ÿWPCî  zá²`ûÏ:Ÿ,ÇA÷6ÄÔ`-_vr±897 ”™a_=Ì‚•Ã¿/µQU$F’!ÆÓ¬öd 'j e*ü¨$91†e• 4ò›¾=þ%Ýê%aàŽ$ð"ÿ~`Må ›CêÓÛþã·i=µˆCƒX’1ꃧiÉý ú5EÂPÿv6!#<í‹>\œ Ýÿ¿|DnâL ù2nŽ”¶Œ,ä 1¼2{D•µ·ˆÕ‡ ‡lÉÑ©W‘$ªé-׉´ÉÃI‡þ”>F*Kä\ÍŦ[%®x7º?šlYÖо^síˆgêKXë~È]‡{]ò™AqœÕôRzÕÄ`Ø°ød\*Ûäà}ÈÑ↩ñV›P<¦$lò sc‘ˆí &¶ xW ÿ;Êq;«¶C’î6ÂlYïü"ž`4»paZ߶fžq}N¼Þ]îEÙ‘9Æ¿ÓízÖÐÜ,Ü Dày;Qa§ÈY•:€ìôÈ‹Œª `çôÛK93¼º×]¨ä~ºâà _ñrtÄÓW{\çwµãÚ+Š1êEzÊ{æªß/=†îôX\l©kµò0ÛÖ­ÜÄ© ‚t2å”b9;+þ ªzÿRØÀƒÒÈgZas#!JUNk %¹ 0:¿ ¿ U6ù ^ / w@; 4{  Æž 0Vd 0Kº D+ A0 Í mÏ Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï æ æ æ ø ø ø ø ø ø ø ø ø ø ø ø                   ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( 0 N: : 0fˆ ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ö\$¡¡ÔCEUS.,Ô<à09Z+‹Courier NewÉ…}(‰ DDV D D D D £VD®„m( 3|xLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(.3½g$££Ý ƒö\!ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  Ý( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó'ÈÈÈÈdxd  I&mage <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKK"ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀCONTENTSCONTENTSN_1_N_2_N_3_CONTENTS(ÍO$——ÔÿÔòòóóÔÿÔ(JB$ÌÌÔ€XçØXXXÔÔ€XçØXXXÔÝ ƒö\!ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔE/CN.4/1998/85Ð Ð4€February€1998ÌÌÐ Ðò òCOMMISSION€ON€HUMAN€RIGHTS€ó óÐ pÀ Ðò òFifty-fourth€session€ó óÐ ` ° Ðò òó óÐ ÐÐ йÓ  Óò òEFFECTIVE€FUNCTIONING€OF€BODIES€ESTABLISHEDó óÐ  p  Ðò òPURSUANT€TO€THE€UNITED€NATIONSó óÐ `  Ðò òHUMAN€RIGHTS€INSTRUMENTSó óÐ P  ÐÐ Ðò ò€ó óÐ à0  Ðò òòòReport€of€the€Secretary-General€óóó óÐ Ð  ÐÐ ÐÌÓ  ÓÐ ÐCONTENTSÐ ÐÐ ÐI.€INTRODUCTIONÐ ÐÐ ÐII.€SUMMARY€OF€THE€RECOMMENDATIONS€OF€THE€INDEPENDENT€EXPERT,ÏCOMMENTS€RECEIVED€AND€VIEWS€OF€THE€SECRETARY-GENERAL€THEREONÐ ÐA.€Towards€universal€ratificationÐ ÐB.€The€problem€of€significantly€overdue€reportsÐ ÐC.€Dealing€with€the€timely€submission€of€reportsÐ ÐD.€Problems€in€relation€to€documentationÐ ÐE.€Development€and€use€of€electronic€databasesÐ ÐF.€Public€informationÐ ÐG.€Advisory€servicesÐ ÐH.€Special€reportsÐ ÐI.€Consolidation€of€reports€and€treaty€bodiesÐ ÐJ.€Amending€the€treatiesÐ ÐK.€The€language€questionÐ ÐL.€Cooperation€with€the€specialized€agencies€and€other€bodiesÐ ÐM.€The€quality€of€concluding€observationsÐ ÐN.€Other€issuesÐ ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐI.€INTRODUCTION€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€original€study€on€the€effective€operation€of€existing€and€prospective€bodies€established€underÏUnited€Nations€human€rights€instruments€was€initiated€pursuant€to€General€Assembly€resolutionÐ ð-@), Ð43/115€of€8ð  ðDecemberð  ð1988€and€Commission€on€Human€Rights€resolution€1989/47,€carried€out€byÏÔ_ÔMr.ð  ðPhilipÔ_Ô€Alston€during€the€period€1989€to€1992€and€transmitted€to€the€General€Assembly€inÏdocument€A/44/668,€annex.Ð ÐÐ ÐIn€its€resolution€47/111€of€16€December€1992,€the€General€Assembly€requested€that€the€report€beÏupdated€for€submission€to€the€fiftieth€session€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€and€that€anÏinterim€report€be€presented€to€the€General€Assembly€at€its€forty-eighth€session,€and€be€madeÏavailable€to€the€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights€in€June€1993.€Pursuant€to€that€resolution,€asÏwell€as€Commission€on€Human€Rights€resolution€1993/16€of€26€February€1993,€Ô_ÔMr.ð  ðAlstonÔ_ÔÏundertook€to€update€his€original€study,€submitting€an€interim€report€thereon€in€documentÏA/Ô_ÔCONFÔ_Ô.157/PC/62/Add.11/Rev.1€and€a€final€report€in€document€E/CN.4/1997/74,€which€wasÏsubmitted€to€the€fifty-third€session€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€in€1997.€By€its€decisionÏ1997/105,€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€invited€the€Secretary-General€to€solicit€the€views€ofÏÔ_ÔUnitedð  ðNationsÔ_Ô€bodies,€Governments,€specialized€agencies,€intergovernmental€and€non-governmentalÏorganizations€and€interested€persons€on€the€report€of€the€independent€expert€and€to€submit€a€reportÏthereon,€including€the€Secretary-General's€own€views€on€the€legal,€administrative€and€otherÏimplications€of€the€report's€recommendations,€to€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€at€its€fifty-fourthÏsession.Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€present€report€contains€a€summary€of€the€comments€and€observations€provided€by€thoseÏconsulted€pursuant€to€decision€1997/105,€as€well€as€the€Secretary-General's€own€views€on€the€legal,Ïadministrative€and€other€implications€of€the€report's€recommendations,€where€appropriate.€In€orderÏto€facilitate€discussion,€the€present€report€presents€the€issues€raised€and€recommendations€made€byÏthe€independent€expert€and€summarizes€the€responses€received€with€respect€to€each.Ð ÐÐ ÐComments€were€received€from€the€Governments€of€Australia,€Canada,€Cyprus,€Finland,€Israel,€theÏNetherlands,€Norway€and€the€Republic€of€Korea.€The€United€Nations€departments€and€specializedÏagencies€that€submitted€comments€were:€the€Crime€Prevention€and€Criminal€Justice€Division,€theÏÔ_ÔUnitedð  ðNationsÔ_Ô€Children's€Fund€(UNICEF),€the€Office€of€the€United€Nations€Ô_ÔHighð  ðCommissionerÔ_ÔÏfor€Refugees€(UNHCR),€and€the€International€Labour€Organization€(ILO).€The€followingÏnon-governmental€organizations€submitted€their€views:€Inter-Church€Committee€for€Refugees,ÏGrand€Council€of€the€Crees€(of€Quebec),€North-South€XXI€and€the€NGO€Group€for€the€ConventionÏon€the€Rights€of€the€Child.€Comments€have€also€been€received€from€a€number€of€"interestedÏpersons",€in€the€meaning€of€Commission€on€Human€Rights€decisionð  ð1997/105:€Mr.€Leo€Ô_ÔZwaakÔ_Ô€andÏMs.€Ô_ÔInekeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔBoerefijnÔ_Ô,€both€researchers€at€the€Netherlands€Institute€of€Human€Rights€(SIM);€Mr.ÏMichael€O'Flaherty,€specialist/author€on€human€rights€treaty€bodies;€Mr.€Craig€Scott,€professor€ofÏlaw€at€the€University€of€Toronto.€The€full€texts€of€all€comments€received€are€available€forÏconsultation€in€the€files€of€the€Secretariat.€In€addition,€the€seventh€meeting€of€persons€chairing€theÏhuman€rights€treaty€bodies,€held€in€September€1996,€discussed€in€detail€the€improvement€of€theÏoperation€of€the€human€rights€treaty€bodies.€At€their€eighth€meeting,€in€September€1997,€theÏchairpersons€addressed€the€recommendations€contained€in€the€final€report€of€the€independent€expert.ÏTheir€conclusions€are€available€in€the€annexes€to€documents€A/51/482€and€A/52/507,€respectively,Ïand€should€be€read€together€with€the€present€report.€òòÔ4‚.Ý îÔÝ‚pÍOÝÔÿÔòòÝ  ÝÔ5  Ôò òòŽòóŽóó óÔ6zÔÝ‚pÍOŽƒÝóóÔÿÔÝ  ÝÔ7Ý î¼ÔóóÐ ,`'* ÐÐ ÐII.€SUMMARY€OF€THE€RECOMMENDATIONS€OF€THE€INDEPENDENT€EXPERT,Ð ð-@), ÐCOMMENTS€RECEIVED€AND€VIEWS€OF€THE€SECRETARY-GENERAL€THEREON€Ð ÐÐ ÐA.€òòTowards€universal€ratificationóó€Ð à ÐÐ ÐòòRecommendations€of€the€independent€expertóó€Ð pÀ ÐAccording€to€the€independent€expert,€universal€ratification€of€the€six€core€United€Nations€humanÏrights€treaties€would€establish€the€best€possible€foundation€for€international€endeavours€to€promoteÏrespect€for€human€rights.€In€his€final€report,€he€made€four€specific€recommendations:€(a)Ïconsultations€with€the€leading€international€agencies€to€explore€their€potential€involvement€in€aÏratification€campaign;€(b)€appointment€of€special€advisers€on€ratification€and€reporting€and€theÏearmarking€of€funds€for€those€purposes;€(c)Ô_Ôð  ðexaminationÔ_Ô€of€special€measures€to€streamline€theÏreporting€process€for€States€with€small€populations;€and€(d)€granting€particular€attention€to€otherÏsubstantial€categories€of€non-parties€(E/CN.4/1997/74,€paras.€14,€31-35,€111).Ð ÐÐ ÐòòGovernment€commentsóó€Ð Ð  ÐThe€Government€of€Australia€stated€that€the€provision€of€assistance€to€States€wishing€to€ratify€oneÏor€more€of€the€six€core€treaties€was€an€important€part€in€the€promotion€of€universal€ratification.€InÏthis€context,€further€consideration€should€be€given€to€the€role€of€the€advisory€services€programmeÏof€the€Office€of€the€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights,€ways€and€means€to€increase€resourcesÏand€how€best€to€utilize€them.Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Canada€agreed€that€assistance€to€States€that€were€willing€to€ratify€human€rightsÏinstruments€but€were€encountering€practical€difficulties€in€doing€so€was€an€important€element€inÏpromoting€universal€ratification.€Such€assistance€should€be€pursued€within€the€limits€of€availableÏresources.€Special€thought€should€be€given€to€the€role€of€the€advisory€services€programme€in€thatÏregard,€and€avenues€should€be€explored€by€which€additional€sources€of€funding€for€such€action€couldÏbe€tapped.€Canada€believed€that€the€reporting€process€for€States€with€small€populations€should€beÏstreamlined€in€order€to€facilitate€ratification.Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Cyprus€took€note€of€the€independent€expert's€recommendations€for€moreÏinnovative€approaches€to€deal€with€existing€and€future€amendments€to€the€human€rights€treaties.ÏPending€adoption€of€any€such€approaches,€Cyprus€presented€a€suggestion€that€might€assist€thoseÏGovernments€that€are€confronted€with€the€need€to€constantly€"process"€international€agreements.€TheÏOffice€of€the€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€should,€in€each€case€where€an€amendment€orÏa€new€protocol€has€been€approved,€submit€a€standardized€reasoned€memorandum€for€use€by€eachÏState's€executive€and€legislature,€as€well€as€a€model€draft€statute€enacting€the€relevant€amendmentÏor€protocol.€Provision€of€such€model€statutes€would€assist€States€whose€legal€systems€require€thatÏenabling€legislation€be€enacted€before€international€treaties€can€become€operative;€this€wouldÏfacilitate€ratifications€by€small€States.Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Finland€expressed€concern€about€the€gap€between€standard-setting€andÏimplementation€in€the€field€of€human€rights.€The€six€core€United€Nations€human€rights€treaties€andÏtheir€protocols€formed€a€solid€and€comprehensive€legal€basis€for€the€promotion€and€protection€of€allÏhuman€rights.€It€was€most€important€to€achieve€universal€acceptance€of€those€treaties,€as€wasÏstrongly€recommended€by€the€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights€in€the€Vienna€Declaration€andÐ ð-@), ÐProgramme€of€Action.Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€the€Netherlands€supported€the€recommendation€to€appoint€special€advisers€toÏthe€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€who€could€provide€invaluable€assistance€to€StatesÏexperiencing€difficulties€relating€to€ratification.€The€Netherlands€suggested€that€an€expert€on€legalÏissues€also€be€appointed.€A€political€adviser€and€a€technical€adviser€alone€would€not€be€sufficientÏto€address€the€complex€legal€issues€involved€in€accession€to€or€ratification€of€international€treaties.ÏThe€addition€of€a€legal€adviser€could€ensure€adequate€expert€support€to€States€willing€to€ratify€theÏconventions€but€needing€advice€on€national€implementation€measures.Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€United€Nations€agencies€and€bodiesóó€Ð `  ÐÐ ÐUNICEF€indicated€that€since€the€adoption€by€the€General€Assembly€in€1989€of€the€Convention€onÏthe€Rights€of€the€Child,€it€has€actively€promoted€the€universal€ratification€of€the€Convention.€To€thatÏend,€UNICEF€initiated€a€wide€range€of€actions€at€the€global,€regional€and€national€levels€in€order€toÏgenerate€the€necessary€political€support€for€the€Convention.€This€involved€collaborating€with€aÏnumber€of€partners,€particularly€non-governmental€organizations€and€intergovernmentalÏorganizations€in€different€regions€of€the€world,€such€as€the€Organization€of€African€Unity,€theÏCommonwealth,€the€European€Union,€the€Organization€of€the€Islamic€Conference€and€others.ÏCountry€offices€carried€out€advocacy€and€social€mobilization€activities€in€order€to€increase€nationalÏsupport€for€ratification€by€reaching€out€to€parliamentarians,€religious€leaders,€mayors€and€municipalÏleaders,€youth€groups€and€many€others.Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€ILO€has€been€coordinating€a€campaign€for€universal€ratification€of€its€fundamental€human€rightsÏconventions.€Since€the€Director-General€Ô_Ôlaunchedð  ðhisÔ_Ô€appeal€in€May€1995,€there€have€been€80Ïratifications€of€these€7€conventions,€and€some€30€countries€had€now€ratified€all€of€them.€A€largeÏnumber€of€further€ratifications€were€expected€shortly.Ð ÐÐ ÐIn€addition,€at€its€two€hundred€and€sixty-ninth€session€in€June€1997,€the€Governing€Body€of€theÏInternational€Labour€Organization€decided€to€consider€the€possibility€of€including€on€the€agenda€ofÏthe€eighty-sixth€session€of€the€International€Labour€Conference€in€1998€-€which€marks€the€fiftiethÏanniversary€of€the€Universal€Declaration€of€Human€Rights€and€the€ILO's€Freedom€of€AssociationÏand€Protection€of€the€Right€to€Organize€Convention,€1948€(No.€87)€-€an€additional€item€relating€toÏa€declaration€on€fundamental€rights,€including€an€appropriate€follow-up€mechanism.€The€purposeÏof€a€declaration€on€fundamental€rights€would€be€to€recognize€explicitly,€through€a€solemn€statementÏapproved€by€the€International€Labour€Conference,€the€consensus€which€the€international€communityÏhas€reached€regarding€the€special€significance€of€a€number€of€fundamental€rights€in€the€presentÏglobal€context,€and€to€express€the€commitment€of€its€constituents€to€strengthening€their€universalÏapplication€by€the€ILO.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€concept€of€fundamental€rights€may€be€traced€to€the€ILO€Constitution,€in€which€the€HighÏContracting€Parties€affirmed€that€there€are€methods€and€principles€for€regulating€labour€conditionsÏwhich€all€industrial€communities€should€endeavour€to€apply,€so€far€as€their€special€circumstancesÏwill€permit,€and€that€among€them,€some€seemed€to€be€of€special€and€urgent€importance.€Ð ÐÐ ð-@), ÐòòComments€by€non-governmental€organizationsóó€Ð ° ÐNorth-South€XXI€noted€that€certain€permanent€members€of€the€Ô_ÔSecurityð  ðCouncilÔ_Ô€were€not€parties€toÏthe€principal€legal€instruments,€which€acted€as€a€disincentive€to€smaller€States.Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€interested€personsóó€Ð pÀ ÐMr.€Ô_ÔZwaakÔ_Ô€and€Ms.€Ô_ÔBoerefijnÔ_Ô€noted€that€the€recent€announcements€of€withdrawal€by€the€DemocraticÏPeople's€Republic€of€Korea€from€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€and€byÏJamaica€from€the€Optional€Protocol€thereto€went€counter€to€the€Vienna€Declaration€and€ProgrammeÏof€Action€and€undermined€the€entire€international€machinery€developed€for€the€promotion€andÏprotection€of€human€rights.€The€recently€adopted€General€Comment€No.€26ð  ð(6)€of€the€Human€RightsÏCommittee€on€issues€relating€to€the€continuity€of€obligations€to€the€Covenant€constituted€a€basis€forÏfurther€actions€by€the€appropriate€bodies.Ð ÐÐ ÐIn€the€same€context,€Mr.€O'Flaherty€suggested€that€the€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€shouldÏuse€her€good€offices€and€resources€for€technical€cooperation€to€assist€States€in€addressing€theirÏconcerns€by€means€other€than€denunciation.€He€also€felt€that€it€would€be€fruitful€to€address€theÏrelationship€between€the€treaty€system€and€non-State€entities€(Ô_ÔNSEsÔ_Ô),€particularly€in€regard€to€theÏrole€and€responsibility€that€the€treaty€bodies€could€perhaps€assume€in€appropriate€circumstances.€TheÏexperience€with€rebel€groups€and€with€the€parties€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€to€the€DaytonÏAgreement€who€had€undertaken€a€commitment€to€respect€the€substantive€provisions€of€human€rightsÏinstruments€could€have€held€some€useful€lessons€in€the€foregoing€regard,€he€thought.Ð ÐÐ ÐMr.€O'Flaherty€also€drew€attention€to€the€ratification-related€concerns€arising€with€regard€to€theÏindividual€petition€procedures.€States€sometimes€attested€an€unwillingness€to€embrace€the€OptionalÏProtocol€to€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€or€other€United€NationsÏcomplaints€procedures€because€of€their€participation€in€the€mechanisms€under€the€EuropeanÏConvention€on€Human€Rights.€Some€States€which€ratified€the€Optional€Protocol€sometimes€arguedÏthat€acceptance€of€the€complaints€procedures€under€the€International€Convention€on€the€EliminationÏof€All€Forms€of€Racial€Discrimination€and€under€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,ÏInhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment€were€also€rendered€superfluous€for€the€same€reason.ÏOn€such€matters,€it€might€be€worthwhile€to€consider€the€deployment€of€technical€cooperationÏresources€aimed€at€disabusing€States€of€such€misplaced€ideas.Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€the€Secretary-Generalóó€Ð  #ð! ÐÐ ÐThe€Secretary-General€reaffirms€his€commitment€to€promote€universal€ratification€of€theÏinternational€human€rights€treaties€and€welcomes€the€recommendations€of€the€independent€expertÏtoward€this€end.€The€United€Nations€departments€and€specialized€agencies€which€are€cooperatingÏwith€the€Office€of€the€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€on€activities€relating€to€the€fiftiethÏanniversary€of€the€Universal€Declaration€of€Human€Rights€and€the€five-year€review€of€the€ViennaÏDeclaration€and€Programme€of€Action€are€being€consulted€regarding€their€contribution€to€theÏpromotion€of€universal€ratification.€Information€on€these€initiatives€will€be€included€in€the€report€onÏthe€five-year€Review€to€be€submitted€to€the€General€Assembly€at€its€fifty-third€session.€In€markingÏthe€start€of€the€fiftieth€anniversary€year,€which€the€High€Commissioner€referred€to€in€her€report€toÏthe€General€Assembly€as€"Human€Rights€Year",€the€Secretary-General€and€the€High€CommissionerÐ ð-@), Ðfor€Human€Rights€addressed€appeals€to€all€Governments,€suggesting€that€they€consider€ratifying€theÏcore€treaties€to€which€they€were€not€already€a€party.€òòÔ4‚1Ý ÔÝ‚pÍOÝÔÿÔòòÝ  ÝÔ5  Ôò òòŽòóŽóó óÔ6ÓCÔÝ‚pÍOçCtingÝóóÔÿÔÝ  ÝÔ7€aDÔóóÐ  ð ÐÐ ÐB.€òòThe€problem€of€significantly€overdue€reportsóó€Ð €Ð ÐÐ ÐòòRecommendations€of€the€independent€expertóó€Ð ` ° ÐÐ ÐThe€independent€expert€pointed€out€that€non-reporting€had€reached€chronic€proportions.€HeÏsuggested€that,€in€addition€to€considering€reforms€to€the€overall€system,€a€new€specially€tailoredÏproject€for€the€provision€of€advisory€services€should€be€designed€and€implemented.€In€respondingÏto€cases€of€persistent€delinquency,€all€treaty€bodies€should€be€urged€to€adopt€procedures€which€wouldÏeventually€lead€to€the€examination€of€country€situations€even€in€the€absence€of€a€report.€Such€anÏapproach€should€reflect€thorough€research€and€lead€to€detailed,€accurate€and€comprehensiveÏconcluding€observations€(ibid.,€paras.€37-45,€47,€112)Ð ÐÐ ÐòòGovernment€commentsóó€Ð À ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Canada€expressed€support€for€the€adoption€by€treaty€bodies€of€appropriateÏprocedures€which€would€allow€them€to€consider€the€situation€of€persistently€delinquent€States€partiesÏin€the€absence€of€a€report.€It€would€be€inequitable€and€contrary€to€the€basic€purpose€of€theÏconventions€if€States€parties€could€evade€scrutiny€from€the€treaty€bodies€by€neglecting€to€fulfil€theirÏreporting€obligations,€while€States€that€submit€reports€are€held€accountable€for€implementation€ofÏtheir€commitments.Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Finland€stressed€that€all€States€parties€should€be€on€an€equal€footing€regardingÏregular€monitoring.€Finland€supports€the€development€of€methods€for€treaty€bodies€to€examine€theÏsituation€in€a€State€party€even€when€it€fails€to€fulfil€its€reporting€obligation.Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Israel€agreed€that€non-submission€of€reports€was€a€result€of€either€technicalÏdifficulties€or€lack€of€political€will,€neither€of€which€would€be€overcome€by€unilateral€steps€orÏrepeated€reminders€on€the€part€of€treaty€bodies.€A€more€constructive€way€to€address€the€problemÏwould€be€to€make€the€reporting€system€less€daunting€to€States.€Ð ÐÐ ÐIn€Israel's€view€there€was€no€established€legal€basis€for€the€examination€of€a€situation€in€a€State€inÏthe€absence€of€a€report.€While€acknowledging€that€consideration€of€a€situation€in€the€absence€of€aÏreport€could€serve€as€an€incentive€in€cases€where€States€had€the€means€but€chose€not€to€report,€theÏcurrent€policy€did€not€distinguish€between€cases€where€the€problem€was€lack€of€means€rather€thanÏwill.€In€addition,€Israel€believed€that€to€base€an€entire€examination€on€non-governmental€sources€inÏthe€absence€of€a€government€report€would€be€contrary€to€the€letter,€purposes€and€principles€of€theÏtreaties.Ð ÐÐ ÐIsrael€also€noted€that€while€there€was€a€significant€delay€in€the€submission€of€State€party€reports,Ïtreaty€bodies€maintained€a€rigid€schedule€in€demanding€future€reports,€without€taking€into€accountÏthe€date€of€examination€of€previous€reports.€This€observation€was€especially€relevant€where€specialÏreports€were€involved€which€often€covered€the€same€matters€as€regular€reports.€Therefore,€all€reportsÐ ð-@), Ðsubmitted,€whether€regular€or€special,€should€be€taken€into€account€when€calculating€due€dates.Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€United€Nations€agencies€and€bodiesóó€Ð à ÐÐ ÐUNICEF€indicated€that,€through€its€presence€in€161€countries€and€in€cooperation€with€its€38€NationalÏCommittees,€it€regularly€monitored€the€submission€of€State€party€reports€under€the€Convention€onÏthe€Rights€of€the€Child.€It€also€encouraged€the€timely€submission€of€reports€and€providedÏGovernments€with€technical€assistance€in€the€preparation€of€reports.€UNICEF€supported€theÏmonitoring€role€of€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€and€participated€in€meetings€whereÏStates€parties'€reports€were€considered€by€the€Committee.€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€non-governmental€organizationsóó€Ð P  ÐÐ ÐNorth-South€XXI€welcomed€the€practice€developed€by€the€Human€Rights€Committee€since€1994€toÏidentify€those€States€parties€that€do€not€fulfil€their€reporting€obligations€despite€numerous€reminders,Ïbut€the€Committee€should€take€care€not€to€penalize€the€States€parties€that€respected€their€obligationsÏand€de€facto€reward€those€States€parties€that€did€not.€It€was€logical€that€the€conventional€organs€ofÏthe€United€Nations€should,€in€the€absence€of€a€State€report,€proceed€to€examine€through€all€possibleÏmeans€the€situation€in€that€State.€Non-governmental€organizations€could€participate€in€such€action.Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€interested€personsóó€Ð pÀ ÐMr.€Ô_ÔZwaakÔ_Ô€and€Ms.€Ô_ÔBoerefijnÔ_Ô€considered€it€of€great€importance€that€some€sort€of€sanction€beÏdeveloped€for€States€parties€which€do€not€comply€with€their€reporting€obligations.€So-calledÏ"blacklists"€in€the€treaty€bodies'€annual€reports€did€not€seem€to€persuade€States€to€submit€overdueÏreports.€Ô_ÔMr.ð  ðZwaakÔ_Ô€and€Ms.€Ô_ÔBoerefijnÔ_Ô€agreed€with€the€independent€expert€that€the€treaty€bodies€hadÏno€other€option€but€to€consider€the€"situation"€in€a€State€in€the€absence€of€a€report€from€delinquentÏStates€parties.€This€should€be€the€ultimate€remedy€and€particularly€wide€distribution€of€theÏconcluding€comments€had€to€be€ensured€in€such€instances.€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€the€Secretary-Generalóó€Ð à0 ÐÐ ÐThe€Secretary-General€notes€with€deep€concern€the€serious€situation€with€respect€to€overdue€reports.ÏThe€existence€of€a€large€number€of€States€that€do€not€comply€with€their€reporting€obligations€detractsÏsignificantly€from€the€capacity€of€the€treaty€system€to€be€of€service€to€the€international€community.€Ð ÐÐ ÐParticipants€in€programmes€on€the€preparation€of€State€reports€to€treaty€bodies€have€consistentlyÏexpressed€satisfaction€at€the€skills€and€insights€gained€during€those€training€courses.€TheÏSecretary-General€will€continue€those€programmes€and€will€continue€to€urge€that€countries€sendingÏparticipants€provide€the€necessary€opportunities€for€them€to€train€their€colleagues€when€returningÏfrom€such€courses.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Secretary-General€calls€upon€all€States€parties€to€fulfil€their€reporting€obligations,€which€are€theÏcornerstone€of€the€international€human€rights€treaty€system.€He€encourages€treaty€bodies€to€continueÏto€undertake€creative€initiatives€to€address€the€problems€posed€in€respect€of€States€parties€whoseÏreports€are€chronically€late€or€who€fail€to€submit€reports€at€all.òòóóÐ ð-@), ÐÐ ÐC.€òòDealing€with€the€timely€submission€of€reportsóó€Ð  ð ÐÐ ÐòòRecommendations€of€the€independent€expertóó€Ð €Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€independent€expert€noted€that€the€present€reporting€system€functioned€only€because€of€theÏlarge-scale€delinquency€of€States€which€either€did€not€report€at€all,€or€reported€long€after€the€dueÏdate.€If€many€were€to€report,€significant€existing€backlogs€would€be€exacerbated,€and€major€reformsÏwould€be€needed€even€more€urgently€(ibid.,€paras.€48-52).Ð ÐÐ ÐòòGovernment€commentsóó€Ð `  ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Finland€noted€that,€according€to€the€statistics€presented€in€the€final€report€of€theÏindependent€expert,€the€system€was€faltering€seriously.€When€a€State€report€was€scheduled€forÏconsideration€one€to€three€years€after€its€submission,€much€of€its€contents€were€rendered€obsolete.ÏAnother€consequence€of€this€situation€was€that€those€three€treaty€bodies€which€at€present€examinedÏindividual€complaints€had€difficulty€finding€enough€time€to€deal€with€complaints.€This€unfortunateÏsituation€compromised€the€entire€human€rights€monitoring€system.€Finland€supported€the€proposalsÏto€widen€complaints€procedures€to€other€conventions€although€they€would,€as€a€result,€increase€theÏexisting€workload.Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€the€Republic€of€Korea€considered€that,€in€view€of€the€chronic€delays€betweenÏthe€submission€and€examination€of€reports,€the€current€report-reviewing€mechanism€needed€to€beÏreformed.€The€Government€supported€the€second€option€proposed€by€the€independent€expert€inÏparagraph€86€of€his€final€report,€whereby€the€treaty€bodies€should€undertake€far-reaching€reformsÏof€their€existing€procedures.€Extensive€authority€should€be€delegated€to€the€Secretariat€to€undertakeÏa€preliminary€review€of€State€reports.€The€Secretariat€staff€would€be€complemented€by€interns€andÏjunior€professional€officers€(Ô_ÔJPOsÔ_Ô).€The€results€of€that€review€by€the€Secretariat€should€be€reportedÏto€small€working€groups€composed€of€individual€committee€members€who€would€offer€theirÏassessments.€The€conclusions€reached€at€the€small€groups€should€then€be€endorsed€by€the€CommitteeÏin€plenary.òòóóÐ Ð  ÐÐ ÐD.€òòProblems€in€relation€to€documentationóó€Ð °"  ÐÐ ÐòòRecommendations€of€the€independent€expertóó€Ð $à" ÐÐ ÐThe€independent€expert€suggested€that€the€proposed€limits€on€documentation€were€unworkableÏwithin€the€context€of€existing€procedures.€He€expressed€the€view€that€the€issue€needed€to€be€dealtÏwith€in€a€far€more€transparent€manner€than€has€so€far€been€the€case€and€full€justification€for€any€cutsÏneeded€to€be€provided.€The€Secretariat€should€draw€up€a€detailed€options€paper€to€enable€theÏcommittees€to€consider€measured€and€innovative€responses€(ibid.,€paras.€53-54,€114).Ð ÐÐ ÐIn€addition,€the€independent€expert€drew€attention€to€the€large€volume€of€documentation€furnishedÏto€treaty€bodies€that€was€not€recorded€officially€and€called€for€appropriate€measures€to€be€devisedÏby€the€Secretariat.€He€considered€the€preparation€of€summary€records€to€be€an€indispensable€elementÐ ð-@), Ðin€the€system€and€recommended€that€their€timely€preparation€should€be€accorded€priority.€TheÏcontinued€production€of€bound€and€edited€volumes€of€Official€Records€of€the€Human€RightsÏCommittee€(previously€known€as€Yearbooks)€was€difficult€to€justify€at€a€time€of€financial€stringency.ÏPriority€should€be€accorded€to€transferring€the€existing€data€onto€electronic€databases€and€ensuringÏthe€timely€publication,€including€in€electronic€form,€of€all€summary€records€as€soon€as€they€areÏavailable€(ibid.,€paras.€55,€58-59,€115).Ð ÐÐ ÐòòGovernment€commentsóó€Ð @  ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Australia€welcomed€the€establishment€of€the€Office€of€the€High€CommissionerÏfor€Human€Rights€homepage€on€the€World€Wide€Web€and€encouraged€wide€use€of€electronic€formsÏof€publication€and€dissemination€of€documentation,€although€it€acknowledged€that€not€all€States€hadÏready€access€to€the€Internet.€The€Australian€Government€also€encouraged€every€effort€being€madeÏto€ensure€that€human€rights€information€was€more€widely€accessible€and€better€targeted,€particularlyÏat€the€grass-roots€level.Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Canada€recognized€the€importance€of€having€adequate€documentation€availableÏduring€the€review€of€reports€by€States€parties,€and€the€difficulties€that€resulted€when€limits€wereÏimposed€on€the€length€of€those€reports.€It€also€recognized€the€need€to€respect€financial€constraintsÏand€to€ensure€that€committee€members€were€not€burdened€with€a€greater€volume€of€documentationÏthan€they€could€reasonably€be€expected€to€assimilate.€It€therefore€supported€a€more€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€approachÏto€reporting€as€a€way€to€reconcile€these€different€priorities.€With€respect€to€summary€records,€CanadaÏconsidered€them€to€be€an€important€tool€in€following€up€on€reports€by€States€parties€and€encouragedÏtheir€prompt€publication€in€electronic€form.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Finland€affirmed€that€access€to€information€from€various€sources€andÏcooperation€with€other€United€Nations€bodies€must€be€guaranteed.Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Israel€agreed€that€a€50-page€limit€on€a€report€was€impracticable,€in€view€of€theÏwide€range€of€issues€which€reports€had€to€address.€Moreover,€it€would€give€rise€to€situations€whereÏa€State€was€required€to€limit€the€information€it€submitted€and€was€later€reprimanded€for€not€havingÏreported€on€certain€issues.€A€solution€to€the€difficulty€of€processing€extensive€reports€should€notÏcompromise€the€integrity€of€the€report.Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€United€Nations€agencies€and€bodiesóó€Ð $à" ÐÐ ÐUNICEF€reported€that€it€regularly€disseminated€worldwide€a€wide€range€of€publications€andÏinformation€materials€on€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€in€numerous€languages.€It€alsoÏsupported€efforts€to€disseminate€copies€of€States€parties'€reports€and€concluding€observations€in€theÏcountries€concerned.Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€non-governmental€organizationsóó€Ð  +p&) ÐÐ ÐThe€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Group€for€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€expressed€its€view€that,€in€the€shortÏterm,€better€information-sharing€among€treaty€bodies€could€enhance€the€reporting€system.€AlthoughÐ ð-@), Ðthe€treaty€body€database€had€helped€to€ensure€the€sharing€of€official€United€Nations€information,Ïthere€was€a€weak€system€within€the€United€Nations€and€none€within€the€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€community€forÏensuring€that€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€information€that€already€existed€was€transmitted€to€other€treaty€bodies€that€mayÏhave€the€same€State€party€under€consideration.Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€interested€personsóó€Ð ` ° ÐMr.€O'Flaherty€drew€attention€to€the€important€role€played€by€the€practice€of€tape-recordingÏcommittee€meetings.€He€made€reference€to€instances€where€the€tapes€were€transcribed€and€usedÏeffectively€as€lobbying€tools€by€national€non-governmental€organizations€subsequent€to€theÏexamination€by€a€treaty€body€of€that€State's€report.€He€suggested€that€the€practice€of€tape-recordingÏshould€continue€and€that€access€to€the€recordings€should€be€facilitated.Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€the€Secretary-Generalóó€Ð ð@  ÐÐ ÐThe€financial€crisis€of€the€United€Nations€has€also€affected€the€production€of€documentation,€whichÏhas€affected€the€functioning€of€treaty€bodies.€The€delays€in€the€processing€of€the€reports,€summaryÏrecords€and€other€documents€of€treaty€bodies€are€due€in€large€part€to€the€overload€of€the€LanguagesÏService,€the€capacities€of€which€have€been€drastically€reduced.€Late€submission€and€excessiveÏvolume€of€documents€have€hampered€the€normal€processing€of€documents.€There€is€an€inherentÏdifficulty€in€forecasting€the€volume€of€State€reports€to€be€processed,€given€the€difficulty€in€knowingÏwhen€States€will€submit€their€reports€and€how€long€they€will€be.€Since€1995,€the€number€of€pagesÏof€country€reports€submitted€to€the€five€treaty€bodies€serviced€in€Geneva€has€increased€by€over€30Ïper€cent,€from€4,512€pages€toð  ð5,926€pages€in€1997.€Ð ÐÐ ÐWhile€observing€the€rules€established€by€the€General€Assembly€regulating€control€and€limitation€ofÏdocumentation,€treaty€bodies€must€be€able€to€fulfil€their€monitoring€function.€Requesting€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_ÔÏrather€than€comprehensive€reports€and€limiting€agenda€items€to€be€covered€by€summary€records€mayÏlead€to€a€reduction€in€the€volume€of€documentation.€As€soon€as€they€are€issued,€all€officialÏdocuments€are€regularly€loaded€onto€the€treaty€body€database,€which€is€linked€to€the€United€NationsÏhuman€rights€Website.òòóóÐ à0 ÐÐ ÐE.€òòDevelopment€and€use€of€electronic€databasesóó€Ð À! ÐÐ ÐòòRecommendations€of€the€independent€expertóó€Ð  #ð! ÐÐ ÐThe€independent€expert€considered€the€new€homepage€of€the€Office€of€the€High€Commissioner€forÏHuman€Rights€to€be€an€unduly€delayed€but€very€welcome€development.€He€recommended€that€it€beÏmaintained€and€expanded€and€that€a€strategy€to€widen€access€be€devised.€Future€development€of€theÏdatabase€should€reflect€a€more€systematic,€consultative€and€transparent€process€than€had€hithertoÏbeen€the€case.€An€expert€seminar€should€be€convened€for€that€purpose€and€an€external€advisoryÏgroup€appointed.€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€and€the€ILO€should€consider€making€their€valuable€databases€availableÏon€the€Web€to€the€human€rights€community€and€others€(ibid.,€paras.€60-66,€116).Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€United€Nations€agencies€and€bodiesóó€Ð -P(+ ÐÐ ð-@), ÐUNICEF€welcomed€the€information€retrieval€and€database€system€developed€for€the€Convention€onÏthe€Rights€of€the€Child€and€favoured€its€expansion€to€include€other€human€rights€treaties.€UNICEFÏsupported€and€participated€in€those€initiatives€in€cooperation€with€the€Office€of€the€HighÏCommissioner€for€Human€Rights.Ð ÐÐ ÐÔ_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€noted€the€concerns€of€the€independent€expert€about€the€time€lag€in€relation€to€theÏavailability€of€country-specific€and€other€data€generated€by€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€on€the€Internet.€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_ÔÏaffirmed€its€policy€of€placing€priority€on€the€collection€and€production€of€legal€and€country€specificÏinformation€for€its€CD-Rom€("Ô_ÔRefWorldÔ_Ô"),€which€is€updated€every€six€months.€This€strategy€wasÏchosen€in€view€of€the€fact€that€the€primary€audience€of€the€CD-Rom,€namely€the€field€offices€ofÏÔ_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô,€did€not€enjoy€access€or€had€such€intermitted€access€to€the€Internet€that€it€could€not€be€reliedÏon€as€a€research€tool.€The€"Ô_ÔRefWorldÔ_Ô"€CD-Rom€has€been€purchased€by€many€Governments,Ïjudiciaries,€refugee€advocates,€libraries€and€research€centres€throughout€the€world.€In€addition,€someÏtreaty€body€experts€who€had€expressed€an€interest€in€using€the€CD-Rom€had€been€provided€with€theirÏown€copies;€others€indicated€that€they€had€access€through€a€library€or€university.€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€thusÏbelieved€that€the€information€on€"Ô_ÔRefWorldÔ_Ô"€was€readily€available€to€those€who€needed€it€and€thatÏthe€cost€was€not€a€prohibiting€factor€in€its€use€by€the€treaty€body€system.Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€the€Secretary-Generalóó€Ð à ÐÐ ÐThe€Secretary-General€welcomes€the€positive€responses€received€about€the€United€Nations€humanÏrights€Website,€which€was€designed€to€be€one€of€the€most€comprehensive€sources€of€publicÏinformation€on€the€United€Nations€human€rights€programme€and€features€a€full-text€database€onÏtreaty€body€information€capable€of€easy€retrieval.€Since€its€inauguration€on€10€December€1996,€theÏWebsite€has€been€visited,€on€average,€3,000€times€per€week€and€treaty€body€experts€have€been€givenÏthe€opportunity€to€be€briefed€on€the€use€of€the€Website€and€database.€Their€comments€or€suggestionsÏfor€improvements€will€continue€to€be€welcome.ÌÐ ÐF.€òòPublic€informationóó€Ð ð@ ÐÐ ÐòòRecommendations€of€the€independent€expertóó€Ð Ð  ÐÐ ÐThe€independent€expert€considered€the€public€information€materials€relating€to€the€work€of€the€treatyÏbodies€to€be€highly€inadequate.€He€recommended€that€the€treaty€bodies€be€given€a€direct€input€intoÏfuture€decision-making€in€this€regard.€He€further€recommended€that€a€public€information€budget€beÏmade€available€to€support€grass-roots€initiatives€designed€to€disseminate€information€about€the€treatyÏbodies€in€culturally€appropriate€and€more€popular€formats€and€media.€Partnerships€with€academicÏand€other€external€institutions€should€be€explored€in€order€to€enhance€the€publications€programme.ÏAn€external€advisory€group€should€be€asked€to€review€Ô_Ôð  ðtheÔ_Ô€human€rights-related€publicationsÏprogramme€and€make€recommendations.€The€Secretary-General€should€report€on€the€actualÏavailability€of€treaty€body-related€materials€at€United€Nations€information€centres€(ibid.,Ïparas.ð  ð66-71,€117).Ð ÐÐ ÐòòGovernment€commentsóó€Ð -P(+ ÐÐ ð-@), ÐThe€Government€of€Canada€suggested€that€a€public€information€campaign€to€promote€awareness€ofÏthe€treaty€bodies€should€be€considered€as€an€element€of,€or€as€follow-up€to€the€fiftieth€anniversaryÏof€the€Universal€Declaration€of€Human€Rights.Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€non-governmental€organizationsóó€Ð pÀ ÐÐ ÐNorth-South€XXI€expressed€interest€in€the€recommendation€to€entrust€to€academic€and€other€externalÏinstitutions€the€preparation€of€certain€publications,€with€a€reservation€that€Governments€should€notÏbe€able€to€exercise€influence€over€the€process.€As€it€may€be€difficult€to€select€truly€"independent"Ïuniversities,€the€best€alternative€might€be€to€entrust€the€same€functions€to€various€institutions€inÏcountries€in€the€South€as€well€as€the€North€that€came€from€different€cultural€environments,€as€doneÏin€the€selection€of€judges€for€the€International€Court€of€Justice.Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€interested€personsóó€Ð à0  ÐÐ ÐMr.€Ô_ÔZwaakÔ_Ô€and€Ms.€Ô_ÔBoerefijnÔ_Ô€agreed€that€the€extent€to€which€publications€could€be€entrusted€to€otherÏinstitutions€needed€to€be€explored.€Some€institutions,€including€the€Netherlands€Institute€of€HumanÏRights€(SIM),€had€already€taken€initiatives€to€make€relevant€material€more€easily€accessible.€WithoutÏthe€support€of€the€Office€of€the€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights,€the€continuity€of€suchÏprojects€could€not€be€ensured.€Although€it€might€be€necessary€to€explore€commercial€approaches€toÏthis€question,€this€should€never€be€to€the€detriment€of€the€widest€possible€distribution€of€materials.€Ð ÐÐ ÐMr.€O'Flaherty€expressed€doubt€as€to€whether€primacy€of€importance€should€be€given€to€involvementÏby€treaty€body€members€in€development€of€public€information€campaigns.€That€was€not€their€areaÏof€expertise.€Instead,€he€suggested€an€approach€whereby€the€work€would€be€undertaken€by€carefullyÏrecruited€specialists.€He€further€suggested€that€the€Office€of€the€High€Commissioner€for€HumanÏRights€should€develop€training€and€educational€materials€to€be€disseminated€on€the€Internet.€AnÏexcellent€model€in€that€regard€was€provided€by€the€Council€of€Europe,€including€most€recently€theÏWebsite€of€the€European€Commission€against€Racism€and€Intolerance.Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€the€Secretary-Generalóó€Ð Ð  ÐÐ ÐThe€Secretary-General€notes€the€recommendation€that€the€treaty€bodies€be€given€a€direct€input€intoÏfuture€decision-making€about€public€information€materials€relating€to€their€work.€In€this€regard,€heÏdraws€attention€to€the€close€cooperation€already€existing€between€the€human€rights-relatedÏpublications€programme€and€the€treaty€bodies.€All€publications€relating€to€the€work€of€treaty€bodiesÏare€developed€in€consultation€with€them€and€relevant€sections€are€often€drafted€by€their€members,Ïincluding€the€òòManual€on€Human€Rights€Reportingóó€and€the€Fact€Sheet€series€on€the€treaty€bodies.€Ð `'°"% ÐÐ ÐThe€Secretary-General€notes€the€suggestion€that€a€public€information€budget€be€made€available€toÏsupport€grass-roots€initiatives€designed€to€disseminate€information€about€the€treaty€bodies€inÏculturally€appropriate€and€more€popular€formats€and€media€and€agrees€that€the€challenge€is€in€theÏimplementation€at€the€grass-roots€level.€Additional€effort€has€been€made€in€recent€years€to€engageÏthe€attention€of€United€Nations€Information€Centres€to€promote€the€work€of€the€treaty€bodies.€ThisÏincludes,€when€the€report€of€a€State€party€comes€before€a€treaty€body,€ensuring€that€the€relevantÐ ð-@), ÐÔ_ÔUNICÔ_Ô€receives€a€copy€of€the€report,€following€up€with€press€releases€on€specific€meetings€of€theÏrelevant€treaty€body€and€transmitting€to€the€Ô_ÔUNICÔ_Ô€the€concluding€observations€adopted€on€the€report.ÏThe€success€of€this€strategy€has€depended€on€a€number€of€factors.€The€first€is€the€capacity€of€theÏÔ_ÔUNICÔ_Ô€to€respond€to€the€additional€workload€and€the€receptiveness€of€the€local€media€to€suchÏinformation.€A€second€factor€is€the€relevance€and€interest€of€the€proceedings€in€the€treaty€body.ÏAnother€is€the€quality€of€the€concluding€observations.€While€the€results€have€been€mixed,€in€aÏnumber€of€instances,€Ô_ÔUNICsÔ_Ô€have€been€able€to€generate€considerable€local€interest€in€the€proceedingsÏof€treaty€bodies€relating€to€the€countries€in€which€they€are€situated.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Secretary-General€encourages€the€treaty€bodies€to€reflect€on€ways€to€present€their€findings€thatÏmay€be€easier€to€comprehend€by€a€non-specialist€public.€The€establishment€of€a€public€informationÏbudget€should€be€undertaken€together€with€such€efforts€by€the€treaty€bodies.Ð ÐÐ ÐG.€òòAdvisory€services€óóÐ à0  ÐÐ ÐòòRecommendations€of€the€independent€expertóó€Ð À ÐÐ ÐThe€independent€expert€considered€that€the€advisory€services€programme€had€not€provided€sufficientÏsupport€for€surveys€required€prior€to€ratification€of€a€human€rights€treaty€or€for€the€preparation€ofÏreports€by€States€in€need€of€assistance.€Regional€and€subregional€training€courses€in€relation€toÏreporting€were€unlikely€to€produce€results€commensurate€with€their€cost.€He€recommended€that€aÏspecially€designed€programme€be€devised€to€address€the€needs€in€this€area€and€that€it€be€accordedÏpriority€(ibid.,€paras.€72-77,€118).Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€United€Nations€agencies€and€bodiesóó€Ð 0€ ÐÐ ÐThe€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€assigned€UNICEF€a€legal€obligation€in€the€promotion€andÏprotection€of€the€rights€of€children.€Articleð  ð45€made€specific€reference€to€UNICEF's€responsibilityÏin:€participating€in€the€consideration€of€States€parties'€reports;€providing€expert€advice€on€theÏimplementation€of€the€Convention;€submitting€reports€to€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€ChildÏon€the€implementation€of€the€Convention;€and€responding€to€requests€by€the€Committee€for€technicalÏadvice€or€assistance€to€a€State€party.€The€reporting€process€provided€UNICEF€with€a€specialÏopportunity€to€enhance€the€efforts€made€at€the€national€and€local€levels€to€implement€the€Convention.ÏUNICEF€fostered€a€reporting€process€that€was€participatory€and€transparent€and€that€promoted€theÏinvolvement€of€all€sectors€of€society€in€the€rights€of€the€child.€It€was€an€important€initiative€toÏenhance€the€capacity-building€of€government€officials,€non-governmental€organizations€andÏUNICEF€staff.Ð ÐÐ ÐUNICEF€organized€a€number€of€national€and€regional€workshops€to€familiarize€the€above-mentionedÏpersonnel€on€the€reporting€process€related€to€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€and€theÏConvention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€Women.€The€programmesÏincluded€information€about€the€human€rights€treaties€and€treaty€bodies.€In€1997,€workshops€wereÏheld€in,€òòinter€aliaóó,€Swaziland,€the€United€Republic€of€Tanzania,€South€Africa,€Cote€d'Ivoire€and€Turkey.Ð ,`'* ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€the€Secretary-Generalóó€Ð ð-@), ÐÐ ÐA€concentrated€effort€has€been€made€in€recent€years€to€strengthen€national€capacities€in€the€area€ofÏnational€reporting€to€treaty€bodies.€Sinceð  ð1993,€the€Office€of€the€High€Commissioner€for€HumanÏRights€has€been€requested€to€train€approximately€134€officials€from€more€than€81€Member€States.ÏThe€suggestions€offered€by€the€independent€expert€provide€a€welcome€opportunity€to€reflect€onÏlessons€learned€from€this€experience.€Ð ÐÐ ÐOne€of€the€most€important€advances€made€recently€is€the€development€of€a€complete€treaty-systemÏreporting€package,€comprising€the€òòManual€on€Human€Rights€Reportingóó,€a€òòTrainers'€Guide€on€HumanÐ 0 € ÐRights€Reportingóó€and€a€òòPocket€Guide€on€the€Basic€Human€Rights€Instrumentsóó.€They€were€developedÐ  p  Ðin€cooperation€with€the€United€Nations€Staff€College€Project€in€Turin€and€are€now€available€to€allÏMember€States.Ð ÐÐ ÐTraining€activities€are€organized€regularly€at€the€regional€and€subregional€levels,€as€well€as€at€theÏnational€level.€With€respect€to€the€former,€the€training€approach€and€methodology€are€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€onÏ"training€the€trainers"€to€enable€them€to€design€and€implement€training€programmes€at€the€nationalÏlevel.€This€approach€emphasizes€national€capacity-building€instead€of€direct€assistance€and€takes€intoÏaccount€effective€follow-up€at€the€national€level€by€the€participants.€The€intensive€training€of€trainersÏhas€been€designed€to€enable€reporting€officers€to€conduct€training€activities€at€the€national€level€afterÏhaving€followed€the€course,€drawing€on€the€experience€of€practitioners€from€the€field.€ParticipantsÏbenefit€from€preparing€a€plan€of€action€before€returning€to€their€countries,€which€enables€them€toÏreflect€on€the€organization€of€training€activities€at€the€national€level€to€ensure€a€"multiplier€effect".ÏWhat€remains€to€be€done,€to€guarantee€the€multiplier€effect,€rests€at€the€national€level€with€theÏconcerned€Governments.€Many€of€the€constructive€comments€made€by€the€participants€during€theÏtraining€sessions€highlighted€a€need€for€follow-up€at€the€national€level€by€the€trainer€of€the€Office.ÏIn€view€of€current€financial€constraints,€post-training€requirements€must€be€addressed€throughÏÔ_ÔextrabudgetaryÔ_Ô€resources.Ð ÐÐ Ð"Cooperative€training"€with€the€United€Nations€Staff€College€Project€in€Turin€is€an€on-goingÏpractice;€since€1994,€three€training€programmes€have€been€conducted€with€the€support€of€Ô_ÔUNSCPÔ_ÔÏand,€in€addition,€training€activities€were€also€held€in€Addis€Ababa€in€July€1997€and€AntananarivoÏin€December€1997,€financed€with€resources€from€the€United€Nations€Staff€College€Project.Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€number€of€State€party€reports€that€have€been€submitted€by€States€since€participating€in€a€trainingÏprogramme€on€reporting€might€be€a€fair€indication€of€the€effectiveness€of€these€programmes.€InÏ1994,€representatives€from€19€countries€were€trained€by€the€Office€of€the€High€Commissioner€forÏHuman€Rights€on€the€preparation€of€their€State€reports.€As€of€December€1997,€12€of€those€countriesÏhave€submitted€a€total€of€27€reports.€The€1995€training€programme€was€attended€by€representativesÏfrom€28€countries,€Ô4‚=ntä ÔÝ‚pÍOÝÔÿÔòòÝ  ÝÔ5  Ôò òòŽòÔÿÔ(1)Ôÿš¾ÔóŽóó óÔ6H¾ÔÝ‚pÍO\¾  ÝóóÔÿÔÝ  ÝÔ7rvÌ Š¾Ô€18€of€which€subsequently€submitted€a€total€of€38€reports€due€under€theÐ P( #& Ðtreaties.€In€1996,€representatives€from€13€countries€Ô4‚?rv¼ÔÝ‚pÍOÝÔÿÔòòÝ  ÝÔ5  Ôò òòŽòÔÿÔ(2)ÔÿÀÔóŽóó óÔ6¯¿ÔÝ‚pÍOÿ  ÝóóÔÿÔÝ  ÝÔ7rv¤ñ¿Ô€attended€the€training€programme,€of€whichÐ @)$' Ð4€countries€submitted€5€reports.€In€1997,€representatives€from€26€more€countries€Ô4‚ArvœÔÝ‚pÍOÝÔÿÔòòÝ  ÝÔ5  Ôò òòŽòÔÿÔ(3)ÔÿgÁÔóŽóó óÔ6ÁÔÝ‚pÍO)Á  ÝóóÔÿÔÝ  ÝÔ7rv„WÁÔ€participated€inÐ 0*€%( Ðone€of€the€training€sessions€organized€by€the€Office€of€the€High€Commissioner€for€Human€RightsÏor€by€the€United€Nations€Staff€College€Project.Ð ÐÐ ÐAt€the€national€level,€several€training€courses€have€been€organized€in€countries€where€there€is€anÐ ð-@), Ðacute€lack€of€capacity€in€the€field€of€reporting.€In€the€experience€of€the€Office€of€the€HighÏCommissioner€for€Human€Rights,€national€training€programmes€require€post-training€follow-up,€asÏdo€the€regional€or€subregional€programmes,€which€also€involves€resources.€If€resources€wereÏplentiful,€national€training€programmes€attended€by€a€wide€range€of€national€officers€wouldÏundoubtedly€be€more€effective€than€regional€programmes€attended€by€only€one€or€two€nationalÏofficers€from€each€participating€State.€Concentrated€assistance,€however,€could€not€satisfy€the€needsÏof€the€same€number€of€countries€with€the€same€available€resources€as€does€the€present€regional€andÏsubregional€approach.Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€idea€of€regional€advisers€based€on€the€ILO€model,€as€cited€in€paragraph€75€of€the€report€of€theÏindependent€expert,€is€worth€exploring.€Ô_ÔUNDPÔ_Ô€has€also€established€programmes€involving€regionalÏadvisers€to€provide€continuous€òòin€Ô_ÔsituÔ_Ôóó€substantive€support€in€Ô_ÔUNDPÔ_Ô€priority€areas€of€focus.€The€mainÐ P  Ðissue€will€again€be€the€availability€of€resources;€at€least€four€posts€would€have€to€be€created€for€thisÏfunction.€States€may€wish€to€discuss€the€modalities€for€implementing€this€Ìrecommendation.Ð ÐÐ ÐIt€may€be€noted€that€in€southern€Africa,€a€joint€Ô_ÔUNDPÔ_Ô-Ô_ÔOHCHRÔ_Ô€project€will€be€implemented€in€1998Ïwhich€foresees€the€establishment€of€a€regional€adviser€position.€A€human€rights€regional€programmeÏadviser€will€work€closely€with€Governments€and€United€Nations€Resident€Coordinators€in€theÏsubregion€to€provide€on-site€support,€advice€and€assistance€on€human€rights€matters,€includingÏreporting€under€the€treaty€bodies.òòóóÐ pÀ ÐÐ ÐH.€òòSpecial€reportsóó€Ð P  ÐÐ ÐòòRecommendations€of€the€independent€expertóó€Ð 0€ ÐÐ ÐThe€independent€expert€recommended€that€the€effectiveness€of€"special€reports"€and€"urgentÏprocedures"€should€be€carefully€evaluated€by€the€committees€concerned.€At€present,€the€value€theyÏadded€seemed€low.€In€general,€the€division€of€labour€between€the€treaty€bodies€and€specialÏmechanisms€should€be€maintained€(ibid.,€paras.€78-79,€119).Ð ÐÐ ÐòòGovernment€commentsóó€Ð À! ÐÐ ÐWhile€recognizing€that€the€treaty€bodies€should€not€attempt€to€duplicate€the€work€of€the€UnitedÏNations€human€rights€special€procedures,€the€Government€of€Canada€continued€to€believe€that€thereÏwas€a€role€for€them€in€giving€expert€attention,€on€a€timely€basis,€to€emerging€issues€of€concern.€ByÏvirtue€of€their€regular€review€of€the€performance€of€States€parties,€the€treaty€bodies€were€in€a€positionÏto€follow€trends€which€might€foreshadow€a€deterioration€in€a€given€human€rights€situation.€TheyÏwere€also€well€placed€to€follow€up€on€human€rights€concerns€identified€by€United€Nations€specialÏprocedures.€Canada€attached€particular€importance€to€encouraging€United€Nations€agencies€to€makeÏgreater€use€of€reports€by€treaty€bodies.Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Cyprus€recognized€the€difficulties€for€the€independent€expert€to€consider€in€anyÏdetail€the€relationship€between€the€human€rights€treaty€system€and€the€system€of€special€rapporteurs,Ïrepresentatives€and€experts€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights.€Nevertheless,€it€noted€that€if€theÐ ð-@), Ð"division€of€labour"€between€the€two€systems€in€relation€to€urgent€appeals€is€to€be€maintained,€theÏCommission€on€Human€Rights€should€make€procedural€provision€for€thorough€consideration€of€theÏreports€received€from€its€special€rapporteurs,€etc.€It€should€also€consider€procedures€as€to€how€bestÏto€channel€reports€reflecting€urgent€appeals.Ð ÐÐ ÐIsrael€was€of€the€view€that€there€should€be€a€clear€distinction€between€the€functions€of€treaty€bodiesÏand€special€reports.€First,€the€treaty€bodies€could€not€provide€an€efficient€framework€to€deal€withÏpressing€emergency€situations.€Second,€special€reports€would€be€examined€at€the€expense€of€regularÏreports€from€States.€Finally,€the€vague€criteria€for€urgent€procedures€opened€the€possibility€ofÏmanipulation€by€treaty€bodies,€who€could€resort€to€them€whenever€they€were€dissatisfied€with€aÏState.€Treaty€bodies€should€justify€in€writing€and€in€detail€why€the€urgent€procedures€mechanism€wasÏresorted€to.€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€interested€personsóó€Ð à0  ÐÐ ÐMr.€Ô_ÔZwaakÔ_Ô€and€Ms.€Ô_ÔBoerefijnÔ_Ô€agreed€with€the€independent€expert€that€an€examination€should€beÏmade€into€the€results€of€the€treaty€bodies'€practice€of€requesting€special€reports€over€the€past€fiveÏyears.€They€observed€that,€for€outsiders,€it€was€entirely€unclear€what€were€the€criteria€for€requestingÏa€special€report.€It€did€not€become€clear,€for€example,€whether€the€proclamation€of€a€state€ofÏemergency,€or€a€de€facto€existence€of€a€state€of€emergency€played€any€role.€Many€special€rapporteursÏof€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€were€concerned€with€countries€which€were€States€parties€to,Ð pÀ ÐòòÔ_Ôinterð  ðaliaÔ_Ôóó,€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights;€it€was€not€clear€whether€theÐ `° Ðexistence€of€such€mandates€played€any€role.€It€should€be€examined€what€additional€value€emanatedÏfrom€a€special€report€and€the€consideration€thereof.€States€parties€might€regard€the€opportunity€toÏsubmit€special€reports€as€the€only€way€for€them€to€present€their€side€of€the€story€before€anÏinternational€forum.€Their€cooperation€could€also€be€attributed€to€the€fact€that€the€treaty€bodies,Ïgenerally€speaking,€were€believed€to€be€Ô_ÔunpoliticizedÔ_Ô€and€consequently€States€might€expect€a€"fairÏhearing".Ð ÐÐ ÐMr.€O'Flaherty€expressed€disagreement€with€regard€to€the€role€of€the€treaty€bodies€regarding€complexÏemergency€situations.€He€pointed€out€that€the€final€report€of€the€independent€expert€did€not€containÏverifiable€indicators€in€support€of€the€conclusion€that€the€involvement€of€treaty€bodies€was€onlyÏmarginally€useful,€nor€did€it€distinguish€between€the€report-based€and€other€special€procedures.ÏReferences€to€the€role€of€Charter-based€mechanisms€should,€in€a€context€where€there€was€urgentÏneed€to€develop€an€effective€mutuality€between€them€and€treaty€bodies,€focus€on€means€ofÏcollaboration€and€cooperation€rather€than€on€"division€of€labour".€He€further€noted€that€a€remarkableÏrole€had€been€accorded€to€the€treaty€bodies€in€the€Dayton€Agreement€(annex€6,€article€XIII;€see€alsoÏthe€Constitution€of€the€Federation€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€contained€in€the€WashingtonÏAgreement€of€March€1994).€The€invitation€contained€therein€for€ongoing€involvement€by€treatyÏbodies€in€the€implementation€of€the€peace€agreement€was€an€exceptional€opportunity€to€advanceÏcommittee€practice.òòóóÐ 0*€%( ÐÐ ÐI.€òòConsolidation€of€reports€and€treaty€bodiesóó€Ð ,`'* ÐÐ ÐòòRecommendations€of€the€independent€expertóó€Ð ð-@), ÐÐ ÐThe€independent€expert€contended€that€in€light€of€current€trends€the€existing€reporting€system€wasÏunsustainable.€He€presented€four€options€that€were€available€to€States:€(a)€to€dismiss€the€concern€asÏalarmist€and€take€no€action;€(b)€to€urge€the€treaty€bodies€to€undertake€far-reaching€reforms€and€adaptÏto€cope€with€existing€and€new€demands€from€within€existing€resources;€(c)€to€provide€greatlyÏenhanced€budgetary€resources€to€sustain€the€status€quo;€(d)€to€combine€some€elements€of€(b)€and€(c)Ïwith€the€adoption€of€some€far-reaching€reforms.€The€latter€could€include:€the€preparation€ofÏ"consolidated€reports";€elimination€of€comprehensive€periodic€reports€in€their€present€form€andÏreplacement€by€reporting€guidelines€tailored€to€each€State's€individual€situation;€and€a€consolidationÏ(reduction)€of€the€number€of€treaty€bodies.€If€the€political€will€existed€in€relation€to€the€last,€a€smallÏexpert€group€should€be€convened€to€examine€modalities€(ibid.,€paras.€81-97,€120).€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòGovernment€commentsóó€Ð ð@  ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Australia€supported€reforms€to€the€reporting€procedures€with€the€object€ofÏstreamlining€the€reporting€obligations€on€States€parties,€the€production€of€shorter€and€more€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_ÔÏreports,€and€encouraging€the€greater€coordination€and€sharing€of€information€between€the€treatyÏÔ_Ôbodies.ð  ðÔ_Ô€Australia€saw€great€potential€for€the€streamlining€of€reports.€Of€the€Ô_Ôtwoð  ðoptionsÔ_Ô€presentedÏby€the€independent€expert€-€consolidation€of€reports€under€all€the€treaties€in€one€report€or€eliminationÏof€the€requirement€to€produce€comprehensive€periodic€reports€-€Australia€endorsed€the€secondÏoption.€While€the€initial€report€should€be€comprehensive,€subsequent€periodic€reports€should€focusÏon€a€limited€range€of€issues€identified€well€in€advance€and€tailored€to€the€situation€of€each€State€party.Ð ÐÐ ÐAn€alternative€approach€would€be€to€draft€reports€which€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€on€particular€issues.€Those€issuesÏwould€be€identified€by€reference€to€the€comments€and€concluding€observations€of€a€committee€onÏan€earlier€report.€A€State€party€could€also€provide€information€to€the€Committee€on€significantÏdevelopments€which€had€occurred€in€the€reporting€period.€Cross-referencing€to€relevant€materialÏcontained€in€other€periodic€reports€would€avoid€unnecessary€duplication.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Australian€Government€believed€that€further€careful€consideration€was€needed€as€to€theÏsuggestion€to€consolidate€the€six€treaty€bodies€into€one.€Priority€should€be€given€to€those€reformsÏto€the€treaty€system€that€could€be€achieved€in€the€short€to€medium€term.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Canada€expressed€caution€as€to€any€suggestion€that€the€treaty€bodies€beÏconsolidated.€The€fact€that€not€all€States€had€ratified€the€same€range€of€conventions€was€merely€theÏmost€obvious€in€a€wide€range€of€practical€difficulties€that€would€afflict€this€scheme.€The€risk€thatÏparticular€issues,€such€as€children's€or€women's€rights,€would€not€receive€adequate€attention€in€aÏcomprehensive€report€would€also€pose€difficulties.€More€importantly,€Canada€was€not€confident€thatÏamalgamation€would€significantly€lower€the€reporting€burden€on€States€parties.€Canada€consideredÏthat€consolidated€reports,€providing€input€to€more€than€one€treaty€body€in€a€single€submission,€wouldÏpose€practical€difficulties,€although€not€insurmountable€ones.€While€interested€States€should€haveÏthe€option€of€pursuing€this€approach€if€they€judged€it€to€be€appropriate€in€their€specific€case,€CanadaÏexpressed€doubt€that€consolidated€reports€would€produce€the€dramatic€improvement€in€efficiencyÏnecessary€to€restore€the€treaty€body€system€to€good€health.€Ð ÐÐ ð-@), ÐIn€Canada's€view,€the€single€most€important€step€that€could€be€taken€to€improve€the€functioning€ofÏthe€United€Nations€human€rights€treaty€system€would€be€a€move€away€from€submission€ofÏcomprehensive€reports€and€towards€reporting€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€on€specific€issues€of€concern.€Although€thisÏwould€not€be€an€advisable€approach€for€initial€reports€by€States€parties,€for€subsequent€periodicÏreports€it€would€radically€enhance€the€efficiency€and€effectiveness€of€the€reporting€system.€ManagedÏproperly,€issue-specific€reporting€would€accomplish€a€number€of€goals:€it€would€reduce€the€amountÏof€work€required€to€prepare€reports,€reduce€duplication€between€reports,€and€identify€with€moreÏprecision€points€on€which€follow-up€is€required€by€States€parties.€Canada€believed€that€eachÏindividual€treaty€body€should€consider€how€best€to€implement€such€a€system.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€factors€which€Canada€considered€the€essential€elements€of€issue-specific€reporting€were€asÏfollows:€(a)€the€issues€which€a€State€is€asked€to€address€in€its€report€should€be€selected€using€allÏavailable€sources€of€information,€but€special€attention€should€be€given€to€previous€recommendationsÏmade€by€the€treaty€body;€(b)€the€list€of€issues€should€be€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€and€should€not€attempt€to€coverÏmore€than€a€limited€number€of€priority€themes€or€areas;€(c)€the€State€party€should€be€advised€whatÏissues€will€be€raised€well€in€advance€of€the€proposed€dates€of€examination€to€allow€adequate€timeÏto€prepare€a€written€report;€and€(d)€the€State€party€would€have€a€responsibility€to€provide€its€reportÏto€the€treaty€body€a€specified€minimum€length€of€time€before€consideration€by€the€Committee,€toÏallow€Committee€members€sufficient€preparation€time.€Ð ÐÐ ÐCanada€encouraged€each€treaty€body€to€develop€a€flexible€approach€or€policy€for€issue-specificÏreporting,€and€to€make€States€parties€aware€of€their€decisions€in€this€regard.€Even€in€the€absence€ofÏsuch€a€policy,€Canada€was€of€the€view€that€issue-specific€reporting€could€proceed€immediately€inÏany€case€in€which€the€treaty€body€and€State€party€concerned€were€in€agreement€on€the€procedure€toÏbe€followed.€In€cases€where€no€report€had€been€submitted€in€recent€years,€treaty€bodies€might,€as€inÏthe€case€of€initial€reports,€prefer€submission€of€a€comprehensive€report.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Cyprus€expressed€support€for€the€recommendation€in€paragraph€120€that€a€smallÏexpert€group€be€convened€to€examine€modalities€to€consolidate€the€treaty€bodies.€It€also€supportedÏthe€view€that€there€could€be€consolidated€reports€even€before€other€measures€were€taken.€SuchÏreports€would€reduce€the€heavy€burden€on€small€States€of€preparing€six€reports,€which€in€manyÏrespects€overlapped.€If,€owing€to€differences€in€the€dates€on€which€reports€to€the€various€treatyÏbodies€were€due,€the€consolidated€report€was€submitted€more€than€18ð  ðmonths€before€a€report€to€theÏrelevant€treaty€body€was€due,€States€should€be€encouraged€to€submit€a€brief€updating€report€onÏmatters€specifically€related€to€the€competence€of€that€treaty€body.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Finland€agreed€with€the€assessment€of€the€independent€expert€that€the€presentÏsystem€was€unsustainable€and€that€significant€reforms€would€be€required.€A€significant€number€ofÏStates€reports€were€overdue,€partly€because€many€States€lacked€adequate€resources.€The€preparationÏof€reports€and€their€consideration€by€the€treaty€bodies€involved€a€great€deal€of€work.€The€final€reportÏof€the€independent€expert€proposed€several€measures€which€could€address€the€problem.€FinlandÏconsidered€especially€valuable,€òòinter€aliaóó,€an€easing€of€the€reporting€requirements.€A€more€tailoredÐ  +p&) Ðand€flexible€approach€to€reporting,€including€the€replacement€of€extensive€reports€by€reports€on€aÏlimited€range€of€issues€possibly€based€on€the€concluding€observations€on€the€previous€report,€couldÏbe€an€option.€Ð ð-@), ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Israel€supported€consolidation€of€reports€prepared€for€the€different€treaty€bodies.ÏA€single€comprehensive€report€would€be€more€coherent€than€an€artificial€separation€into€differentÏreports.€It€noted€that€a€reform€in€the€contents€of€periodic€reports€had€already€been€implemented€byÏthe€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Racial€Discrimination,€pursuant€to€which€one€in€two€reportsÏmay€be€limited€to€an€update.€Broadening€this€approach€could€help€alleviate€the€current€situation,Ïespecially€if€clear€guidance€were€given€as€regards€the€difference€in€scope€between€comprehensiveÏreports€and€updates.€Israel€welcomed€the€proposal€of€the€independent€expert€to€convene€a€smallÏexpert€group€to€examine€modalities€for€the€consolidation€of€the€treaty€bodies.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€the€Netherlands€indicated€that€national€reports€tended€to€reveal€only€thatÏinformation€which€the€State€concerned€was€willing€to€divulge,€the€underlying€principle€being€thatÏthe€States€themselves€provided€information€about€their€measures€to€implement€human€rightsÏstandards.€This€often€led€to€a€paradoxical€situation€in€which€States€in€which€little€or€no€human€rightsÏviolations€occurred€submitted€reports€critical€of€those€problems€that€did€exist,€while€States€in€whichÏhuman€rights€violations€were€more€prevalent€were€less€inclined€to€submit€comprehensive€reports.ÏThe€Netherlands€suggested,€as€a€way€to€address€this€issue,€the€provision€to€States€of€questionnaires,Ïcontaining€specific€questions€tailored€to€the€State's€situation.€Specific€reports€could€be€submitted€onÏthe€basis€of€these€questions.€States€parties€might€therefore€begin€to€relate€treaty€obligations€toÏnational€practice,€which€ultimately€might€lead€to€an€improvement€in€the€human€rights€situation.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€the€Republic€of€Korea€observed€that€the€proliferation€of€requests€for€reportsÏunder€a€growing€number€of€human€rights€instruments€had€placed€increasingly€heavy€burdens€onÏStates€parties€in€general€and€on€developing€countries€in€particular.€The€Republic€of€Korea€believedÏthat€such€burdens€had€been€magnified€by€duplication€and€a€lack€of€coordination€among€the€differentÏprocedures€and€mechanisms€of€various€treaty€bodies.€The€Republic€of€Korea€agreed€that€the€existingÏreporting€system€was€unsustainable,€owing€to€the€large€number€of€significantly€overdue€reports€andÏthe€serious€delays€between€submission€and€examination€of€reports.€Ð ÐÐ ÐIn€view€of€these€significant€problems,€the€Republic€of€Korea€considered€it€inevitable€that€theÏadministrative€burdens€associated€with€State€reporting€be€alleviated,€both€on€States€parties€and€onÏthe€treaty€bodies.€The€Republic€of€Korea€supported€reforms€that€would€streamline€the€process€andÏobserved€that€the€single€consolidated€report€proposed€by€the€independent€expert€could€be€a€practicalÏsolution.€As€the€reports€due€under€the€respective€human€rights€treaty€bodies€often€required€similarÏelements,€the€Republic€of€Korea€was€of€the€view€that€the€reports€could€be€integrated€into€one,€withÏa€five-year€reporting€cycle,€thus€eliminating€duplication€of€administrative€demands€on€States€parties.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Republic€of€Korea€suggested€that€the€treaty€bodies,€in€cooperation€with€the€Office€of€the€HighÏCommissioner€for€Human€Rights,€prepare€a€set€of€guidelines€for€the€preparation€of€a€consolidatedÏreport.€The€report€could€be€categorized€into€two€parts:€the€first€part€describing€universally€commonÏsubjects€applicable€to€all€the€States€parties,€the€second€dealing€with€specific€items€specially€tailoredÏto€the€different€States€parties.€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€United€Nations€agencies€and€bodiesóó€Ð -P(+ ÐÐ ð-@), ÐWith€reference€to€the€proposal€for€the€submission€of€a€single€consolidated€report€by€each€State€party,ÏUNICEF€maintained€that€there€was€a€need€for€specific€information€on€various€areas,€in€particularÏchildren.€The€submission€of€a€single€report€ran€the€risk€of€diluting€important€issues€and€neglectingÏboth€their€consideration€and€the€formulation€of€specific€recommendations.€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€non-governmental€organizationsóó€Ð ` ° ÐÐ ÐThe€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Group€for€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€presented€its€views€on€the€problemsÏfacing€the€reporting€system.€The€backlog€of€reports€was€two€years€long€for€the€Convention€on€theÏRights€of€the€Child€and€other€treaty€bodies€were€faced€with€similar€delays.€By€the€time€of€theÏexamination€of€a€State€report,€not€only€was€it€out€of€date€but€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€were€also€likely€to€produceÏinformation€that€became€out€of€date€and€the€momentum€of€the€reporting€process€was€lost.€RadicalÏsolutions€were€necessary€to€deal€with€these€problems€and€the€consolidation€of€the€treaty€bodies€orÏconsolidation€of€the€reports€due€to€them€appeared€to€be€the€only€viable€long-term€option.€TheÏoverlaps€in€the€system€were€obvious€and€created€a€burden€on€both€the€States€parties€and€thoseÏcontributing€to€the€monitoring€of€the€implementation€of€the€treaties.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Inter-Church€Committee€for€Refugees€addressed€the€recommendation€for€a€single€unifiedÏprofessional€salaried€treaty€monitoring€body.€In€view€of€the€problems€of€"normative€consistency"Ïand€relationships€with€regional€human€rights€mechanisms,€as€discussed€in€the€interim€report€of€theÏindependent€expert,€the€Inter-Church€Committee€for€Refugees€saw€value€in€a€single€complaintÏmechanism.€This€would€seem€possible€and€desirable€in€the€short€term.€It€also€favoured€theÏestablishment€of€a€Court€of€Human€Rights€with€non-threatening€"advisory"€jurisdiction.€SuchÏjurisdiction€had€proven€useful€for€the€Inter-American€Court€of€Human€Rights.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Inter-Church€Committee€for€Refugees€expressed€doubt€that€the€treaties€would€be€moreÏeffectively€implemented€by€collapsing€the€various€examinations€of€State€reports€by€treaty€bodies€intoÏone.€While€recognizing€the€problems€of€meeting€time€for€experts€who€essentially€served€on€aÏvolunteer€basis,€it€did€not€appear€that€alternative€ways€of€working€had€been€exhausted.€It€wasÏdifficult€to€envisage€the€distinctive€perspectives€of€women,€children,€prevention€of€torture,€etc.Ïwithout€specialist€treaty€bodies.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Inter-Church€Committee€for€Refugees€welcomed€the€proposal€for€a€consolidated€State€report.ÏIt€did€not€view€this€recommendation€as€inconsistent€with€the€suggestion€of€preserving€distinctÏexamination€processes€from€the€perspectives€mentioned€above.€A€general€report€could€potentiallyÏprovide€a€strong€basis€for€examination€by€the€various€treaty€bodies€on€their€respective€concerns.€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€interested€personsóó€Ð `'°"% ÐÐ ÐMr.€Ô_ÔZwaakÔ_Ô€and€Ms.€Ô_ÔBoerefijnÔ_Ô€noted€that,€although€the€reports€of€State€parties€constituted€the€majorÏsource€of€their€dialogue€with€treaty€bodies,€additional€information€from€official€and€unofficialÏsources€were€currently€being€used€by€all€the€treaty€bodies.€The€State€reports€therefore€no€longerÏconstituted€the€only€source€of€information€and€in€due€time€may€not€even€be€the€most€importantÏsource.€Moreover,€many€reports€rarely€provided€information€beyond€legislative€measures.ÏInformation€on€practice€was€hardly€ever€provided€in€the€reports,€although€it€had€on€occasion€beenÐ ð-@), Ðmore€forthcoming€during€the€dialogue€with€representatives€of€State€parties.€Ð ÐÐ ÐMr.€Ô_ÔZwaakÔ_Ô€and€Ms.€Ô_ÔBoerefijnÔ_Ô€suggested€that€it€might€be€worthwhile€to€explore€whether€the€majorÏefforts€of€States€parties€should€be€shifted.€States€could€prepare€one€report€composed€of€severalÏsections€which€dealt€with€the€various€treaties€to€which€it€was€a€party.€This€could€only€work€ifÏGovernments€sent€well-briefed€delegations€to€the€committees€when€their€reports€were€beingÏdiscussed.€Further€study€would€be€required€into€adjusting€the€guidelines€for€reporting€in€order€toÏensure€that€the€information€which€needed€to€be€submitted€under€the€specialized€treaties€would€notÏbe€lost,€i.e.€the€consolidated€report€should€not€be€merely€a€combination€of€a€report€under€the€twoÏCovenants€but€should€take€fully€into€account€all€aspects€of€the€other€relevant€treaties.€An€importantÏside-effect€of€consolidated€reports€might€be€that€the€interdependence€of€civil€and€political€rights€andÏeconomic,€social€and€cultural€rights€is€strengthened.€Ð ÐÐ ÐMr.€Craig€Scott€commented€that€the€recommendation€to€study€modalities€for€consolidation,Ïincluding€a€possible€reduction€in€the€number€of€human€rights€treaty€bodies,€may€not,€upon€reflectionÏand€in€the€context€of€evolving€financial€realities,€prove€desirable.€In€particular,€consolidation€of€theÏtreaty€bodies€could€jeopardize€the€principle€of€interactive€diversity€of€expertise,€of€experience€andÏof€normative€focus€-€the€maintenance€of€which€was€central€to€the€functioning€of€collectiveÏdecision-making€bodies.€Mr.€Scott€also€proposed€the€establishment€of€an€international€candidateÏidentification€process€that€could€be€set€in€motion€prior€to€the€election€of€candidates€at€meetings€ofÏStates€parties.€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€the€Secretary-Generalóó€Ð P  ÐÐ ÐWhile€recognizing€the€need€to€streamline€the€reporting€process€and€supporting€the€discussion€on€thisÏcritical€issue,€the€Secretary-General€draws€attention€to€the€need€for€further€reflection€by€the€treatyÏbodies€as€to€the€objective€of€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€reports€and€how€the€main€issues€would€be€selected€with€respectÏto€each€State€party.€The€treaty€bodies€are€invited€to€give€careful€thought€as€to€the€objective€ofÏÔ_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€reports€and€to€propose€concrete€ways€in€which€the€issues€would€be€selected.€òòóóÐ ð@ ÐJ.€òòAmending€the€treatiesóó€Ð à0 ÐÐ ÐòòRecommendations€of€the€independent€expertóó€Ð À! ÐÐ ÐThe€independent€expert€highlighted€the€need€to€make€procedural€provisions€of€human€rights€treatiesÏmore€susceptible€to€amendment.€His€recommendations€were€as€follows€(ibid.,€paras.€101,€121):€Ð ÐÐ Ð(a)€All€future€human€rights€treaties€should€provide€for€a€simplified€process€to€be€followed€in€orderÏto€amend€the€relevant€procedural€provisions.€While€the€specific€endorsement€of€this€proposal€by€theÏCommission€on€Human€Rights€could€not€be€binding€in€the€context€of€any€future€negotiations€itÏwould€constitute€a€clear€policy€guideline€and€help€to€facilitate€the€adoption€of€such€flexibility€in€theÏfuture;€Ð ÐÐ Ð(b)€A€report€should€be€requested€from€the€Legal€Counsel€which€would€explore€the€feasibility€ofÏdevising€more€innovative€approaches€in€dealing€with€existing€and€future€amendments€to€the€humanÏrights€treaties;€Ð ð-@), ÐÐ Ð(c)€The€General€Assembly€should€request€the€Meetings€of€the€States€Parties€to€the€relevant€treatiesÏto€discuss€means€by€which€the€States€concerned€might€be€encouraged€to€attach€a€higher€priority€toÏratification€of€the€amendments€already€approved;€Ð ÐÐ Ð(d)€Consideration€should€be€given€immediately€to€amending€the€International€Convention€on€theÏProtection€of€the€Rights€of€All€Migrant€Workers€and€Members€of€Their€Families€in€line€with€theÏrecommendation€made€below;€Ð ÐÐ Ð(e)€In€view€of€the€agreement€of€the€Meeting€of€States€Parties€and€of€the€General€Assembly€in€1992Ïto€amend€article€8,€paragraph€6,€of€the€International€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€ofÏRacial€Discrimination€to€eliminate€the€responsibility€of€the€States€parties€for€the€expenses€of€theÏCommittee€members,€action€should€now€be€taken€to€write€off€the€continuing€backlog€ofÏcontributions€owed€for€that€purpose.€Agreement€should€be€sought€to€cover€the€outstanding€amountÏfrom€the€regular€budget€and€close€the€file.€For€legal€and€policy€reasons,€it€should€be€indicated€thatÏno€precedent€of€broader€application€is€thereby€created.€Ð ÐÐ ÐExisting€arrangements€for€cooperation€with€the€specialized€agencies€and€other€bodies€had€beenÏimproved€in€some€respects€but€remained€very€inadequate.€The€High€Commissioner€should€conveneÏa€high-level€meeting€to€explore€better€means€of€cooperation€with€the€treaty€bodies€(ibid.,€paras.€108,Ï121).€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòGovernment€commentsóó€Ð P  ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Australia€agreed€that€there€should€be€steps€taken€to€simplify€the€procedure€forÏamending€technical€or€procedural€provisions€in€respect€of€future€and€current€treaties.€It€endorsed€theÏrecommendation€that€an€option€be€sought€from€the€Legal€Counsel€on€more€innovative€approachesÏto€dealing€with€existing€and€future€amendments€to€the€technical€or€procedural€provisions€of€theÏhuman€rights€treaties.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Canada€agreed€that€the€process€of€amending€the€procedural€provisions€of€humanÏrights€treaties€should€be€simplified€and€that€options€in€this€regard€should€be€considered.€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€United€Nations€agencies€and€bodiesóó€Ð  #ð! ÐÐ ÐUNICEF€expressed€support€for€the€proposed€amendment€to€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€theÏChild€that€would€expand€the€membership€of€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€from€10€toÏ18€experts.ÌÐ ÐK.€òòThe€language€questionóó€Ð @)$' ÐÐ ÐòòRecommendations€of€the€independent€expertóó€Ð  +p&) ÐÐ ÐThe€independent€expert€considered€that€the€importance€of€maintaining€linguistic€diversity€in€theÏtreaty€bodies€was,€for€many€reasons,€beyond€doubt.€However,€in€the€absence€of€a€substantial€increaseÐ ð-@), Ðin€funds€for€interpretation,€he€believed€there€was€a€clear€need€for€the€different€committees€to€exploreÏways€in€which€working€groups€and€other€non-plenary€meetings€could€be€held€without€officialÏtranslation.€He€suggested€that€greater€emphasis€should€be€attached€to€the€ability€of€nominees€forÏelection€to€the€treaty€bodies€to€work€in€at€least€one,€and€preferably€two,€of€the€three€major€languages:ÏEnglish,€French€and€Spanish.€Ways€would€have€to€be€found€in€which€the€content€of€materialsÏavailable€in€only€one€language€could€be€drawn€upon€more€efficiently€for€the€benefit€of€the€wholeÏcommittee.€Consideration€would€need€to€be€given€to€delegating€certain€responsibilities€to€workingÏgroups€capable€of€working€without€translation€(ibid.,€para.€106).€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòGovernment€commentsóó€Ð  p  ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Finland€indicated€that€reports€should€be€available€to€the€members€of€the€treatyÏbodies€in€good€time€but€noted€that€this€had€not€always€been€the€case,€as€a€report€cannot€be€distributedÏbefore€it€has€been€translated€into€all€official€languages.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€the€Republic€of€Korea€viewed€the€suggestion€that€English€be€used€as€a€singleÏworking€language€of€the€treaty€bodies€as€a€constructive€suggestion€to€reduce€the€burdens€on€theÏSecretariat.€It€maintained,€however,€that€final€official€documents€should€continue€to€be€published€inÏEnglish,€French€and€other€official€languages€of€the€Ô_ÔUnitedð  ðNationsÔ_Ô€at€the€request€of€the€States€partiesÏconcerned,€as€is€currently€the€practice.€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€non-governmental€organizationsóó€Ð `° ÐÐ ÐThe€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Group€for€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€stated€that€it€did€not€have€theÏcapacity€to€translate€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€documents€and€the€United€Nations€would€not€do€so.€Therefore,€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_ÔÏdocuments€submitted€in€a€language€other€than€English€were€not€taken€fully€into€consideration€by€theÏCommittee.€In€order€to€combat€these€weaknesses,€the€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Group€recommended€that€internationalÏÔ_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€working€at€the€national€level€translate,€or€provide€funds€to€translate,€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€documents€intoÏEnglish.€Ð ÐÐ ÐNorth-South€XXI€expressed€regret€that€budgetary€restrictions€should€give€rise€to€non-respect€for€theÏprinciple€of€linguistic€diversity.€The€predominance€of€the€English€language€was€but€one€of€the€formsÏof€domination€exercised€around€the€world€in€the€fields€of€the€hard€sciences€and€was€closely€linkedÏto€the€question€of€economic€domination.€In€the€field€of€human€rights,€linguistic€domination€carriedÏwith€it€controversial€conceptions€of€human€rights.€In€certain€languages,€the€vocabulary€of€the€"greatÏpowers€in€human€rights"€did€not€exist,€while€in€contrast,€in€some€languages€of€the€South,€thereÏexisted€certain€humanist€concepts€that€were€unknown€in€the€languages€of€Northern€countries.€ThisÏdiversity€reflected€different€cultures€and€different€values€which€the€United€Nations€should€respect.ÏThe€reaffirmation€of€the€General€Assembly€of€the€importance€of€linguistic€diversity€was€activelyÏsupported€by€many€non-governmental€organizations,€notably€North-South€XXI.òòóóÐ @)$' ÐÐ ÐL.€òòCooperation€with€the€specialized€agencies€and€other€bodiesóó€Ð  +p&) ÐÐ ÐòòRecommendations€of€the€independent€expertóó€Ð -P(+ ÐÐ ð-@), ÐThe€independent€expert€recommended€that€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€should€request€theÏHigh€Commissioner€to€convene€a€high-level€meeting€over€a€period€of€two€days€if€seniorÏrepresentatives€of€the€key€specialized€agencies€and€other€bodies€(including€ILO,€WHO,€FAO,ÏUNESCO,€UNICEF,€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔUNDPÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔUNFPAÔ_Ô€and€the€World€Bank),€senior€staff€of€the€Office€ofÏthe€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€and€the€chairpersons€of€the€six€treaty€bodies.€In€order€toÏminimize€costs€and€capitalize€on€other€coordination€efforts,€the€meeting€should€take€placeÏimmediately€before€or€after€one€of€the€annual€meetings€of€the€chairpersons.€The€purpose€should€beÏto€explore€the€most€constructive,€appropriate,€cost-effective,€and€mutually€rewarding€means€ofÏcooperation€between€these€bodies€and€the€human€rights€committees€(ibid.,€para.ð  ð108).€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€United€Nations€agencies€and€bodiesóó€Ð `  ÐÐ ÐUNICEF€highlighted€its€close€relationship€with€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child.€ItÏsupported€the€work€of€the€Committee€in€a€number€of€ways,€including€by€providing€technicalÏassistance€and€ensuring€that€members€of€the€Committee€had€the€opportunity,€through€field€visits,€toÏconsult€with€a€number€of€actors€at€the€country€level.€UNICEF€also€regularly€supported€theÏparticipation€of€Committee€members€in€relevant€conferences,€seminars€and€workshops€at€the€global,Ïregional€and€national€levels.€It€continuously€promoted€cooperative€efforts€aimed€at€involving€theÏspecialized€agencies€in€the€implementation€of€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€and€inÏsupporting€the€monitoring€function€of€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child,€particularly€in€theÏfollow-up€to€concluding€observations€at€the€national€level.€Ð ÐÐ ÐUNICEF€encouraged€other€Ô_ÔUnitedð  ðNationsÔ_Ô€agencies€to€support€the€work€of€human€rights€treatyÏbodies€as€a€means€to€a€more€effective€implementation€of€human€rights€treaties€and€to€promote€aÏconstructive€dialogue€on€human€rights€between€the€treaty€bodies€and€States€parties.€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€non-governmental€organizationsóó€Ð ` ÐÐ ÐNorth-South€XXI€considered€the€recommendation€for€strengthened€cooperation€with€ILO€to€beÏjudicious.òòóóÐ à0 ÐÐ ÐM.€òòThe€quality€of€concluding€observationsóó€Ð À! ÐÐ ÐòòRecommendations€of€the€independent€expertóó€Ð  #ð! ÐÐ ÐThe€independent€expert€recommended€that€treaty€bodies€should€strive€to€further€improve€the€qualityÏof€their€concluding€observations,€in€terms€of€their€clarity,€degree€of€detail,€level€of€accuracy€andÏspecificity€(ibid.,€paras.ð  ð109,€122).€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòGovernment€commentsóó€Ð @)$' ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Australia€agreed€on€the€need€to€further€improve€the€quality€of€concludingÏobservations€to€ensure€that€they€were€precise,€clear€and€detailed.€This€would€become€even€more€ofÏan€issue€if€periodic€reports€were€to€be€based€essentially€on€the€comments€and€concludingÏobservations€of€a€committee.€Ð ð-@), ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€United€Nations€and€bodiesóó€Ð  ð ÐÐ ÐUNICEF€concurred€with€the€view€that€it€was€imperative€for€the€concluding€observations€to€be€basedÏon€the€most€accurate€and€comprehensive€information€available€on€the€situation€of€children€in€eachÏcountry.€The€quality€of€the€concluding€observations€was€essential€in€order€for€recommendations€toÏbe€effectively€implemented€at€the€national€level€and€to€enhance€the€dialogue€with€States€parties.ÏTreaty€bodies€should€strive€to€improve€the€quality€of€the€concluding€observations€in€terms€of€theirÏclarity,€degree€of€detail,€level€of€accuracy€and€specificity,€which€would€enable€a€more€effectiveÏfollow-up€at€the€national€level€by€all€concerned.€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€interested€personsóó€Ð P  ÐÐ ÐÔ_ÔMr.ð  ðZwaakÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔMs.ð  ðBoerefijnÔ_Ô€noted€that€recent€developments€with€respect€to€the€adoption€ofÏcountry-based€concluding€observations€had€strengthened€the€reporting€procedure€as€a€method€ofÏsupervision,€particularly€as€it€allowed€for€follow-up€measures€at€both€the€national€and€internationalÏlevels.€Follow-up€to€the€recommendations€of€treaty€bodies€needed€to€be€more€solidly€imbedded€inÏthe€practice€of€treaty€bodies€and€States.€Especially€when€the€reporting€cycle€was€relatively€long,Ïadditional€measures€needed€to€be€taken€by€the€treaty€bodies€to€monitor€compliance€withÏrecommendations.€This€could€be€done,€for€example,€by€requesting€a€short€interim€report€on€theÏmeasures€taken,€comparable€to€the€Human€Rights€Committee's€practice€with€the€follow-up€of€viewsÏunder€the€Optional€Protocol.€Domestic€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€were€also€provided€with€an€important€tool€to€holdÏGovernments€accountable€for€non-compliance€with€treaty€obligations€and€they€would€be€moreÏinclined€to€take€part€in€the€reporting€procedure€if€there€were€a€tangible€outcome.€Ð ÐÐ ÐMr.€Ô_ÔZwaakÔ_Ô€and€Ms.€Ô_ÔBoerefijnÔ_Ô€noted€that€concluding€observations€dealt€with€violations€of€treatyÏobligations,€concerns€as€well€as€positive€aspects,€and€suggestions€and€recommendations.€In€so€doing,Ïthe€treaty€bodies€kept€intact€an€important€feature€of€the€reporting€procedure,€the€constructiveÏcharacter,€while€adding€a€new€component,€namely€expressions€of€concern€by€the€treaty€body€as€aÏwhole.€It€was€of€great€importance€that€the€concluding€observations€be€widely€published€and€madeÏaccessible€by€the€States€parties€concerned€in€domestic€languages€and€distributed€to€the€relevantÏnational€authorities.€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€could€also€play€a€role€in€this€respect.€They€fully€agreed€with€theÏrecommendation€of€the€independent€expert€for€concluding€observations€to€be€detailed,€accurate€andÏcomprehensive.€Ð ÐÐ ÐMr.€O'Flaherty€noted€the€need€for€development€of€effective€methodologies€for€follow-up€ofÏconcluding€observations.€One€issue€which€could€be€addressed€in€this€context€is€that€of€the€mannerÏin€which€the€programming€of€technical€cooperation€activities€could€be€better€linked€to€the€contentÏand€implementation€of€concluding€observations.€In€that€regard,€he€believed€it€would€be€helpful€toÏassess€the€evolving€experience€of€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€and€UNICEF.òòÔ4‚NeϺ ÔÝ‚pÍOÝÔÿÔòòÝ  ÝÔ5  Ôò òòŽòóŽóó óÔ6o]ÔÝ‚pÍOƒ]p&ÀÝóóÔÿÔÝ  ÝÔ7ppº ±]ÔóóÐ @)$' ÐÐ ÐN.€òòOther€issuesóó€Ð  +p&) ÐÐ ÐA€number€of€responses€raised€issues€that€were€not€the€subject€of€recommendations€in€the€final€reportÏof€the€independent€expert.€Those€views€are€summarized€in€this€section.€Ð ð-@), ÐÐ Ð1.€òòThe€role€of€non-governmental€organizationsóó€Ð  ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€non-governmental€organizationsóó€Ð €Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Group€for€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€emphasized€the€need€to€developÏmethods€for€sound€national€monitoring€in€order€to€provide€the€strongest€possible€basis€for€effectiveÏinternational€monitoring.€Although€the€primary€responsibility€for€implementation€of€the€humanÏrights€treaties€rested€with€Governments,€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€had€a€significant€role€to€play€in€monitoring€the€extentÏto€which€compliance€was€being€achieved.€In€order€to€fulfil€this€role,€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€had€to€become€partnersÏin€the€monitoring€process€from€the€beginning.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Group€outlined€how€a€role€for€non-governmental€organizations€in€the€reporting€processÏhad€slowly€emerged.€Reports€were€often€prepared€at€the€national€level€by€one€or€more€civil€servants,Ïnormally€in€the€Ministry€of€Foreign€Affairs,€with€little€or€no€consultation€with€other€governmentÏoffices€or€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€directly€implicated€in€the€implementation€of€the€relevant€treaty.€Civil€society€wasÏusually€not€informed€when€reports€were€scheduled€for€consideration€by€a€treaty€body,€when€they€hadÏbeen€examined€or€when€conclusions€had€been€adopted.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Group€for€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€noted€that€the€Committee€on€theÏRights€of€the€Child€had€considerably€involved€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€in€the€reporting€and€monitoring€process,€whichÏhad€been€beneficial€to€both€the€Committee€and€to€the€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€community.€The€positive€relationshipÏbetween€this€Committee€and€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€benefited€from€the€support€of€the€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Group€for€theÏConvention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child.€The€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Group€aimed€at€facilitating€the€flow€of€informationÏbetween€the€Committee€and€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€as€well€as€promoting€full€implementation€of€the€Convention.€AtÏa€time€when€the€level€of€servicing€for€the€treaty€bodies€was€limited€and€the€workload€of€the€treatyÏbodies€was€growing,€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€cooperation€with€the€treaty€bodies€should€relieve€pressure€from€theÏSecretariat€and€not€add€to€its€work.€For€example,€the€request€of€the€Committee€on€Economic,€SocialÏand€Cultural€Rights€to€send€copies€of€reports€pending€consideration€to€a€range€of€national€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€inÏeach€State€party€would€place€an€undue€burden€on€the€Secretariat.€Ð ÐÐ ÐA€primary€concern€of€all€treaty€bodies€was€how€to€ensure€that€the€information€before€them€wasÏreliable€and€objective.€The€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Group€had€promoted€the€development€of€national€coalitions€ofÏÔ_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€working€with€children€which€reflected€the€full€range€of€issues€raised€by€the€Convention.€WithÏthe€specialist€knowledge€of€its€members€and€the€diversity€of€perspectives€that€were€brought€together,Ïcoalitions€enabled€more€effective€monitoring€of€the€Convention€at€the€national€level.€WhileÏadmittedly€in€need€of€refinement,€the€cooperation€achieved€between€the€Committee€on€the€RightsÏof€the€Child€and€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€could€nevertheless€serve€as€a€model€to€other€treaty€bodies.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Inter-Church€Committee€for€Refugees€expressed€strong€support€for€preserving€the€role€whichÏnon-governmental€organizations€had€been€allowed€to€play€by€submitting€information€in€respect€ofÏthe€State€reporting€process.€It€raised€concerns€for€the€way€in€which€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€information€could€beÏabused€and€suggested,€for€example,€that€if€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€information€was€repudiated€by€a€Government,€theÏÔ_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€should€have€an€opportunity€to€defend€itself.€In€addition€to€such€technical€adjustments€inÏprocedures,€ways€must€be€found€to€engage€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€in€a€meaningful€way€around€issues€of€commonÐ ð-@), Ðconcern€to€them€and€to€treaty€body€experts.€In€this€regard,€the€Inter-Church€Committee€for€RefugeesÏsuggested€that€a€worldwide€consultation€process€of€treaty€body€members€and€staff€and€with€domesticÏas€well€as€international€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€could€be€held€on€topics€of€current€international€concern.€TheÏÔ_ÔPARINACÔ_Ô€(Ô_ÔPARtnershipÔ_Ô€IN€Ô_ÔACtionÔ_Ô)€project€of€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€was€a€successful€example€of€such€anÏapproach.€The€Inter-Church€Committee€for€Refugees€further€suggested€that€a€general€hearing€beÏorganized€on€a€country-,€region-€or€issue-specific€basis€to€enable€treaty€bodies€and€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€to€shareÏinsights€and€information.€The€Inter-Church€Committee€for€Refugees€had€participated€in€a€GeneralÏHearing€of€the€Inter-American€Commission€on€Human€Rights€on€a€country,€in€which€theÏGovernment€concerned€was€invited€to€participate.€Such€activities€could€prove€useful€to€treaty€bodiesÏin€the€preparation€of€general€comments.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Inter-Church€Committee€for€Refugees€pointed€out€that€domestic€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€had€a€role€to€play€inÏencouraging€States€to€assume€their€responsibilities€to€promote€treaty€rights€at€the€domestic€level.ÏDomestic€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€should€therefore€be€used€as€a€medium€for€promoting€treaty€rights€in€a€State€party.ÏThe€establishment€of€an€independent€domestic€agency€to€promote€and€articulate€rights€andÏjurisprudence€credibly€among€relevant€professional€groups€in€the€country,€including€civil€servants,Ïlawyers€and€judges,€would€also€be€helpful.€A€national€human€rights€commission€or€Ô_ÔombudspersonÔ_ÔÏthat€conformed€to€the€Principles€relating€to€the€status€of€national€institutions€("Paris€Principles")Ïcould€be€an€attractive€way€for€States€to€promote€treaty€rights.€Such€institutions€should€complementÏand€draw€on€the€work€of€domestic€human€rights€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Grand€Council€of€the€Crees€(of€Quebec)€expressed€concern€regarding€the€process€of€examiningÏState€reports,€which€did€not€allow€for€indigenous€peoples€in€those€countries€or€other€groupsÏmentioned€in€them€to€review€the€contents€of€the€reports€before€they€were€submitted€to€the€UnitedÏNations.€The€Grand€Council€of€the€Crees€proposed€that€countries€sending€periodic€reports€on€theÏimplementation€of€human€rights€instruments€be€advised€to€review€the€contents€of€those€reports€withÏthe€concerned€parties,€including€organizations€for€women,€indigenous€peoples,€etc.,€and€that€theirÏcomments€be€reflected€in€the€content€of€the€reports.€The€secretariats€of€the€treaty€bodies€should€makeÏspecial€efforts€to€hear€from€concerned€groups€when€reports€were€examined.€In€that€way,€the€reportingÏprocess€would€better€serve€its€original€purpose:€to€determine€to€what€extent€the€instruments€are€beingÏrespected€and€to€correct€problems€where€identified.€At€present,€the€submission€of€reports€is€nothingÏbut€an€exercise€of€States€in€self-praise€and€obfuscation.€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€interested€personsóó€Ð  #ð! ÐÐ ÐMr.€Ô_ÔZwaakÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔMs.ð  ðBoerefijnÔ_Ô€suggested€that€States€parties€should€be€encouraged€to€make€availableÏtheir€reports€to€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€immediately€after€submission€to€the€Secretary-General,€so€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€would€haveÏample€time€to€prepare€their€comments.€It€would€encourage€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€if€the€treaty€bodies€would€makeÏit€clear€that€they€use€information€submitted€by€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô.€As€it€was€often€not€clear€which€informationÏwas€actually€used€by€members,€it€would€be€worthwhile€if€the€treaty€bodies€would€include€a€list€ofÏÔ_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€reports€they€had€received€and/or€consulted€during€the€examination€of€State€reports.€The€currentÏopenness€of€the€treaty€bodies€towards€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô,€while€warmly€welcomed,€could€be€further€expanded.ÏÔ_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€also€had€an€important€role€to€play€in€the€reporting€procedure.€However,€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€must€maintainÏtheir€distance€from€the€Government.€They€should€not€be€involved€in€drafting€the€State€party's€report;Ïthat€must€remain€entirely€a€government€responsibility.€Ð ð-@), ÐÐ ÐÔ_ÔMr.ð  ðO'FlahertyÔ_Ô€noted€that€the€role€of€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô€was€adverted€to€in€the€interim€report€of€the€independentÏexpert€but€not€dealt€with€in€his€final€report.€It€would€be€useful€to€clarify€the€continuing€advancesÏmade€in€the€practice€of€treaty€bodies,€such€as€the€development€of€excellent€and€Ô_ÔparadigmicÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_ÔÏsupport€for€the€work€of€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child,€and€to€revisit€the€question€ofÏwhether€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€access€to€the€treaty€body€system€should€be€regulated.€Ð ÐÐ Ð2.€òòOther€commentsóó€Ð @  ÐÐ ÐòòGeneral€commentsóó€Ð  p  ÐÐ ÐThe€Australian€Government€noted€that€little€attention€was€paid€in€the€report€to€the€communicationsÏprocedures,€despite€the€importance€of€these€procedures€and€the€increasing€communications€workloadÏof€the€Human€Rights€Committee,€the€Committee€against€Torture€and€the€Committee€on€theÏElimination€of€Racial€Discrimination,€as€well€as€the€proposals€for€optional€protocols€to€provide€forÏindividual€communications€procedures€under€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€andÏCultural€Rights€and€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€againstÏWomen.€The€decisions€of€treaty€bodies€in€respect€of€individual€communications€could€be€improved.ÏOften,€issues€raised€in€a€communication€were€dealt€with€in€a€cursory€fashion€or€not€at€all€and,€onÏoccasion,€little€reasoning€or€justification€was€advanced€for€a€particular€view€reached€by€a€committee.ÏThe€lack€of€adequate€reasoning€or€justification€made€it€difficult€for€States€parties€to€review€theirÏindividual€laws€and€practices.€The€Australian€Government€welcomed€the€efforts€of€committees€withÏindividual€communications€procedures€to€improve€their€working€methods.€It€also€sought€to€pursueÏfurther€reform€proposals€of€the€procedures€through€direct€dialogue€with€the€committees€concerned.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Australia€also€stated€that€adequate€resources€were€essential€if€the€human€rightsÏtreaty€body€system€is€to€function€effectively€and€if€improvements€are€to€be€made€to€the€treaty€bodies'Ïexisting€procedures€and€practices.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Canada€considered€that€any€significant€overhaul€of€the€treaty€body€systemÏshould€be€accompanied€by€a€commitment€on€the€part€of€the€treaty€bodies€to€adopt€more€flexible€andÏefficient€working€methods.€Areas€which€Canada€considered€worthwhile€pursuing€included:€Ð ÐÐ Ð(a)€Expanded€use€of€working€groups€or€chambers,€to€enable€each€treaty€body€to€hold€parallelÏsessions;€Ð ÐÐ Ð(b)€Ô_ÔFocusingÔ_Ô€the€list€of€questions€circulated€to€each€State€party€in€advance€of€presentation€of€itsÏreport€-€at€present,€the€lists€were€cumbersome€and€ineffective,€and€few€of€the€questions€posed€couldÏbe€dealt€with€during€the€presentation;€Ð ÐÐ Ð(c)€Adoption€of€guidelines€on€time-saving€practices,€such€as€those€suggested€in€the€report€of€theÏeighth€meeting€of€persons€chairing€the€human€rights€treaty€bodies;€and€Ð ÐÐ Ð(d)€Increased€coordination€between€treaty€bodies,€to€ensure€that€when€a€specific€situation€wasÏconsidered€by€more€than€one€treaty€body,€successive€discussions€of€the€issue€were€complementaryÐ ð-@), Ðand€mutually€reinforcing.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Israel€noted€that€on€occasion€the€treaty€bodies€offered€interpretations€of€theÏvarious€conventions€that€were€at€odds€with€those€of€States€parties.€These€differences€of€opinion€oftenÏrelated€to€questions€of€scope€and€competency,€but€they€could€also€involve€points€of€principle,Ïfrequently€with€far-reaching€implications.€The€treaty€bodies€tended€to€interpret€the€conventions€inÏa€self-interested€way.€With€regard€to€the€present€method€of€considering€reports,€the€Government€ofÏIsrael€would€recommend€that€the€practice€adopted€by€some€treaty€bodies€of€providing€States€withÏa€detailed€list€of€questions€well€before€the€consideration€of€their€reports€should€be€adopted€by€all€theÏtreaty€bodies.€Ð ÐÐ ÐòòComments€by€interested€personsóó€Ð P  ÐÐ ÐMr.€O'Flaherty€raised€several€matters€that€were€not€dealt€with€in€the€final€report€of€the€independentÏexpert€but€which€might€benefit€from€further€examination,€òòinter€aliaóó,€the€fundamental€issue€of€whetherÐ Ð  Ðthe€treaty€bodies€were€actually€effective€in€bringing€about€improvements€in€the€protection€of€humanÏrights€-€an€evaluation€of€this€aspect€of€their€performance€must€precede€any€profound€reflection€onÏtheir€future€direction.€A€systematic€overview€was€urgently€required.€Second,€on€the€role€of€theÏUnited€Nations€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights,€there€seemed€to€be€a€lack€of€concertedÏreflection€on€the€implications€for€treaty€body€practice€of€the€nature€of€the€mandate€of€the€HighÏCommissioner.€While€there€were€many€references€to€the€need€for€cooperation,€these€were€not€locatedÏwithin€the€fundamentally€changed€environment€which€had€emerged€subsequent€to€the€publicationÏof€the€interim€report.€Third,€the€process€by€which€members€were€elected€to€serve€on€treaty€bodiesÏwas€unsatisfactory€and€led€to€the€not€infrequent€appointment€of€unsuitable€experts.€In€addition,€theÏmeetings€of€chairpersons€were€a€potentially€useful€but€underdeveloped€channel€of€communication.ÏAmong€the€issues€which€should€be€considered€is€the€extent€to€which€recommendations€emanatingÏfrom€the€meetings€were€actually€implemented.€Fifth€it€would€be€valuable€to€reflect€on€theÏappropriateness€of€the€preliminary€decision€of€the€Preparatory€Committee€on€the€Establishment€ofÏan€International€Criminal€Court€to€exclude€from€the€jurisdiction€of€the€proposed€new€Court€humanÏrights€treaty-based€crimes,€such€as€those€deriving€from€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€OtherÏCruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment.€The€drafting€process€of€the€Courts€StatuteÏalso€raised€familiar€problems€of€human€rights€treaty-related€issues€being€determined€without€inputÏfrom€the€treaty€bodies€themselves.òòÐ °"  ÐóóÐ ÐòòNotesóó€Ð $à" ÐÐ Ð1.€Not€including€three€countries€from€the€1994€programme€that€also€participated€in€the€1995Ïprogramme.€The€total€number€of€participating€countries€in€1995€was€31.òòóóÐ `'°"% ÐÐ Ð2.€Not€including€eight€countries€from€the€1994€or€1995€programmes€that€also€participated€in€the€1996Ïprogramme.€The€total€number€of€participating€countries€in€1995€was€21.òòóóÐ 0*€%( Ð3.€Not€including€19€countries€from€the€1994,€1995€or€1996€programmes€that€also€participated€in€oneÏof€the€1997€programmes.€The€total€number€of€participating€countries€in€1995€was€45.òòÐ ,`'* ÐÌññÐ  À-), ÐññññÌññóóÔUSCE.,ÔE/CN.4/1998/85/Corr.1Ð ° Ð4€February€1998ÌÌÐ Ðò òCOMMISSION€ON€HUMAN€RIGHTS€ó óÐ pÀ Ðò òFifty-fourth€session€ó óÐ ` ° ÐÐ ÐÐ йÓ  Óò òEFFECTIVE€FUNCTIONING€OF€BODIES€ESTABLISHEDó óÐ  p  Ðò òPURSUANT€TO€THE€UNITED€NATIONSó óÐ `  Ðò òHUMAN€RIGHTS€INSTRUMENTSó óÐ P  ÐÐ Ðò ò€ó óÐ à0  Ðò òòòReport€of€the€Secretary-General€ó óóóÐ Ð  ÐÌò òòòCorrigendumóóó óÐ ° ÐòòóóÓ  ÓÐ Ð"Under€section€F€"Public€information",€in€the€subsection€entitled€"comments€by€theÏSecretary-General",€please€replace€paragraph€56€by€the€following€three€paragraphs€renumbered€56,Ï56€òòÔ_ÔbisÔ_Ôóó€and€56€òòteróó.€Ð pÀ ÐÐ Ð"56.€With€respect€to€print€materials€issued€by€the€Department€of€Public€Information,€DPI€should€beÏallowed€a€certain€autonomy€in€the€production€of€its€print€materials€as€these€are€not€for€the€record.ÏThey€are€produced€primarily€to€create€awareness€and€understanding€of€the€human€rights€work€of€theÏÔ_ÔUnitedð  ðNationsÔ_Ô,€including€the€work€of€the€treaty€bodies,€and€to€generate€media€interest€in€coveringÏit.€Materials€produced€by€DPI€on€the€work€of€the€treaty€bodies,€such€as€special€press€releases,Ïnormally€feature€articles€or€background€material€and€highlight€the€meeting's€main€issues€orÏrecommendations.€In€this€regard,€the€secretariat€of€the€treaty€body€and€DPI€staff€should€cooperateÏto€identify€specific€issues€that€might€provide€journalists€with€information€on€which€they€could€baseÏstories.€Such€information€would€have€greater€impact€if€it€is€communicated€to€the€press€in€advanceÏand€not€after€the€meeting€has€taken€place.€DPI€press€releases€are€useful€to€the€media€but€are€mainlyÏproduced€for€delegations,€staff€and€others.€At€New€York€and€Geneva,€press€conferences€and€mediaÏoutreach€to€national,€regional€and€international€press€are€also€an€important€aspect€of€promoting€theÏwork€of€the€treaty€bodies.€Ð ÐÐ Ð"56€òòÔ_ÔbisÔ_Ôóó.€The€Secretary-General€notes€the€suggestion€that€a€public€information€budget€be€madeÐ p&À!$ Ðavailable€to€support€grass-roots€initiatives€designed€to€disseminate€information€about€the€treatyÏbodies€in€culturally€appropriate€and€more€popular€formats€and€media€and€agrees€that€the€challengeÏis€in€the€implementation€at€the€grass-roots€level.€A€pro-active€strategy,€in€promoting€the€work€of€theÏtreaty€bodies€in€the€field€is€used€by€relevant€United€Nations€Information€Ô_ÔCentresÔ_Ô€(Ô_ÔUNICsÔ_Ô)€when€theÏreport€of€a€State€party€is€submitted€to€a€treaty€body.€Ô_ÔUNICsÔ_Ô€generate€interest€in€the€national€mediaÏand€in€grass-roots€organizations€by€disseminating€information€about€the€work€of€treaty€bodiesÏthrough€briefings,€press€conferences,€organization€of€interviews€and€meetings€with€grass-rootsÏorganizations.€Ð ð-@), ÐÐ Ð"56€òòteróó.€Additional€effort€has€been€made€in€recent€years€to€engage€the€attention€of€Ô_ÔUNICsÔ_Ô€to€promoteÐ  ð Ðthe€work€of€the€treaty€bodies.€This€includes,€when€the€report€of€a€State€party€comes€before€a€treatyÏbody,€ensuring€that€the€relevant€Ô_ÔUNICÔ_Ô€receives€a€copy€of€the€report,€following€up€with€press€releasesÏon€specific€meetings€of€the€relevant€treaty€body€and€transmitting€to€the€Ô_ÔUNICÔ_Ô€the€concludingÏobservations€adopted€on€the€report.€The€success€of€this€strategy€has€depended€on€a€number€of€factors.ÏThe€first€is€the€capacity€of€the€Ô_ÔUNICÔ_Ô€to€respond€to€the€additional€workload€and€the€receptiveness€ofÏthe€local€media€to€such€information.€A€second€factor€is€the€relevance€and€interest€of€the€proceedingsÏin€the€treaty€body.€Another€is€the€quality€of€the€concluding€observations.€While€the€results€have€beenÏmixed,€in€a€number€of€instances,€Ô_ÔUNICsÔ_Ô€have€been€able€to€generate€considerable€local€interest€in€theÏproceedings€of€treaty€bodies€relating€to€the€countries€in€which€they€are€situated."€ÔCE.,US.,ÔòòÐ `  ÐóóÌÌÌññÌññññÌññññÐ  Ð  Ðñññ ñÌñ ñÔUSCE.,ÔE/CN.4/1998/85/Add.1Ð Ðñ ñÝ‚rJBLÝÔ€X¾'XXXÔÝ  Ýñ ñ16€March€1998ñ ñÝ‚rJBL ³ardsÝÔ€X¿¿XXX¾'ÔÝ  Ýñ ñÌñ ñÝ‚rJBLÝÔ€X¾'XXXÔÝ  ÝÝ‚rJBLɳardsÝÔ€X¿¿XXX¾'ÔÝ  Ýñ ññ ñÝ‚rJBLÝÔ€X¾'XXX¿¿ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚rJBLE´ardsÝÔ€X¿¿XXX¾'ÔÝ  Ýñ ñÌñ ñÓ  Óñ ñÐ Ðò òCOMMISSION€ON€HUMAN€RIGHTS€Ð pÀ ÐFifty-fourth€session€ó óÐ ` ° ÐÐ ÐÐ Ðñ ñ¹Ó<°Óñ ñÓ  Óò òEFFECTIVE€FUNCTIONING€OF€BODIES€ESTABLISHEDÐ  p  ÐPURSUANT€TO€THE€UNITED€NATIONSÐ ÐHUMAN€RIGHTS€INSTRUMENTSó óÐ P  Ðò ò€ó óÐ ð@  ÐÐ Ðò òòòReport€of€the€Secretary-Generalóó€ó óÐ Ð  ÐÐ Ðò òÐ ÐòòAddendumóó€ó óÐ  ð ÐÐ ÐÌÓ  ÓÓ  ÓThe€present€addendum€contains€comments€by€the€Governments€of€New€Zealand€and€Sweden€on€theÏreport€of€the€independent€expert€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€on€enhancing€the€functioningÏof€the€United€Nations€human€rights€treaty€system€(E/CN.4/1997/74)€which€were€received€subsequentÏto€the€publication€of€the€main€report.Ð ÐÐ ÐA.€òòTowards€universal€ratificationóó€Ð  p ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€New€Zealand€expressed€strong€support€for€the€goal€of€universal€ratification€ofÏthe€six€core€human€rights€treaties.€It€concurred€with€the€finding€of€the€independent€expert€that€theÏadministrative€burden€of€acceding€to€and€reporting€under€the€treaties,€as€well€as€associated€resourceÏimplications,€could€present€a€barrier€to€ratification€for€many€States.€It€therefore€endorsed€theÏrecommendations€of€the€independent€expert€on€measures€to€assist€States€in€developing€the€capacityÏto€ratify€the€core€treaties,€including€the€development€of€improved€technical€cooperation€Ô_ÔprogrammesÔ_ÔÏand€the€involvement€of€the€specialized€agencies€in€providing€advisory€services.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Sweden€drew€attention€to€the€fact€that€the€aim€of€achieving€universal€ratificationÏof€the€six€core€treaties€had€been€frequently€affirmed,€including€at€the€1993€World€Conference€onÏHuman€Rights.€It€agreed€that€concrete€measures€aimed€at€encouraging€and€facilitating€ratificationÏof€the€treaties€were€needed,€òòinter€aliaóó,€by€providing€technical€cooperation.Ð P( #& ÐÐ ÐB.€òòThe€problem€of€significantly€overdue€reportsóó€Ð 0*€%( ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€New€Zealand€agreed€with€the€assessment€that€reporting€obligations€representedÏa€substantial€burden,€particularly€for€States€that€had€ratified€all€six€of€the€core€treaties€and€on€smallÏand€developing€States.€It€considered€it€important€that€adequate€advisory€services€and€technicalÐ ð-@), Ðcooperation€be€made€available€to€such€States,€particularly€when€reports€were€overdue,€and€welcomedÏthe€suggestion€that€the€Office€of€the€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€provide€specialÏassistance€to€developing€countries€with€a€population€of€less€than€1€million,€including€with€theÏprocess€of€ratification€and€the€preparation€of€initial€reports.€The€Government€of€New€ZealandÏexpressed€support,€as€a€short-term€measure€when€reports€were€excessively€overdue,€for€theÏpossibility€that€States€might€be€examined€in€the€absence€of€a€report,€as€was€the€practice€with€someÏtreaty€bodies.Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Sweden€believed€that€the€rise€in€the€number€of€overdue€reports€and€cases€ofÏnon-reporting€was€partly€due€to€the€lack€of€the€necessary€technical,€administrative€or€financialÏresources€by€many€States.€It€considered€the€possibility€of€easing€the€reporting€requirements€underÏcertain€circumstances€to€merit€further€exploration.€It€drew€attention€to€the€option€of€eliminatingÏcomprehensive€periodic€reports€in€their€present€form€and€replacing€them,€under€certainÏcircumstances,€by€reporting€guidelines€tailored€to€each€State's€individual€situation€and€focusing€onÏcertain€human€rights€obligations€of€particular€interest.€When€a€situation€so€warrants,€the€treaty€bodiesÏcould€request€an€additional€report€from€a€State€party€to€address€questions€of€implementation€in€aÏmore€flexible€and€focused€manner.€Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Sweden€agreed€that€the€technical€cooperation€Ô_ÔprogrammeÔ_Ô€for€the€preparation€ofÏreports,€for€those€States€in€need€of€assistance,€should€be€accorded€priority.€In€cases€of€non-reporting,ÏSweden€stressed€that€it€found€unacceptable€the€possibility€that€some€States€escaped€scrutiny€by€notÏfulfilling€their€reporting€obligations,€while€those€that€were€conscientious€were€held€to€account.€ItÏtherefore€agreed€that€all€treaty€bodies€should€develop€a€practice€whereby€the€situation€in€aÏnon-reporting€State€party€could€be€examined€in€the€absence€of€a€report.Ð ÐÐ ÐD.€òòProblems€in€relation€to€documentationóó€Ð  p ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€New€Zealand€agreed€with€the€independent€expert€that€further€work€must€be€doneÏon€the€question€of€documentation.€The€Government€expressed€the€view€that€the€body€of€reportsÏshould€be€limited€to€approximatelyð  ð30€to€40€pages€and€that€States€parties€should€be€encouraged€toÏpresent€more€detailed€information,€including€relevant€statistics,€in€an€annex€to€their€reports.€InitialÏreports€could€be€excluded€from€this€limit.€The€Government€expressed€particular€support€for€theÏsuggestion€that€special€measures€should€be€adopted€to€streamline€reporting€procedures€for€Ô_Ôsmallð  ðStatesÔ_Ô.Ð ÐÐ ÐI.€òòConsolidation€of€reports€and€treaty€bodiesóó€Ð $à" ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€New€Zealand€suggested€that,€as€a€short-term€measure,€periodic€reports€shouldÏfocus€principally€on€addressing€comments€made€during€the€consideration€of€the€preceding€report,Ïas€well€as€significant€new€developments.€This€would€not€affect€the€reporting€obligations€for€initialÏreports,€which€should€continue€to€be€comprehensive.€It€invited€treaty€bodies€to€provide€guidance€onÏthe€issues€that€they€wished€to€see€reflected€in€the€next€periodic€report.€While€this€could€be€reflectedÏin€its€concluding€observations,€additional€guidance€would€be€useful€to€ensure€that€the€issues€of€mostÏinterest€are€addressed€as€a€priority.€The€Government€indicated€that€its€delegations€would€seek€suchÏguidance€in€the€future.Ð ÐÐ ð-@), ÐAs€another€short-term€measure,€the€Government€of€New€Zealand€suggested€that€the€harmonizationÏof€reporting€dates€and€cycles€for€States€parties€to€a€number€of€treaties€could€assist€in€theÏidentification€and€elimination€of€duplication€of€effort.€This€might€enable€a€more€comprehensiveÏpicture€of€the€human€rights€environment€in€a€particular€State€to€be€presented.€It€could€beÏaccompanied€by€the€development€of€a€thorough€system€of€cross-referencing€of€information€providedÏin€reports,€a€more€comprehensive€core€document,€or€consolidation€in€one€document€of€informationÏcommon€to€a€number€of€reports.€The€Government€considered€a€useful€model€for€other€treaty€bodiesÏthe€practice€of€the€Committee€of€the€Rights€of€the€Child€of€allowing€reports€to€address€commonÏthemes€by€clusters€of€related€articles.Ð ÐÐ ÐWhile€it€therefore€considered€some€degree€of€consolidation€in€national€reporting€to€be€desirable,€theÏGovernment€of€New€Zealand€expressed€concern€that€the€consolidation€of€reports€due€under€all€theÏtreaties€would€make€it€difficult€to€ensure€a€meaningful€review€of€the€provisions€of€individual€treaties.ÏSimilarly,€in€examining€the€possibility€of€consolidating€the€treaty€bodies€into€one,€it€considered€thatÏthe€ability€of€one€body€to€address€effectively€the€wide€range€of€human€rights€issues€covered€by€theÏcore€treaties€should€be€a€primary€consideration.€The€Government€expressed€support€for€theÏrecommendation€that€a€small€expert€group€meeting€be€convened€to€examine€the€modalities€forÏfurther€reforms€of€the€treaty€system,€including€possibilities€for€consolidation€of€the€treaty€bodies.Ð ÐÐ ÐJ.€òòAmending€the€treatiesóó€Ð €Ð ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€New€Zealand€agreed€that€more€flexible€amendment€procedures€for€proceduralÏelements€of€the€six€treaties€were€required€to€enable€the€treaty€bodies€to€respond€to€the€need€for€reform.Ð ÐÐ ÐM.€òòThe€quality€of€concluding€observationsóó€Ð 0€ ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Sweden€expressed€the€view€that€treaty€bodies€must€strive€to€further€improve€theÏquality€of€their€concluding€observations.€Concluding€observations€should€be€formulated€so€as€to€beÏdetailed,€accurate€and€comprehensive:€if€they€are€not,€the€treaty€bodies€risk€losing€credibility€and€theÏpolitical€will€to€have€them€implemented€will€diminish.Ð ÐÐ ÐN.€òòOther€issuesóó€Ð À! ÐÐ ÐThe€Government€of€Sweden€expressed€deep€concern€at€the€high€number€of€communications€thatÏwere€pending€examination€by€the€treaty€bodies.€It€considered€that€an€increase€of€staff€composed€ofÏexperienced€skillful€lawyers€within€the€Office€of€the€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€wasÏnecessary€to€remedy€the€situation.¹Óp²ÓÔCE.,US.,X®Ô€