐ ˜è  Ðfirst€situation,€repeated€appeals€are,€almost€by€definition,€unlikely€to€bear€fruit.€Instead,€theÐ „Ô  Ðsolution€lies€in€a€more€serious,€more€expert€and€more€carefully€targeted€advisory€servicesÐ pÀ Ðprogramme€in€relation€to€reporting.€This€is€discussed€briefly€below.Ð \¬ ÐÐ Ð44.€€€€€€€€In€the€second€situation,€a€lack€of€political€will€translates€essentially€into€a€calculation€byÐ 4„ Ðthe€State€concerned€that€the€consequences,€both€domestic€and€international,€of€a€failure€to€reportÐ  p Ðare€less€important€than€the€costs,€administrative€and€political,€of€complying€with€reportingÐ  \ Ðobligations.€In€that€case,€the€only€viable€approach€on€the€part€of€the€treaty€bodies€and/or€theÐ øH Ðpolitical€organs€is€to€seek€to€raise€the€"costs"€of€non-compliance.€A€failure€to€devise€appropriateÐ ä4 Ðresponses€of€this€nature€has€ramifications€which€extend€well€beyond€the€consequences€for€anyÐ Ð  Ðindividual€State€party.€LargeðMðscale€non-reporting€makes€a€mockery€of€the€reporting€system€as€aÐ ¼  Ðwhole.€It€leads€to€a€situation€in€which€many€States€are€effectively€rewarded€for€violating€theirÐ ¨ø Ðobligations€while€others€are€penalized€for€complying€(in€the€sense€of€subjecting€themselves€toÐ ”ä Ðscrutiny€by€the€treaty€bodies),€and€it€will€lead€to€a€situation€in€which€a€diminishing€number€ofÐ €Ð ÐStates€will€report€very€regularly€and€others€will€almost€never€do€so.Ð l¼ ÐÐ Ð45.€€€€The€key€question,€however,€is€what€types€of€measures€designed€to€raise€the€costs€ofÐ D!” Ðnon-compliance€might€be€appropriate,€potentially€productive€in€terms€of€upholding€the€integrityÐ 0"€  Ðof€the€system,€consistent€with€the€legal€framework€of€the€relevant€treaty,€and€politically€andÐ #l! Ðotherwise€acceptable.€Various€palliatives€are€available€and€have€been€canvassed€elsewhere€in€thisÐ $X" Ðreport.€They€include:€the€elimination€of€reporting€and€its€replacement€by€detailed€questions€toÐ ô$D # Ðwhich€answers€must€be€given;€the€preparation€of€a€single€consolidated€report€to€satisfy€severalÐ à%0!$ Ðdifferent€requirements;€and€the€much€wider€use€of€a€more€professional€advisory€servicesÐ Ì&"% Ðprogramme€designed€to€assist€in€the€preparation€of€reports.€Ultimately,€however,€none€of€theseÐ ¸'#& Ðmight€make€a€difference€in€hardðMðcore€cases.€Under€those€circumstances€the€only€viable€optionÐ ¤(ô#' Ðopen€to€the€treaty€bodies€is€to€proceed€with€an€examination€of€the€situation€in€a€State€party€in€theÐ )à$( Ðabsence€of€a€report.€This€has€been€done€for€a€number€of€years€by€the€Committee€on€Economic,Ð |*Ì%) ÐSocial€and€Cultural€Rights€and€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Racial€Discrimination€hasÐ h+¸&* Ðadopted€a€very€similar€approach.€The€situation€has€not€yet€become€chronic€for€either€theÐ T,¤'+ ÐCommittee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child,€because€it€is€still€much€younger€than€the€others,€or€for€theÐ @-(, ÐCommittee€against€Torture€which€has€many€fewer€States€parties€than€the€other€committees.€AndÐ ° Ðthe€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€against€Women€has€had€so€little€meetingÐ œì Ðtime,€until€very€recently,€that€it€was€unlikely€to€take€any€steps€that€would€increase€its€workload.Ð ˆØ ÐÐ Ð46.€€€€€€€It€seems€inevitable,€however,€that€each€of€these€committees,€and€certainly€the€HumanÐ `° ÐRights€Committee,€will€have€to€contemplate€taking€such€a€step€sooner€or€later.€While€the€preciseÐ L œ Ðlegal€basis€for€such€measures€will€need€to€be€rooted€in€the€text€of€each€of€the€relevant€treaties,€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðprincipal€foundation€is€to€be€found€in€a€teleological€approach€to€interpretation€whichÐ $ t Ðacknowledges€that€any€other€outcome€is€absurd€in€that€it€enables€a€delinquent€State€party€toÐ  ` Ðdefeat€the€object€and€purpose€of€the€implementation€provisions.€In€that€regard,€it€is€pertinent€toÐ ü L  Ðrecall€that€the€General€Assembly,€in€its€resolution€51/87,€specifically€"encourage[d]€the€efforts€ofÐ è 8  Ðthe€human€rights€treaty€bodies€to€examine€the€progress€made€in€achieving€the€fulfilment€ofÐ Ô$  Ðhuman€rights€treaty€undertakings€by€all€States€parties,€without€exception"€(emphasis€added).Ð À  ÐÐ Ð47.€€€€€€€€In€implementing€such€an€approach,€the€experience€of€the€Committee€on€Economic,Ð ˜è  ÐSocial€and€Cultural€Rights€is€instructive.€Ample€notice€has€been€given€to€the€States€concernedÐ „Ô  Ðand,€in€a€majority€of€the€cases€taken€up€so€far,€reports€which€had€been€dramatically€overdue€haveÐ pÀ Ðsuddenly€materialized.€For€the€rest,€it€is€particularly€important€that€the€Committee€is€in€a€positionÐ \¬ Ðto€undertake€detailed€research€work€and€to€be€able€to€base€its€examination€upon€a€wide€range€ofÐ H˜ Ðsources€of€information.€The€resulting€"concluding€observations"€must€be€detailed,€accurate€andÐ 4„ Ðcomprehensive.€If€they€are€not,€States€can€again€be€rewarded€for€a€failure€to€report€by€a€routine€orÐ  p Ðmechanistic€response€which€fails€to€establish€genuine€accountability€in€any€way.€In€this€respect€itÐ  \ Ðis€not€clear€that€the€conclusions€adopted€to€date€in€such€cases€by€the€Committee€on€theÐ øH ÐElimination€of€Racial€Discrimination€meet€such€criteria.Ð ä4 ÐÌÌÌò òòòC.€The€inadequacy€of€the€current€system€to€deal€with€the€timely€submission€of€reportsóóó óÐ ”ä ÐÌÌò ò1.€Inability€to€process€reports€due€to€be€submittedó óÐ X ¨ ÐÌ48.€€€€€€€€The€present€supervisory€system€can€function€only€because€of€the€largeðMðscale€delinquencyÐ 0"€  Ðof€States€which€either€do€not€report€at€all,€or€report€long€after€the€due€date.€This€is€hardly€aÐ #l! Ðsatisfactory€foundation€upon€which€to€build€an€effective€and€efficient€monitoring€system.€Thus,Ð $X" Ðfor€example,€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€against€Women€noted€in€itsÐ ô$D # Ð1994€annual€report€(A/49/38,€para.€12)€that€if€States€parties€reported€on€schedule€it€would€need€toÐ à%0!$ Ðconsider€30€reports€per€session.€Ð Ì&"% ÐÐ ÐòòTable€2.€Length€of€time€required€to€review€all€State€reports€currently€due,€if€they€were€to€beÐ ¤(ô#' Ðsubmitted€at€the€end€of€1996óóÐ )à$( Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àâ âÐ |*Ì%) ÐÔ*׃³ [dd [[dd"[[dd"[[dd"[[dd"[[dd"[[dd"[³°(#°(#×ÔÔ,dd ÔÔ,dd ÔÔ,dd ÔÔ,dd ÔÔ,dd ÔÔ,dd ÔÔ+  ÔÐ 1'°° €'€‚‚ƒƒ„„1ÐÐ '° „„'Ðâ âÓ  ÓAverage€No.Ð ° Ðof€Ð œì Ðmeetings€per€Ð ˆØ ÐÔ_ÔreportÔ_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ tÄ ÐÌÌ̹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹Ð Ì&"' ÐÐ Ì&"' ÐÐ Ì&"' ÐÐ ¸'#( ÐÐ ¸'#( ÐÐ ¸'#( ÐÐ tÄ ÐÐ tÄ ÐÐ tÄ ÐŽÐ tÄ ÐÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÐ (`° „„(ÐÓ  ÓMeetingsÐ ° Ðrequired€toÐ œì ÐconsiderÐ ˆØ  ÐÔ_ÔreportsÔ_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ tÄ  Ðalready€ŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔdueŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (tÄ   „„(ÐÓ  ÓAverage€No.€ofÐ °  Ðmeetings€perÐ œì  ÐyearÐ ˆØ  ÐÐ 'tÄ  „„'ÐÓ  ÓAverage€No.Ð ° Ðof€meetingsÐ œì Ðð  ðper€yearÐ ˆØ Ðdevoted€Ô_ÔtoÔ_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ tÄ ÐexaminingÏreportsÌŽÔ  ÔÐ (tÄ  „„(ÐÓ  ÓNo.€of€yearsÐ ° ÐrequiredÐ œì ÐÌÐ 7-tÄ  ' €Ø€„„7ÐICESCRÐ '; ‹ „„'ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô3Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ ; ‹ ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ ; ‹ ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (' w „„(ÐÓ  Ó3€x€115€Ô_Ô=Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ ; ‹ Ð345ÌÐ ë+;'@ ÐÐ ; ‹ ÐÐ Û,+(A ÐÐ ë+;'@ ÐÐ û*K&? й¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹Ð “(ã#< ÐÐ “(ã#< ÐÐ “(ã#< ÐÐ )Ï$= ÐÐ )Ï$= ÐÐ )Ï$= ÐÐ ; ‹ ÐÐ ; ‹ ÐÐ ; ‹ ÐŽÐ ; ‹ ÐÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÐ (' w „„(ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô58Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ ; ‹ ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ ; ‹ ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (' w „„(ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô45Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ ; ‹ ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ ; ‹ ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (' w „„(ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô7.6Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ ; ‹  ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ ; ‹  ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ 2(' w! Ø  €Ø€„„2ÐICCPRÐ ' c" „„'ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô3Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ  c# ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ  c# ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (ÿ O$ „„(ÐÓ  Ó3€x€114€Ô_Ô=Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ  c% Ð342ÌÐ d ÐÐ  c& ÐÐ Ó,#(J й¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹Ð k*»%G ÐÐ k*»%G ÐÐ k*»%G ÐÐ W+§&H ÐÐ W+§&H ÐÐ W+§&H ÐÐ  c% ÐÐ  c% ÐÐ  c% ÐŽÐ  c% ÐÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÐ (ÿ O& „„(ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô85Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ  c' ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ  c' ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (ÿ O( „„(ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô45Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ  c) ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ  c) ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (ÿ O* „„(ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô7.6Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ  c+ ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ  c+ ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ 2(ÿ O, Ø  €Ø€„„2ÐCERDÐ 'ë ;- „„'ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô2Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ ë ;. ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ ë ;. ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (× ' / „„(ÐÓ  Ó2€x€401€Ô_Ô=Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ ë ;0 Ð802ÌÐ ì< ÐÐ ë ;1 ÐÐ d й¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹Ð C,“'R ÐÐ C,“'R ÐÐ C,“'R ÐÐ /-(S ÐÐ /-(S ÐÐ /-(S ÐÐ ë ;0 ÐÐ ë ;0 ÐÐ ë ;0 ÐŽÐ ë ;0 ÐÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÐ (× ' 1 „„(ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô55Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ ë ;2 ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ ë ;2 ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (× ' 3 „„(ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô33Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ ë ;4 ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ ë ;4 ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (× ' 5 „„(ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô24.3Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ ë ;6 ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ ë ;6 ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ 2(× ' 7 Ø  €Ø€„„2ÐCEDAWÐ 'à 8 „„'ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô2Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ Ã 9 ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ Ã 9 ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (¯ÿ : „„(ÐÓ  Ó2€x€189€Ô_Ô=Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ Ã ; Ð378ÌÐ Ä ÐÐ Ã < ÐÐ ì< й¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹Ð d ÐÐ d ÐÐ d ÐÐ d ÐÐ d ÐÐ d ÐÐ Ã ; ÐÐ Ã ; ÐÐ Ã ; ÐŽÐ Ã ; ÐÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÐ (¯ÿ < „„(ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô49Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ Ã = ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ Ã = ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (¯ÿ > „„(ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô18Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ Ã ? ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ Ã ? ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (¯ÿ @ „„(ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô21Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ Ã A ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ Ã A ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ 2(¯ÿ B Ø  €Ø€„„2ÐCATÐ '›ë C „„'ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô2.2Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ ›ë D ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ ›ë D ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (‡× E „„(ÐÓ  Ó2.2€x€67€Ô_Ô=Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ ›ë F Ð134ÌÐ œ ì% ÐÐ ›ë G ÐÐ Ä й¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹Ð ì< ÐÐ ì< ÐÐ ì< ÐÐ ì< ÐÐ ì< ÐÐ ì< ÐÐ ›ë F ÐÐ ›ë F ÐÐ ›ë F ÐŽÐ ›ë F ÐÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÐ (‡× G „„(ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô36Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ ›ë H ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ ›ë H ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (‡× I „„(ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô20Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ ›ë J ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ ›ë J ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ (‡× K „„(ÐÓ  ÓÔ_Ô6.7Ô_ÔÔ ÿÿ ÔÐ ›ë L ÐŽÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ ›ë L ÐÓ  ÓÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ  ÔÐ 2(‡× M Ø  €Ø€„„2ÐCRCÐ F<sà N  @3„„‰@‰FÐÓ  Ó3Ð E;0sà O   @3 @ „„EÐÓ  Ó3€x€71€=€213Ð G=sà P   @U@85„„‰@U@‰GÐÓ  Ó85Ð f\1sà Q   @U@85 @U@  K@54„„‰K@‰fÐÓ  Ó54Ð g]1sà R   K@54 K@ 333333@3.9„„‰333333@‰gÐÓ  Ó3.9ÐG=;sà S  333333@3.9 Ø  333333@ GÐÌ49.€€€€€€€In€brief,€the€picture€that€emerges€from€table€2€is€that€if€every€State€party€with€a€reportÐ Ó#T Ðoverdue€under€either€of€the€Covenants€were€to€submit€that€report€tomorrow,€the€last€to€beÐ ¿U Ðreceived€could€not€be€considered,€on€the€basis€of€existing€arrangements,€before€the€year€2003.€AtÐ «ûV Ðthat€point,€the€relevant€committee€would€be€considering€an€eightðMðyearðMðold€report€and€wouldÐ —çW Ðhave€a€huge€backlog€of€subsequent€reports€pending.Ð ƒÓX ÐÐ Ð50.€€€€€€An€even€more€compelling€way€of€looking€at€the€situation€is€to€assume€that€every€StateÐ [«Z Ðparty€to€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€were€to€submit€a€periodic€(as€opposed€toÐ G—[ Ðinitial)€report,€as€required,€every€five€years.€In€theory,€this€would€require€the€Committee€on€theÐ 3ƒ\ ÐRights€of€the€Child€to€examine€187€reports€over€five€years.€At€its€present€rate€of€examiningÐ o] Ðreports€it€would€require€3€meetings€per€report,€or€a€total€of€561€meetings.€Divided€over€aÐ  [^ ÐfiveðMðyear€period,€that€would€require€112€meetings€per€year€devoted€to€reports.€Currently,€on€theÐ ÷G_ Ðbasis€of€meeting€for€nine€weeks€in€plenary€session€and€three€weeks€in€working€groups,€it€is€ableÐ ã3` Ðto€devote€54€meetings€per€year€to€the€examination€of€reports.€Thus,€its€meeting€time€would€needÐ Ï a Ðto€be€at€least€doubled,€making€18€weeks€of€meetings€plus€6€weeks€of€working€groups.€At€leastÐ »! b Ðhalf€of€the€Committee€of€10€members€would€thus€need€to€spend€24€weeks€a€year€in€session,€quiteÐ §"÷c Ðapart€from€all€of€the€additional€activities€that€that€Committee€has€so€far€undertaken€outside€of€itsÐ “#ãd Ðofficial€meeting€times.€The€resulting€burden€on€the€Secretariat,€on€conference€servicing€facilitiesÐ $Ïe Ðand€on€translation,€interpretation€and€editing€services€would€be€immense.Ð k%» f ÐÌÌÓ  Óò ò2.€The€problem€of€delays€between€submission€and€examination€of€reportsó óÐ /(#i ÐÓDÓÌ51.€€€€€€In€its€1994€annual€report€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€againstÐ *W%k ÐWomen€observed€that€there€was€"an€average€of€three€years€between€the€time€a€State€partyÐ ó*C&l Ðsubmits€its€report€and€its€consideration€by€the€Committee".€The€Committee€went€on€to€observeÐ ß+/'m Ðthat€such€a€situation€provides€"a€disincentive€to€report€and€leads€to€the€need€for€the€State€toÐ Ë,(n Ðpresent€additional€information€to€update€the€report€which,€in€turn,€increases€the€volume€ofÐ ·-)o Ðdocumentation€that€must€be€considered€by€the€Committee"€(A/49/38,€para.€12).€This€analysis€isÐ ° Ðstill€applicable€in€relation€to€most€committees.€Thus,€on€the€basis€of€available€figures,€a€reportÐ œì Ðsubmitted€in€December€1996€to€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€would€not€be€examinedÐ ˆØ Ðuntil€January€1999.€For€the€Human€Rights€Committee€and€the€Committee€on€Economic,€SocialÐ tÄ Ðand€Cultural€Rights,€the€respective€dates€would€probably€be€July€1998€and€May€1999.Ð `° ÐÐ Ð52.€€€€€The€options€available€for€responding€to€a€situation€which€is€clearly€unacceptable€to€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðcommittees€and€the€States€concerned,€as€well€as€to€those€whose€human€rights€are€the€focus€ofÐ $ t Ðattention,€are€examined€later€in€this€report.€At€this€point,€it€is€sufficient€to€observe€that€one€optionÐ  ` Ðwhich€is€clearly€unsatisfactory€is€to€schedule€a€large€number€of€reports€for€consideration€in€a€veryÐ ü L  Ðshort€time,€so€that€each€report€receives€only€superficial€consideration.€Unless€such€an€approach€isÐ è 8  Ðpreceded€by€very€detailed€preliminary€work€and€demonstrates€that€it€is€still€able€to€achieveÐ Ô$  Ðconvincing€and€accurate€results,€it€risks€going€through€the€motions€for€their€own€sake€andÐ À  Ðabandoning€the€raison€d'tre€of€the€whole€system,€which€is€to€promote€respect€for€human€rightsÐ ¬ü  Ðand€ensure€genuine€accountability.Ð ˜è  ÐÌÌò òòòÓ  ÓD.€Problems€in€relation€to€documentationóóó óÐ \¬ ÐÌÌò ò1.€A€fiftyðMðpage€limit€on€State€reports?ó óÐ  p ÐÓÕLÓÌ53.€€€€€€As€noted€at€the€beginning€of€this€report,€it€has€been€proposed€by€conference€servicingÐ øH Ðofficials€in€Geneva,€in€addressing€both€the€seventh€meeting€of€chairpersons€and€individualÐ ä4 Ðcommittees€in€the€course€of€1996,€that€a€limit€of€an€average€of€50€pages€be€imposed€on€the€lengthÐ Ð  Ðof€State€party€reports€to€be€processed€and€translated.€To€the€extent€that€such€a€limitation€wouldÐ ¼  Ðapply€to€processing€(copy-editing,€clean€typing€and€reproduction)€as€well€as€translating,€it€wouldÐ ¨ø Ðeven€eliminate€the€option€for€a€committee€to€be€prepared€to€consider€a€longer€report€in€theÐ ”ä Ðoriginal€language€in€which€it€is€submitted.€This€proposal€has€yet€to€be€fully€implemented€but€itsÐ €Ð Ðeffects€are€already€being€felt€in€various€ways.€Although€it€is€beyond€the€scope€of€this€report€toÐ l¼ Ðaddress€the€possible€implications€of€the€proposal,€two€procedural€matters€are€worthy€of€note€sinceÐ X ¨ Ðthey€bear€on€the€modalities€of€future€treaty€body-related€reform€processes.€The€first€is€that€bothÐ D!” Ðthe€chairpersons'€meeting€and€the€treaty€bodies€themselves€have€been€provided€with€very€littleÐ 0"€  Ðsolid€statistical€information€to€substantiate€the€need€for€draconian€measures€of€the€type€proposed.Ð #l! ÐIndeed€the€message€has,€for€the€most€part,€been€conveyed€orally€rather€than€in€the€form€of€aÐ $X" Ðdetailed€written€analysis€which€would€provide€a€basis€for€careful€consideration€of€alternativeÐ ô$D # Ðresponses.€The€second€is€that€the€Centre€for€Human€Rights€has€not€provided€any€analysis€of€theÐ à%0!$ Ðalternatives€that€might€be€considered.€Given€the€difficulty€of€obtaining€information€about€theÐ Ì&"% Ðfunctioning€of€the€system€and€the€costs€involved,€the€absence€of€such€an€analysis,€or€briefingÐ ¸'#& Ðpaper,€would€seem€to€increase€considerably€the€prospects€for€ill-informed€and€uncreative€responses.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÐ Ð54.€€€€€€The€incongruity€of€the€proposed€limitation€is€perhaps€best€illustrated€by€the€fact€that€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðgeneral€guidelines€for€the€submission€of€periodic€reports€(CRC/C/58),€adopted€by€the€CommitteeÐ h+¸&* Ðon€the€Rights€of€the€Child€in€October€1996,€are€49€pages€long.€In€other€words,€States€partiesÐ T,¤'+ Ðwould€be€asked€to€respond€to€49€pages€of€questions€and€of€lists€of€issues€in€relation€to€whichÐ @-(, Ðinformation€is€required€in€the€course€of€a€report€of€precisely€the€same€length.€This€is€clearlyÐ ° Ðimpossible,€and€it€is€doubly€so€in€the€case€of€federal€States€which€must€report€on€the€situation€inÐ œì Ðrelation€to€the€different€laws€and€practices€applying€in€each€of€their€constituent€territories.Ð ˆØ ÐMoreover,€the€suggestion€that€reports€could€be€confined€to€50€pages€is€entirely€at€odds€with€theÐ tÄ Ðtrend€in€most€of€the€committees€to€request€ever€more€precise€and€detailed€information€in€order€toÐ `° Ðenable€the€experts€to€obtain€a€clearer€picture€of€the€situation.€On€the€other€hand,€two€committeesÐ L œ Ð(the€Committee€against€Torture€and€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Racial€Discrimination)Ð 8 ˆ Ðhave€generally€managed€with€comparatively€brief€reports.€This€is,€however,€primarily€a€functionÐ $ t Ðof€the€more€restricted€nature€of€their€focus€rather€than€of€their€greater€frugality.Ð  ` ÐÌÌÓ  Óò ò2.€Ephemeral€or€unrecorded€documentationó óÐ Ô$  ÐÓŸ[ÓÌ55.€€€€€Another€problem€which€€is€worthy€of€note€concerns€€the€increasing€€proportion€ofÐ ¬ü  Ðdocumentation€which,€although€central€to€the€dialogue€in€many€cases,€is€of€an€ephemeral€orÐ ˜è  Ðofficially€unrecorded€nature.€In€other€words,€governmental€representatives€submit€detailedÐ „Ô  Ðinformation,€sometimes€in€the€form€of€materials€already€published€(and€thus,€in€principle,Ð pÀ Ðavailable€elsewhere)€but€more€often€in€the€form€of€specifically€targeted€information€in€responseÐ \¬ Ðto€questions€raised€or€issues€signalled€in€advance€by€the€respective€treaty€bodies.€Since€thisÐ H˜ Ðinformation€is€neither€contained€in€the€State€party€report€itself€nor€reflected,€except€indirectly€andÐ 4„ Ðin€passing,€in€the€summary€records,€it€is€effectively€lost€and€is€not€part€of€any€enduring€orÐ  p Ðaccessible€record€of€the€dialogue.€Although€it€might€have€had€a€determinative€influence€upon€theÐ  \ ÐCommittee's€response,€it€is€not€available€to€any€person€who€was€not€both€present€at€the€time€andÐ øH Ðwas€privileged€to€gain€access€to€the€documentation.Ð ä4 ÐÐ Ð56.€€€€€€As€with€many€of€the€issues€dealt€with€in€this€report,€devising€appropriate€responses€isÐ ¼  Ðrather€more€difficult€than€identifying€the€issues.€The€first€step€is€for€the€materials€included€in€theÐ ¨ø Ðannual€report€to€be€more€systematic€and€detailed€in€indicating€the€principal€reference€materialsÐ ”ä Ðrelied€upon€in€the€examination€of€the€report.€The€second€step€would€be€to€develop€a€moreÐ €Ð Ðsystematic€documentary€archive€to€be€maintained€at€least€until€the€examination€of€the€subsequentÐ l¼ Ðreport€of€the€same€State€party.€But€again,€in€the€context€of€a€treaty€body€secretariat€whichÐ X ¨ Ðemploys€not€a€single€skilled€documentalist,€has€no€satisfactory€facilities€for€maintaining€archivesÐ D!” Ðand€has€yet€to€focus€at€all€on€issues€of€this€type,€it€is€not€clear€that€there€is€much€use€in€makingÐ 0"€  Ðvery€detailed€recommendations,€beyond€calling€attention€to€the€problem.Ð #l! ÐÌÌÌò òÓ  Ó3.€Delays€in€the€production€of€summary€recordsó óÐ Ì&"% ÐÓÚdÓÌ57.€€€€€€€Another€problem€confronting€the€treaty€bodies€is€that€the€summary€records€are€nowÐ ¤(ô#' Ðproduced€in€only€two€languages€(English€and€French)€and€the€translation€into€the€secondÐ )à$( Ðlanguage€(whichever€one€it€might€be)€is€generally€significantly€delayed.€This€is€of€particularÐ |*Ì%) Ðsignificance€for€several€reasons.€The€first€is€that,€in€response€to€budgetary€and€other€concerns,Ð h+¸&* Ðeach€of€the€treaty€bodies€has€eliminated€from€its€annual€reports€the€summary€of€the€dialogue€withÐ T,¤'+ Ðeach€State€party€which€was€a€consistent€feature€of€the€annual€reports€until€quite€recently.€ThisÐ @-(, Ðcould€be€done€on€the€basis€that€there€was€no€need€to€duplicate€information€which€was€any€eventÐ ° Ðprovided,€and€in€a€more€systematic€fashion,€by€the€summary€records.€The€second€is€that€theÐ œì Ðsummary€records€constitute€one€of€the€most€important€elements€in€the€process€of€accountabilityÐ ˆØ Ðwhich€provides€the€principal€rationale€for€the€process€of€dialogue.€If€the€records€are€notÐ tÄ Ðaccessible€within€a€reasonably€short€period€of€time€after€the€examination€of€the€report€and€theÐ `° Ðadoption€of€the€concluding€observations,€a€significant€part€of€the€value€of€the€undertaking€may€beÐ L œ Ðlost.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÐ Ð58.€€€€€€€By€the€same€token,€it€is€not€clear€that€there€is€sufficient€value-added€by€the€publication,€inÐ  ` Ðthe€case€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee,€of€a€set€of€official€records€(previously€known€as€theÐ ü L  ÐCommittee's€Yearbooks)€reproducing€all€of€the€summary€records€and€other€already€issuedÐ è 8  Ðdocumentation.€The€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€against€Women€hasÐ Ô$  Ðrequested€that€further€yearbooks€be€issued€for€it,€in€addition€to€those€produced€some€years€ago,Ð À  Ðand€similar€proposals€have€been€made€in€relation€to€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child.€InÐ ¬ü  Ða€context€of€the€generous€availability€of€resources€such€undertakings€are€certainly€desirable€sinceÐ ˜è  Ðthey€make€the€records€more€accessible€for€historical€and€related€purposes.€However,€at€a€time€ofÐ „Ô  Ðthe€utmost€financial€stringency€when€neither€paper€nor€pencils€can€be€provided€in€conferenceÐ pÀ Ðrooms€for€the€use€of€expert€members€of€the€treaty€bodies,€such€expenditures€are€surely€not€aÐ \¬ Ðpriority.€Ð H˜ ÐÐ Ð59.€€€€€€In€any€event,€their€value€has€been€radically€reduced€by€the€increased€importance€ofÐ  p Ðelectronic€sources€of€information,€especially€through€the€Internet.€While€summary€records€of€theÐ  \ Ðtreaty€bodies€are€not€yet€available€in€that€form,€it€is€surely€only€a€matter€of€time.€Priority€shouldÐ øH Ðtherefore€be€accorded€to€that€enterprise.€For€the€reasons€noted€below,€the€advantages€make€theÐ ä4 Ðinvestment€in€the€electronic€form€of€the€records€far€more€rewarding€than€the€production€ofÐ Ð  Ðprestigious€dinosaurs€such€as€the€Yearbooks€(official€records).€The€first€step€should€therefore€beÐ ¼  Ðthe€transfer€of€the€existing€Yearbooks€onto€the€electronic€databases,€and€the€second€step€shouldÐ ¨ø Ðconsist€of€a€concerted€effort€to€achieve€the€timely€publication,€again€in€electronic€form,€of€theÐ ”ä Ðsummary€records€as€soon€as€they€are€available.Ð €Ð ÐÌÌò òòòÓ  ÓE.€The€development€and€use€of€electronic€databasesóóó óÐ D!” ÐÐ Ðò ò1.€The€home€page€of€the€Centre€for€Human€Rightsó óÐ #l! ÐÓ]sÓÌ60.€€€€€€The€approach€advocated€in€relation€to€summary€records€is€entirely€consistent€with€one€ofÐ ô$D # Ðthe€most€encouraging€recent€developments€overseen€by€the€High€Commissioner€for€HumanÐ à%0!$ ÐRights.€On€10€December€1996€a€major€electronic€database€of€human€rights€documentation€wasÐ Ì&"% Ðmade€available€on€the€World€Wide€Web€and€is€thus€accessible€through€the€Internet.€In€such€form,Ð ¸'#& Ðthe€concluding€observations,€reports€by€States,€and€eventually€the€summary€records€will€all€beÐ ¤(ô#' Ðmade€available€to€literally€millions€of€potential€users.€This€contrasts€dramatically€with€theÐ )à$( Ðsituation€in€relation€to€both€the€mimeographed€documents€in€their€original€form€and€the€printedÐ |*Ì%) Ðofficial€records€(Yearbook)€volumes.€All€of€these€documents€have€a€small€print€run€and€a€veryÐ h+¸&* Ðlimited€distribution€network€that€rarely€includes€nationalðMðlevel€NGOs,€scholars€in€places€outsideÐ T,¤'+ Ðthe€industrialized€countries,€and€other€key€potential€users.€The€costs€of€upkeep€of€a€hard€copyÐ @-(, Ðcollection€of€treaty€body€documents€is€considerable€and€there€are€only€a€handful€of€librariesÐ ° Ðaround€the€world€which€devote€the€resources€necessary€for€the€maintenance€of€an€accessible€andÐ œì Ðfunctional€collection€of€such€documentation.€Moreover,€the€utility€of€the€hard€copy€documents€isÐ ˆØ Ðvery€limited€by€comparison€with€that€of€the€electronic€versions€which€can€be€comprehensivelyÐ tÄ Ðsearched,€organized€and€selectively€printed€out€in€very€little€time.Ð `° ÐÐ Ð61.€€€€€€Concern€has€justifiably€been€expressed€that€an€emphasis€on€new€technology€will€notÐ 8 ˆ Ðnecessarily€cater€for€the€needs€of€those€with€limited€resources€or€living€in€countries€which€do€notÐ $ t Ðhave€ready€or€reliable€access€to€the€Internet.€Such€concerns€need€to€be€addressed,€but€it€must€alsoÐ  ` Ðbe€recalled€that€the€accessibility€of€printed€("hard€copy")€documents€in€such€countries€and€to€suchÐ ü L  Ðindividuals€is€currently€close€to€zero€and€that€even€elites€in€such€countries,€whetherÐ è 8  Ðgovernmental,€academic€or€activist,€invariably€have€difficulty€getting€access€to€printed€UnitedÐ Ô$  ÐNations€documents.€In€this€respect,€far€from€reinforcing€existing€disparities€in€access€toÐ À  Ðinformation,€the€Internet€and€its€equivalents€offer€a€unique€opportunity€to€democratize€access€andÐ ¬ü  Ðto€ensure€the€systematic€availability€of€documentation€which€has€hitherto€been€extremely€difficultÐ ˜è  Ðto€obtain.Ð „Ô  ÐÐ Ð62.€€€€€€But€the€full€potential€of€these€developments,€in€terms€of€those€currently€without€readyÐ \¬ Ðaccess,€will€only€be€realized€if€a€deliberate€strategy€is€devised€for€that€purpose.€This€in€turn€willÐ H˜ Ðrequire€the€adoption€of€a€more€systematic,€consultative€and€transparent€process€than€has€hithertoÐ 4„ Ðbeen€developed.€In€that€respect,€the€Centre€for€Human€Rights€could€learn€from€two€recentÐ  p Ðinitiatives.€The€first€is€the€"WomenWatch"€project,€undertaken€jointly€by€the€Division€for€theÐ  \ ÐAdvancement€of€Women,€the€United€Nations€Development€Fund€for€Women€(UNIFEM)€and€theÐ øH ÐInternational€Research€and€Training€Institute€for€the€Advancement€of€Women€(INSTRAW),Ð ä4 Ðwhich€aims€to€conceptualize,€design€and€implement€a€joint€Internet€space€on€global€informationÐ Ð  Ðon€women,€accessible€through€World€Wide€Web,€gopher€and€e-mail€technology.€The€project'sÐ ¼  Ðaims€include€identifying€best€current€practices,€improving€access,€providing€training,€andÐ ¨ø Ðdeveloping€cooperative€links€with€other€actors.Ð ”ä ÐÐ Ð63.€€€€€€The€Centre€for€Human€Rights€should€convene€an€expert€seminar€for€similar€purposes€inÐ l¼ Ðrelation€to€human€rights€information€and€documentation.€Adequate€resources€should€be€devotedÐ X ¨ Ðto€ensure€that€the€newly€created€Web€site€is€developed€further€and€kept€fully€up€to€date.Ð D!” ÐConsideration€should€also€be€given€to€the€appointment€of€an€external€expert€advisory€group€toÐ 0"€  Ðassist€in€relation€to€the€development€of€electronic€information€activities,€especially€as€they€relateÐ #l! Ðto€the€treaty€bodies.Ð $X" ÐÐ Ð64.€€€€€€€The€second€initiative€from€which€the€Centre€should€explore€the€lessons€to€be€learned€isÐ à%0!$ Ðthe€provision,€by€UNICEF,€of€notebook€computers€to€all€members€of€the€Committee€on€theÐ Ì&"% ÐRights€of€the€Child.€The€computers€are€programmed€to€provide€e-mail€access€and€access€to€theÐ ¸'#& Ðkey€databases€and€documentation€sources€needed€by€members€in€carrying€out€their€monitoringÐ ¤(ô#' Ðfunctions.€If€the€experiment€is€a€success,€comparable€measures€should€be€taken€in€respect€ofÐ )à$( Ðmembers€of€the€five€other€treaty€bodies.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌÌò òÓ  Ó2.€Broader€access€to€ILO€and€UNHCR€electronic€databasesó óÐ @-(, ЇÓ  Ó65.€€€€€€One€of€the€curious€features€of€current€information€technology€developments€which€directlyÐ ° Ðconcern€the€treaty€bodies€is€that€one€of€the€agencies€which€has€moved€the€most€rapidly€and€achievedÐ œì Ðsome€of€the€best€results€-€the€ILO€-€has€persisted€with€a€strategy€which€is€no€longer€optimum€andÐ ˆØ Ðwhich€now€does€a€considerable€disservice€to€the€constituencies€the€organization€aims€to€serve.€It€hasÐ tÄ Ðdeveloped€an€extensive€and€very€sophisticated€database,€of€major€and€direct€relevance€to€variousÐ `° Ðaspects€of€the€work€of€the€treaty€bodies€and€the€human€rights€field€generally.€But€it€has€chosen€onlyÐ L œ Ðto€make€it€available€to€external€users€by€means€of€a€CD-ROM€which€must€be€purchased€and€forÐ 8 ˆ Ðwhich€separate€equipment,€beyond€a€computer€and€an€Internet€connection,€must€be€acquired.€OneÐ $ t Ðresult,€for€example,€is€that€the€database€is€unavailable€to€any€members€of€the€treaty€bodies,€to€NGOsÐ  ` Ðor€scholars€unless€they€make€an€individual€purchase€at€considerable€expense.€Ð ü L  ÐÐ Ð66.€€€€€€There€also€seems€to€be€a€significant€time€lag€in€relation€to€the€availability€of€data€generatedÐ Ô$  Ðby€UNHCR,€which€is€produced€first€for€its€CDðMðROM€("Refworld")€and€subsequently,€but€ratherÐ À  Ðmore€slowly,€made€available€on€its€Web€site.€The€income€generated€by€this€"user-pays"€strategy€mayÐ ¬ü  Ðnot€be€insignificant€but€the€costs,€in€terms€of€unnecessarily€restricted€access€to€information€and€theÐ ˜è  Ðresulting€diminution€of€the€reliance€placed€upon€the€work€of€the€organizations,€would€seem€to€beÐ „Ô  Ðconsiderable.€It€is€to€be€hoped€that€both€agencies,€but€the€ILO€in€particular,€will€reconsider€theirÐ pÀ Ðexisting€strategy€and€make€their€very€valuable€resources€available€in€as€timely€a€fashion€as€possibleÐ \¬ Ðto€a€far€broader€public.Ð H˜ ÐÌÌò òòòÓ  ÓF.€Public€informationóóó óÐ  \ ÐÓ5‘ÓÌ67.€€€€€€€The€need€for€improved€public€information€materials€to€be€devoted€to€the€work€of€the€treatyÐ ä4 Ðbodies€has€been€a€constant€theme€of€recommendations€adopted€in€recent€years.€However,€given€theÐ Ð  Ðbudgetary€restraints€upon€the€Secretariat,€the€cumbersome€and€costly€procedures€followed€and€theÐ ¼  Ðlack€of€the€necessary€human€and€other€resources,€it€is€not€surprising€that€relatively€little€informationÐ ¨ø Ðabout€the€treaty€bodies€has€been€produced.€The€Human€Rights€Committee,€for€example,€has€beenÐ ”ä Ðcalling€for€a€number€of€years€for€the€publication€of€a€third€volume€of€Selected€Decisions€of€theÐ €Ð ÐHuman€Rights€Committee€under€the€Optional€Protocol,€without€success.€Volume€2€covers€the€periodÐ l¼ ÐOctober€1982€to€April€1988.€A€second€volume€of€Human€Rights:€A€Compilation€of€InternationalÐ X ¨ ÐInstruments€has€been€under€preparation€since€1992,€and€although€the€Department€of€PublicÐ D!” ÐInformation€reports€that€it€"is€now€being€updated",€it€has€in€fact€never€been€published.€Apart€fromÐ 0"€  Ðthe€extremely€valuable€United€Nations€Action€in€the€Field€of€Human€Rights,€published€every€fiveÐ #l! Ðyears,€there€is€relatively€little€in€print€which€is€of€direct€relevance€to€the€treaty€bodies.€TheÐ $X" ÐProfessional€Training€Series€is€potentially€the€most€serious€and€valuable€set€of€publications.€The€25Ð ô$D # ÐFact€Sheets€issued€to€date€may€have€been€printed€in€large€numbers€but€their€overall€utility,€and€theÐ à%0!$ Ðeffectiveness€of€their€distribution,€would€be€unlikely€to€be€rated€highly€by€external€experts.Ð Ì&"% ÐÐ Ð68.€€€€€€Without€wishing€to€underestimate€the€difficulties€faced€by€those€who€labour€with€very€fewÐ ¤(ô#' Ðresources€and€much€more€limited€political€support€than€is€usually€acknowledged,€it€would€seem€thatÐ )à$( Ðthe€publicity€provided€for€the€work€of€the€various€treaty€bodies€is€usually€unimaginative€and€notÐ |*Ì%) Ðespecially€informative.€It€is€far€beyond€the€mandate€of€the€independent€expert€to€review€in€any€detailÐ h+¸&* Ðthe€various€alternative€approaches€that€might€be€considered€in€the€future.€It€must€suffice€to€say€thatÐ T,¤'+ Ðthree€avenues€would€seem€worth€exploring.€The€first€is€giving€the€treaty€bodies€a€direct€input€intoÐ @-(, Ðhow€a€specified€public€information€budget,€earmarked€for€that€purpose,€should€be€spent.€For€thatÐ ° Ðpurpose€an€options€paper€should€be€prepared€and€discussed€by€the€meeting€of€chairpersons€on€theÐ œì Ðbasis€of€discussions€in€individual€committees.€The€second€is€to€acknowledge€that€the€greatest€needÐ ˆØ Ðis€for€information€to€be€made€available€at€the€grassðMðroots€level,€rather€than€in€Geneva€and€New€YorkÐ tÄ Ðwhere€it€seems€likely€the€great€majority€of€existing€materials€are€disseminated.€But€this€does€notÐ `° Ðmean€simply€that€there€should€be€a€more€extensive€distribution€of€brochures€by€the€United€NationsÐ L œ Ðinformation€centres.€Rather,€it€means€that€a€public€information€budget€should€be€available€to€supportÐ 8 ˆ ÐgrassðMðroots€initiatives€designed€to€disseminate€information€about€the€treaty€bodies€in€culturallyÐ $ t Ðappropriate€and€more€popular€formats€and€media.Ð  ` ÐÐ Ð69.€€€€€The€third€avenue€is€to€explore€the€extent€to€which€the€preparation€of€publications,€such€as€theÐ è 8  ÐSelected€Decisions,€can€be€entrusted€to€academic€and€other€external€institutions€that€are€prepared€toÐ Ô$  Ðtake€them€on.€The€publication€could€then€be€achieved€commercially,€at€a€cost€which€would€beÐ À  Ðsubstantially€less€than€having€either€the€editorial€or€printing€work€done€within€the€United€Nations.Ð ¬ü  ÐThis€approach€would€also€respond€to€calls€by€the€Advisory€Committee€on€Administrative€andÐ ˜è  ÐBudgetary€Questions€to€explore€alternative€and€less€costly€approaches€to€the€publication€of€UnitedÐ „Ô  ÐNations€materials.€The€treaty€body€concerned€could€still€insist€on€appropriate€standards€in€relationÐ pÀ Ðto€content€and€the€publication€process€would€be€potentially€much€faster€and€certainly€less€costly.Ð \¬ ÐÐ Ð70.€€€€€€In€general,€there€would€seem€to€be€good€reason€to€convene,€from€time€to€time,€an€externalÐ 4„ Ðadvisory€group€to€review€the€human€rights-related€publications€programme€and€makeÐ  p Ðrecommendations€in€relation€to€it.€At€present,€the€system€is€singularly€lacking€in€transparency€andÐ  \ Ðopportunities€for€inputs€from€informed€sources.€The€nature€and€quality€of€the€resulting€outputÐ øH Ðfaithfully€reflects€the€closed€and€bureaucratic€character€of€the€process.Ð ä4 ÐÐ Ð71.€€€€€One€minor€matter€that€warrants€attention€concerns€the€request€by€the€General€Assembly€inÐ ¼  Ðresolution€50/170€that€the€United€Nations€information€centre€in€each€country€should€make€availableÐ ¨ø Ða€copy€of€the€following:€recent€reports€to€the€treaty€bodies€by€that€State,€the€summary€recordsÐ ”ä Ðreflecting€the€examination€of€those€reports€and€the€relevant€concluding€observations€adopted€by€theÐ €Ð Ðtreaty€bodies.€While€the€Secretary-General€has€reported€that€a€procedure€has€been€put€in€place€forÐ l¼ Ðthis€purpose€(see€A/51/45),€he€should€be€asked€to€submit€a€follow-up€report€describing€the€situationÐ X ¨ Ðin€practice.€From€informal€reports€by€non-governmental€organizations€there€is€no€reason€to€believeÐ D!” Ðthat€an€active€programme€of€dissemination€has€been€undertaken€in€relation€to€this€material€at€theÐ 0"€  Ðcountry€level.Ð #l! ÐÌÌò òòòÓ  ÓG.€Advisory€servicesóóó óÐ à%0!$ ÐÓ)©ÓÌ72.€€€€€It€has€been€suggested€in€a€number€of€places€in€this€report€that€the€provision€of€"advisoryÐ ¸'#& Ðservices",€or€technical€cooperation€in€the€field€of€human€rights,€has€a€vital€role€to€play€in€relation€toÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthose€States€which€do€not€have€the€administrative€capacity,€technical€expertise€or€financial€resourcesÐ )à$( Ðrequired€to€prepare€the€reports€they€are€legally€obligated€to€provide€under€the€relevant€treaties.Ð |*Ì%) ÐEqually,€similar€needs€hamper€the€quest€to€move€towards€universal€ratification.Ð h+¸&* ÐÐ Ð73.€€€€€€One€of€20€"substantive€themes"€identified€for€the€advisory€services€programme€is€"treatyÐ @-(, Ðreporting€and€international€obligations"€(E/CN.4/1996/90,€para.€23),€but€the€independent€expert€hasÐ ° Ðnot€been€able€to€identify€from€the€available€documentation€any€case€in€which€assistance€has€beenÐ œì Ðprovided€specifically€for€either€the€undertaking€of€a€survey€of€the€necessary€measures€to€be€takenÐ ˆØ Ðprior€to€ratification€of€a€human€rights€treaty€or€the€preparation€of€a€report€to€a€treaty€body.€TheÐ tÄ Ðprincipal€exceptions€would€seem€to€relate€to€situations€such€as€Cambodia€or€Haiti€in€which€a€smallÐ `° Ðpart€of€a€large€assistance€package€has€been€devoted€to€such€activities.€While€this€assessment€probablyÐ L œ Ðunderestimates€the€extent€of€assistance€provided€for€such€purposes,€it€is€clear€that€the€programmeÐ 8 ˆ Ðas€a€whole€does€not€accord€sufficient€priority€to€these€activities.€It€may€be€replied€that€the€initiativeÐ $ t Ðin€such€matters€must€rest€with€Governments€and€if€they€choose€not€to€make€requests€there€is€littleÐ  ` Ðmore€that€the€programme€can€do.€But€the€situation€is€one€of€"chicken€and€egg".€In€the€absence€of€aÐ ü L  Ðwell-resourced€fund€for€this€purpose,€along€with€the€identification€of€experts€who€are€technicallyÐ è 8  Ðcompetent,€and€targeted€suggestions€that€particular€States€should€avail€themselves€of€the€assistance,Ð Ô$  Ðthere€are€likely€to€continue€to€be€few€requests.€As€a€result,€the€advisory€services€programme€will€notÐ À  Ðmake€a€significant€contribution€to€the€goals€of€reducing€the€incidence€of€non-reporting€or€improvingÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€quality€of€reporting.Ð ˜è  ÐÐ Ð74.€€€€€€One€activity€which€has€been€funded€in€the€context€of€the€advisory€services€programme€is€theÐ pÀ Ðorganization€of€regional€or€subregional€training€courses€in€relation€to€reporting.€It€is€not€at€all€clear,Ð \¬ Ðhowever,€that€this€approach€is€likely€to€be€cost-effective.€To€take€but€one€example,€a€regional€trainingÐ H˜ Ðcourse€on€reporting€obligations€for€countries€of€a€particular€region,€held€over€five€days€in€NovemberÐ 4„ Ð1996,€cost€the€United€Nations€$143,800.€The€budget€provided€for€the€involvement€of€30€governmentÐ  p Ðrepresentatives,€along€with€6€consultants€and€3€staff€members.€If€each€of€the€Governments€in€theÐ  \ Ðregion€sent€one€representative,€the€achievement€of€an€impact€in€each€country€concerned€wouldÐ øH Ðdepend€upon€the€relevant€individual€having€benefited€significantly€from€the€project,€being€in€a€jobÐ ä4 Ðwhich€gives€him€or€her€responsibility€for€reporting,€being€kept€in€the€same€job€long€enough€for€theÐ Ð  Ðbenefits€to€take€effect,€and€having€the€time,€commitment€and€skills€required€to€convey€someÐ ¼  Ðexpertise€or€insights€to€others€involved€in€reporting€at€the€national€level.€While€there€may€be€someÐ ¨ø Ðindividuals€who€satisfy€all€these€requirements,€it€seems€unlikely€to€be€the€case€in€the€majority€ofÐ ”ä Ðinstances.€The€"multiplier€effect"€of€a€substantial€expense€is€thus€extremely€limited.€By€contrast,€aÐ €Ð Ðspecially€trained€official€(or€consultant)€could€spend€an€entire€month€in€the€field€providing€carefullyÐ l¼ Ðtailored€training€and€advice€to€a€wide€range€of€individuals€(both€governmental€andÐ X ¨ Ðnon-governmental)€in€a€particular€country€at€a€cost€of€less€than€$15,000.€Thus,€concentratedÐ D!” Ðassistance€could€have€been€supplied€for€one€month€each€in€ten€different€countries€for€the€sameÐ 0"€  Ðamount€of€money,€or€probably€less.Ð #l! ÐÐ Ð75.€€€€€The€problem€of€expertise€has€also€yet€to€be€addressed.€It€seems€often€to€be€assumed€thatÐ ô$D # Ðmembers€of€the€treaty€bodies€will€have€the€necessary€technical€competence,€pedagogical€and€draftingÐ à%0!$ Ðskills,€and€the€availability€to€carry€out€such€functions.€Leaving€aside€the€question€of€whether€someÐ Ì&"% Ðconflict€of€interest€might€arise€in€such€situations,€there€is€clearly€much€to€be€said€for€hiring€orÐ ¸'#& Ðtraining€individuals€with€the€requisite€skills€than€relying€upon€the€inevitably€very€uneven€capacitiesÐ ¤(ô#' Ðof€any€given€treaty€body€member.€Given€that€the€International€Labour€Organization€has€long€hadÐ )à$( Ðprogrammes€involving€regional€advisers€in€the€provision€of€such€expert€advice,€it€would€beÐ |*Ì%) Ðappropriate€for€the€Centre€for€Human€Rights€to€draw€directly€upon€that€experience€and€to€exploreÐ h+¸&* Ðthe€possibilities€for€cooperative€training€and€advisory€activities.Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð76.€€€€€The€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€should€thus€be€requested€to€draw€up€a€specificÐ ° Ðproject€designed€to€provide€the€necessary€resources,€both€financial€and€technical,€for€the€preparationÐ œì Ðof€reports€for€those€States€which€clearly€lack€the€necessary€resources€to€do€so€for€themselves.€TheÐ ˆØ Ðproject€should€reflect€lessons€to€be€learned€from€the€experience€of€the€ILO€and€canvas€the€possibilityÐ tÄ Ðof€collaboration,€as€appropriate,€with€that€body.Ð `° ÐÐ Ð77.€€€€€€€The€Board€of€Trustees€for€the€Voluntary€Fund€for€Technical€Cooperation€should€be€requestedÐ 8 ˆ Ðto€include€the€preparation€of€reports€to€the€treaty€bodies€as€a€specific€priority€project.€It€is€not€clearÐ $ t Ðthat€it€falls€within€the€priorities€endorsed€by€the€Board€to€date€(see€E/CN.4/1996/90,€para.€47).Ð  ` ÐÌÌò òòòÓ  ÓH.€Special€reportsóóó óÐ Ô$  ÐÓÃÓÌ78.€€€€€€A€defining€characteristic€of€the€work€of€some€of€the€treaty€bodies€in€recent€years€has€been€anÐ ¬ü  Ðemphasis€upon€"special€reports"€or€"urgent€procedures".€The€Human€Rights€Committee€and€theÐ ˜è  ÐCommittee€on€the€Elimination€of€Racial€Discrimination,€respectively,€have€made€significant€use€ofÐ „Ô  Ðthese€procedures€aimed,€in€the€words€of€the€latter€"at€responding€to€problems€requiring€immediateÐ pÀ Ðattention€to€prevent€or€limit€the€scale€or€number€of€serious€violations"€(A/51/18,€para.€26€(b)).€TheseÐ \¬ Ðinitiatives€can€be€traced€back€to€a€proposal€made€by€the€Secretary-General€in€1992€that€ways€shouldÐ H˜ Ðbe€explored€"of€empowering€the€Secretary-General€and€expert€human€rights€bodies€to€bring€massiveÐ 4„ Ðviolations€of€human€rights€to€the€attention€of€the€Security€Council€together€with€recommendationsÐ  p Ðfor€action"€(A/47/1,€para.€101).€Subsequently€the€fourth€meeting€of€chairpersons€noted€the€importantÐ  \ Ðrole€of€the€treaty€bodies€in€seeking€to€prevent,€as€well€as€to€respond€to,€human€rights€violations.€TheyÐ øH Ðthen€stated€that:Ð ä4 ÐÐ Ðà8  à"It€is€thus€appropriate€for€each€treaty€body€to€undertake€an€urgent€examination€of€allÐ ¼  Ðpossible€measures€that€it€might€take,€within€its€competence,€both€to€prevent€humanÐ ¨ø Ðrights€violations€from€occurring€and€to€monitor€more€closely€emergency€situationsÐ ”ä Ðof€all€kinds€arising€within€the€jurisdiction€of€States€parties.€Where€proceduralÐ €Ð Ðinnovations€are€required€for€this€purpose,€they€should€be€considered€as€soon€asÐ l¼ Ðpossible"€(A/47/628,€para.€44).ÐX ¨Ð Ð  ÐÌ79.€€€€€€The€independent€expert€participated€actively€in€the€consensus€on€that€statement,€which€hasÐ 0"€  Ðsince€been€endorsed€by€the€General€Assembly€and€subsequent€meetings€of€chairpersons.€Today,Ð #l! Ðhowever,€the€expert€questions€the€wisdom€of€the€manner€in€which€this€mandate€has€been€applied.Ð $X" ÐIt€is€frustrating€for€a€treaty€body€to€have€to€remain€inactive€in€the€face€of€massive€violations€and€itÐ ô$D # Ðrisks€sending€a€signal€of€impotence,€perhaps€disdain€and€certainly€marginality.€On€the€other€hand,Ð à%0!$ Ðthe€invocation€of€relatively€formalist€and€inflexible€procedures€directed€at€States€in€which€chronicÐ Ì&"% Ðviolations€are€occurring€in€a€context€of€crisis€or€major€armed€conflict€would€seem€unlikely€to€achieveÐ ¸'#& Ða€great€deal.€Experience€to€date€seems€largely€to€confirm€this€conclusion.€While€there€should€not€andÐ ¤(ô#' Ðprobably€could€not€be€any€hard€and€fast€rules€in€this€regard,€and€while€the€treaty€bodies€should€retainÐ )à$( Ðappropriate€flexibility,€there€is€much€to€be€said€for€maintaining€what€has€been€referred€to€as€"aÐ |*Ì%) Ðdivision€of€labour..€whereby€the€special€rapporteurs,€representatives€or€experts€[of€the€CommissionÐ h+¸&* Ðon€Human€Rights,€etc.]€would€remain€responsible€for€urgent€appeals,€whereas€the€treaty€bodiesÐ T,¤'+ Ðwould€focus€mainly€on€State€party€reports"€(E/CN.4/1997/3,€para.€43).€Ð @-(, ЇÌò òÓ  ÓIII.€Ô_ÔMEDIUM„TERMÔ_Ô€AND€LONG„TERM€REFORM€ISSUESó óÐ œì ÐÌÌò òòòA.€Introductionóóó óÐ `° ÐÓtÐÓÌ80.€€€€€€€It€is€now€almost€eight€years€since€the€independent€expert€first€suggested€that€considerationÐ 8 ˆ Ðmight€be€given€to€the€preparation€of€consolidated€reports€to€the€treaty€bodies€as€well€as€to€theÐ $ t Ðeventual€consolidation€of€the€existing€treaty€bodies€into€"one€or€perhaps€two€new€treaty€bodies".€HeÐ  ` Ðalso€called€for€"a€sustained€exchange€of€views"€on€these€proposals€(A/44/668,€paras.€179€and€182).Ð ü L  ÐSince€that€time,€academic€and€other€observers€have€taken€up€the€challenge€while€the€treaty€bodiesÐ è 8  Ðthemselves,€the€meetings€of€chairpersons€and€the€policy€organs€have€all€remained€virtually€silent.Ð Ô$  ÐThere€is€good€reason€for€the€silence€of€the€treaty€bodies.€Their€members€are€in€the€process€ofÐ À  Ðinvesting€considerable€time€and€energy€into€making€the€existing€procedures€work€and€they€can€hardlyÐ ¬ü  Ðbe€expected€to€be€enthusiastic€about€the€elimination€of€either€the€procedures€they€are€struggling€toÐ ˜è  Ðperfect€or€of€those€committees€as€they€currently€exist.€It€is€less€clear€why€the€policy€organs€haveÐ „Ô  Ðremained€reluctant€to€engage€in€the€debate.€It€is€suggested€that€the€trends€documented€in€this€reportÐ pÀ Ðhave€already€made€such€debate€urgent€and€that,€in€any€event,€the€unsustainability€of€the€existingÐ \¬ Ðsystem€will€have€compelled€radical€changes€of€one€type€or€another€within€less€than€a€decade.€TheÐ H˜ Ðonly€real€question€is€whether€they€will€be€of€an€ad€hoc,€reactive€and€incomplete€nature€or€whetherÐ 4„ Ðthey€will€have€been€planned€logically€and€systematically.Ð  p ÐÌÌò òòòÓ  ÓB.€The€nature€of€the€emerging€challengeóóó óÐ ä4 ÐÓØÓÌ81.€€€€€€The€information€and€analysis€contained€in€this€report€support€a€number€of€conclusions€as€toÐ ¼  Ðthe€future€evolution€of€the€treaty€body€system.€Over€the€course€of€the€next€decade,€close€to€universalÐ ¨ø Ðratification€of€the€six€core€treaties€is€likely€to€be€achieved.€States€will€be€under€increased€pressureÐ ”ä Ðto€honour€their€reporting€obligations€and€significant€technical€and€financial€assistance€will€be€madeÐ €Ð Ðavailable€to€help€them€to€do€so.€States€which€do€not€report€will€often€be€subject€to€review€anyway.Ð l¼ ÐStates€will€be€expected€to€produce€six€reports,€to€engage€in€six€separate€"constructive€dialogues",€toÐ X ¨ Ðanswer€to€additional€ad€hoc€requests€from€six€committees,€and€to€respond€to€complaints€emanatingÐ D!” Ðfrom€perhaps€four€or€more€separate€communications€procedures.€They€will€also€be€expected€to€takeÐ 0"€  Ðfull€account€of€general€comments€(or€their€equivalents)€emanating€from€six€different€committees€andÐ #l! Ðto€respond€to€increasingly€detailed€concluding€observations€from€the€same€number€of€committees.€Ð $X" ÐÐ