Non-Reporting States
1. Does the Secretariat send a letter of reminder to non-reporting states annually?
2. Does the Committee itself send a letter of reminder to non-reporting states?
3. Has the committee ever reviewed a state party in the absence of a report?
4. Do states parties send representatives when their situation is taken up in the absence of a report?
5. Does the committee consider the submission of a report satisfies a state’s reporting obligation if more than one report is overdue at the time of submission?
6. If a report is considered that was very overdue (or at the time of consideration, in theory, there was more than one overdue report or a next report due very soon) does the committee continue to require the next report be submitted in the near future?
Focussed Reports
7. Does the Committee require reports to address all dimensions and provisions of the treaty in relation to the state party, or only a limited sub-set of treaty provisions?
Consolidated Reporting
8. Does the Committee permit reports which cross-reference material provided by the state party in reports to other treaty bodies?
Inadequate Reports
9. Are major inadequacies in reports drawn to the state party’s attention by the secretariat at the time of receipt in an effort to have it improved before publication?
Special Reports
10. Does the Committee ever request special or exceptional reports?
11. If yes, when has this happened?
12. If yes, are there stated criteria applied in making these requests?
13. If exceptional reports are submitted are they given a UN symbol number and published?
14. If exceptional reports are submitted, are they scheduled and considered through a dialogue similar to regular reports with the committee?
15. If exceptional reports are not submitted, has the situation been scheduled for consideration in the absence of the report?
Order of considering reports
16. Are country reports dealt with in chronological order?
17. If the committee reviews a state party in the absence of a report, does it consider such states in an order indicated only by the length of time reports are overdue?
18. If special reports are requested and submitted, are they dealt with by altering the order of regular reports and considered as soon as they come in?
19. If following the consideration of a report additional information is requested in advance of the next report, and it is submitted, and furthermore it is considered by the committee in a dialogue with the state party in advance of the next report which is due (as opposed to being considered at the time of the next report), is it dealt with by altering the order of regular reports and considered as soon as it comes in?
20. Do states which are scheduled for examination drop out and refuse to come?
21. If so, will the committee insist on the examination in the states’ absence?
The timing of the consideration of individual communications
22. Does the committee consider cases in the order in which they are submitted?
23. How much of the committee’s time is devoted to the consideration of individual communications?
Pre-sessional Working Groups
24. Is there a pre-sessional working group?
25. How many members does the working group have?
26. How are members of the working group selected?
27. Does the pre-sessional working group meet, before or after the session?
28. How many months in advance of the scheduled dialogue with a specific state party, does the working group meet to consider the report of that state party?
29. What are the responsibilities of the pre-sessional working group?
In session working groups or sub-committees
30. Are there ad-hoc working groups or sub-committees during the committee session?
31. How many members does the working group(s)/sub-committees have?
32. How are members of the working group(s)/sub-committees selected?
33. Do they meet outside session hours?
34. What are their responsibilities?
Special Rapporteur on New Communications
35. What are the responsibilities of the special rapporteur on new communications?
Special Rapporteur on Follow-up to Individual Communications
36. What are the responsibilities of the Special Rapporteur on Follow-up to Individual Communications?
Country Rapporteurs
37. Are country rapporteurs appointed for state reports?
38. What is the role of the country rapporteur?
39. Are the country rapporteurs known publicly?
40. How are country rapporteurs selected?
List of Issues
41. Is a list of issues prepared in advance of the dialogue for the state party?
42. How is the list of issues prepared?
43. Are the list of issues published as a UN document, or put on line?
44. Are the list of issues published or put on line prior to the dialogue?
45. When the secretariat sends the list of issues to the respective permanent missions, are written answers requested?
46. Is a deadline given for receipt of written answers prior to the dialogue?
47. How often are written answers submitted?
48. Are written answers to the list of issues published as a UN document or put on line?
Country Information
49. Does the secretariat prepare a country profile or summary for the committee?
50. In preparing the country profile what information does the secretariat consider/consult?
51. How long is the country profile?
52. When is the country profile provided to the committee members?
53. Does the secretariat provide committee members with additional information to the country profile? If so, what information? When?
54. Is the committee (country rapporteur, working group, committee as a whole) briefed orally by OHCHR desk officers?
Core Documents
55. Are the core documents made available to the committee?
56. Has the secretariat found these documents to be useful?
NGOs
57. Does the committee hear from NGOs orally?
58. When do most NGOs address the committee or working group?
59. Does the committee pre-select NGOs who are permitted to speak?
60. Are the meetings with NGOs open?
61. Are states given everything submitted and used by the Committee from NGOs?
62. Does the secretariat distribute NGO reports to members?
63. When does the secretariat distribute NGO reports to members?
64. Does the secretariat screen the material received from NGOs prior to distribution to Committee members?
65. Does the Committee solicit NGO input?
66. From which NGOs does the Committee solicit input?
UN Agencies relationship
67. Does the working group meet with representatives of UN agencies?
68. What agencies brief the working group?
69. Is the session with UN agencies at the working group, open or closed?
70. Does the committee meet with representatives of UN agencies?
71. What agencies brief the committee?
72. Is the session with UN agencies at the committee, open or closed?
73. Do UN agencies make written submissions to the committee?
Relationship with special mechanisms
74. Is the committee briefed with respect to country situations by any of the special mechanisms of the UN Commission on Human Rights?
75. Do the special mechanisms of the UN CHR come to the committee on any other occasion?
Dialogue Schedule
76. Is the state party’s initial presentation a general introduction? Or the answers to the list of issues? Or the answers to a limited list of questions/issues?
77. Is there a time limit on the state party’s initial presentation?
78. In the opening round of questions, is the country rapporteur first called upon to ask questions, or any committee member who first seeks the floor?
79. Is there sufficient time for rounds of questions and answers?
80. Are Committee members’ questions limited to the list of issues?
81. How frequently do states say they will answer subsequent to the dialogue?
82. Are the meetings with the state party consecutive?
Concluding Observations
83. How are concluding observations drafted?
84. Are the concluding observations discussed and adopted in closed session?
85. When does the government get the concluding observations? In advance? Do they see a draft?
86. Are concluding observations released on the last day of the session?
87. Is any specific effort made by the committee/secretariat to send them to NGOs which submitted information at the national level?
88. Are written government comments on concluding observations published?
Reservations
89. Does the committee discuss any reservations with the state party?
90. Does the existence of reservations in fact inhibit/limit questioning by members?
91. Do states in practice refuse to answer questions on the basis of the existence of reservations?
92. Do the existence of reservations limit concluding observations?
93. Does the committee state its views as to whether or not a reservation is incompatible with the object and purpose of the treaty?
Follow-up on requests for additional information
94. Is additional information (not a new report) ever requested by the Committee during the dialogue?
95. Is a deadline set for the receipt of additional information?
96. If additional information is requested prior to the next report, is it usually submitted?
97. If additional information is requested and submitted, is it given a UN symbol/published?
98. Is there a formal process for the committee to consider the additional information before the next report?
99. Has the committee ever considered the additional information submitted before the next report?
100. Has the committee ever scheduled the consideration of the issue which was the subject of the request for additional information in the absence of the submission of the additional information?
101. Is the additional information reviewed when the state reports next?
Visits to state parties
102. Do Committee members make site visits to states parties as part of official committee business?
103. If the visit was official, by what authority?
104. If so, at what stage in the proceedings has the Committee made a visit to a state party?
105. Do Committee members make visits to state parties in an unofficial/individual capacity, but relating their visits to committee interests?
General Recommendations/Comments
106. Can any member propose a topic for a general comment?
107. Are topics proposed for a general comment by a member always taken up by the committee?
108. How much time is dedicated to the drafting of general comments annually?
109. How and by whom are General Comments/Recommendations drafted?
110. Are General Comments/Recommendations adopted in closed or open meetings?
111. Are external sources consulted in the course of drafting General Comments/Recommendations?
112. How long does the process of the production of a General Comment take?
Media
113. Does the committee or its members meet with the press?
114. Are there ad-hoc interviews with the press during the session?
115. Does the Committee write press releases itself?
116. Does the Committee hold a press conference/information meeting for members of the public?
Chairpersons’ meeting
117. Have the conclusions been of benefit to your committee?
118. Has the committee changed its practices in light of the meeting of chairpersons?
Role of Chairperson
119. Is the Chair elected?
120. Is the Chair selected through geographic rotation?
Members’ Performance
121. Are there practices for dealing with the non-appearance of Committee members?
122. Is there a great deal of variability of the involvement of Committee members in the tasks of the committee?
123. Are there rules/guidelines re: independence of committee members?
Languages
124. What are the working languages of the committee?
Comparative Summary of Working Methods of All Committees - 2001
Non-Reporting States
1. Does the Secretariat send a letter of reminder to non-reporting states annually?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
yes |
Human Rights Committee |
yes |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
yes |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
yes |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
yes |
2. Does the Committee itself send a letter of reminder to non-reporting states?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
yes, to all states parties annually. |
Human Rights Committee |
yes, with respect to states which committee believes warrant additional reminder. |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
not yet determined |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
no, (a committee document is prepared for each session which lists those states with reports overdue more than five years) |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
no |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
no |
3. Has the committee ever reviewed a state party in the absence of a report?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
yes, (the practice has varied with the Chair of the committee; generally states with reports overdue by five years have been placed on a list and a document prepared indicating these states parties, and those states have been considered; however, some Chairs have listed fewer state parties, and states on the list are not automatically considered and have avoided review by promising the submission of a report.) (Afghanistan (twice), Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas (twice), Barbados, Botswana (twice), Burkina Faso (twice), Cameroon, Cape Verde (twice), Central African Republic (twice), Chad, Cote d’Ivoire (twice), Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Fiji (twice), Gabon, Gambia (twice), Guinea (twice), Guyana, Haiti, Jordan, Lao PDR (twice), Lebanon, Lesotho (twice), Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique (twice), Nepal, Papua New Guinea (twice), Rwanda, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines (twice), Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone (twice), Solomon Islands (twice), Somalia (twice), Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo (twice), Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Zaire (Congo) (twice)) |
Human Rights Committee |
no, (will begin practice in the year 2001) |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes (Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Mauritius, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Solomon Islands) |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
no |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
no |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
no |
.
4. Do states parties send representatives when their situation is taken up in the absence of a report?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
occasionally, usually not. |
Human Rights Committee |
n/a |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes, about half the time. |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
n/a |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
n/a |
5. Does the committee consider the submission of a report satisfies a state’s reporting obligation if more than one report is overdue at the time of submission?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
yes, accepts combined reports. |
Human Rights Committee |
in practice yes; (the committee will set the date for the next report at the time a submitted report is considered. The number of years set as the due date for the next report will vary (but will be in the range of 4-5 years). As of November 2000, the Committee will uniformly ask each state party upon consideration of a report to produce another focussed, follow-up report in a shorter time frame (perhaps 18 months) and if it is submitted and satisfactory, a date will be given for the next report which is many years hence (perhaps 8-10 years). If the focussed, follow-up report is not submitted, then the time set for the next report when the submitted report was considered will govern.) |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
in practice yes; (the committee will not insist on all outstanding reports being submitted; the committee will set the date for submission of the next report upon consideration of an incoming report; that date will be shorter if the incoming report was long overdue) |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
yes, accepts combined reports. |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
in practice yes; (if a report comes in they set a new date for the submission of the next report following the submitted reports’ consideration.) |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
in practice yes. (When a first report is submitted (even if it post-dates the due date for the second or subsequent reports) it is labelled the initial report, and subsequent reports submitted can be combined (that is they will be labelled the second periodic report plus however many reports are overdue upon submission).) |
6. If a report is considered that was very overdue (or at the time of consideration, in theory, there was more than one overdue report or a next report due very soon) does the committee continue to require the next report be submitted in the near future?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
no |
Human Rights Committee |
no, (the committee will now uniformly request the early production of a focussed, follow-up report after the consideration of a report (and if submitted and satisfactory will allow the lapse of a long period before requiring the next report).) |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
no, (The date for submission of the next report is set at the time of consideration of the incoming report. That date will be between 3 and 5 years from the time of consideration, taking into account specific factors, namely: (1) the timeliness of the state party report, (2) the quality of the constructive dialogue between the committee and the state party,(3) the quality of all information submitted by the state party, (4) the adequacy of the state party’s response to the previous concluding observations, (5) the state party’s actual record in practice with respect to the implementation of the Convention.) |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
no |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
no, (The date is set for submission of the next report in the concluding observations, and if there are outstanding reports in theory/the report was long overdue, then it is set for somewhat a shorter period of time than the rule of procedure’s usual time frame of 4 years.) |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
no. (An initial report submitted late will still be labelled “initial” regardless if it is submitted after the due date of the second or subsequent periodic reports, and the state is permitted to combine the second and subsequent reports. This means that in practice the due date will be some distance from the consideration of the initial report.) |
Focussed Reports
7. Does the Committee require reports to address all dimensions and provisions of the treaty in relation to the state party, or only a limited sub-set of treaty provisions?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
all provisions, alternating comprehensive and updating reports (exercising discretion in determining whether a comprehensive report justifies the subsequent submission of a brief updating report) |
Human Rights Committee |
the reporting guidelines for states parties indicate that they should begin a subsequent report with an account of their response to the prior concluding observations; they also indicate that states should “focus on the issues” identified in those concluding observations; at the same time, subsequent reports should still incorporate reference to fundamental changes affecting Covenant rights over the reporting period; a recent change in Committee practice adds to this description of the periodic report, a call for the production of an early “follow-up” report which would specifically set out the steps taken to meet the Committee’s observations |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
all provisions; the reporting guidelines indicate that with respect to specific articles subsequent reports should focus on a short review of changes during the reporting period |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
all provisions, focussing on the period of time since the last report, but including information on matters raised by the Committee which could not be dealt with at the time when the previous report was considered |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
all provisions, focussing on the period of time since the last report and changes occurring during the reporting period, as well as including information on measures taken to follow-up prior concluding observations |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
all provisions, focussing on changes, new measures, developments case law since the submission of the previous report; states should specifically include in subsequent reports information on measures taken to comply with prior concluding observations |
Consolidated Reporting
8. Does the Committee permit reports which cross-reference material provided by the state party in reports to other treaty bodies?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
no comment |
Human Rights Committee |
yes, the Committee’s practice says that states parties “may include the substance of parts of reports to another Treaty Body, on condition that they are linked to the specific requirements of the Covenant and to the Committee’s General Comments, and are up-to-date” |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes, the Committee’s guidelines say with reference to a specific number of articles that relevant material submitted to the UN or a specialized agency may be made in lieu of repeating information in the report |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
no comment |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
no comment |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
no comment |
Inadequate Reports
9. Are major inadequacies in reports drawn to the state party’s attention by the secretariat at the time of receipt in an effort to have it improved before publication?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
no, (except to advise a state that some elements should properly be put in a CORE report (which states usually then do).) |
Human Rights Committee |
no |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
yes, (secretariat has informal discussions about improving report before production (has been successful).) |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
yes, (in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, states have been asked to resubmit in accordance with the guidelines, (sometimes a report has been resubmitted, sometimes not).) |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
no |
Special Reports
10. Does the Committee ever request special or exceptional reports?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
yes |
Human Rights Committee |
yes |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes, (The committee has not called the report a “special” report. But the committee has engaged in exceptional requests. (a) The Committee has specifically requested of a state party prior to its submission of a report, on the basis of new information received, that an issue be addressed in the forthcoming report. (b) The Committee has specifically requested of a state party in the middle of a cycle, when no report is overdue, that specific information or a specific issue be addressed in the context of the next report. (c) The Committee has requested that additional information be submitted following the consideration of a report and has exceptionally scheduled the consideration of such information or the issue (whether or not the information was submitted) prior to the receipt of the next report. These instances appear below under “follow-up on requests for additional information”.) |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
yes |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
yes |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
no |
11. If yes, when has this happened?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Israel, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). In addition the committee has considered, as part of its “urgent action” procedure: Liberia, Russian Federation, Sudan, Algeria (the Committee requested an overdue report on an “expedited” basis in the case of Russian Federation and Algeria, and took special decisions calling for specific actions in the case of Liberia and Sudan). |
Human Rights Committee |
Albania, Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Croatia, Haiti, Iraq, Nigeria, Peru, Rwanda, United Kingdom (Hong Kong), Yugoslavia (Serbia Montenegro) |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
Israel; specific information was requested to be included in an initial report (ie. not on the basis of prior concluding observations), and a request made for the prompt submission of the report (overdue 1 year, 10 months). Canada; the Committee requested by letter in the middle of a reporting cycle that a specific issue be addressed in the next report; when the report became overdue this was followed by further requests to address the issue in the report. (See also requests for additional information as follow-up.) (Prior to December 1999, this Committee did not have transparent procedures in situations which it wished to treat in an exceptional manner, and special requests sometimes took the form of private correspondence between the previous Chair and states parties, rather than published decisions of the committee.) |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), Croatia, Rwanda, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Bosnia |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
Israel |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
n/a |
12. If yes, are there stated criteria applied in making these requests?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
Not in the rules of procedure; criteria stated in a working paper generally as: “the lack of an adequate basis for defining and criminalizing all forms of racial discrimination..., inadequate implementation of enforcement mechanisms..., a pattern of escalating racial hatred and violence, or racist propaganda or appeals to racial intolerance..., a significant pattern of racial discrimination evidenced in social or economic indicators, significant flows of refugees or displaced persons resulting from a pattern of racial discrimination...; the presence of a serious, massive or persistent pattern of racial discrimination, or the situation is serious and there is a risk of further racial discrimination.” |
Human Rights Committee |
no, (It depends on the proclivities of the Committee and lobbying by individual members with respect to specific situations.) |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
no, (The Committee’s decision has depended on information received by the Committee from external sources and the Committee’s proclivities.) |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
yes, (Criteria was formally adopted and stated in 1999 annual report as (a) there should be reliable and adequate information indicating grave or systematic violation of women’s human rights, and (b) such violations are those that are gender-based or directed at women because of their sex.) |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
no, (Request for other reports are authorized by the Covenant article 19(1). In the only case to date committee members read about a court decision in the newspaper when the committee was meeting, and was under media attention at the time.) |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
n/a |
13. If exceptional reports are submitted are they given a UN symbol number and published?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
yes |
Human Rights Committee |
yes |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
yes |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
yes |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
n/a |
14. If exceptional reports are submitted, are they scheduled and considered through a dialogue similar to regular reports with the committee?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
generally yes (one meeting, shorter if no state representative present) |
Human Rights Committee |
yes |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
dealt with in manner similar to initial reports, not dealt with by pre-sessional working group, no list of issues, one-two meetings |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
yes |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
n/a |
15. If exceptional reports are not submitted, has the situation been scheduled for consideration in the absence of the report?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
Yes, Burundi, Rwanda, Papua New Guinea. |
Human Rights Committee |
no |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
Yes, in the case of Israel. (March 2001 session) |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
no |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
n/a |
Order of considering reports
16. Are country reports dealt with in chronological order?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
usually, (In principle, but political preferences of committee members have resulted in reports being taken out of order. Still, lack of a backlog means every report submitted is scheduled for consideration within 6-12 months.) |
Human Rights Committee |
yes, in general. (The interests of Committee members can change the order, and reports can be brought forward for consideration.) |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
no, (Reports have been taken out of order when the committee has received much information from NGOs and the reports were overdue and the matter was urgent in the Committee’s view.) |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
no, (selection made in order to have spread of initial and periodic reports and geographic balance, taking into account the date of the submission of the report). |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
yes, in general; (sometimes reports are brought forward for consideration where there is a special reason to consider it (in the Committee’s view), or reports are set aside for a later date if a delegation is not ready to present. But since committee only plans one a half sessions in advance and does not have much of a backlog, generally take in order of submission.) |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
yes, in the sense that reports are not moved forward or up in the queue for an urgent situation. However, the committee considers at one session 7 initial reports and 2 periodic reports, and within each category reports are taken chronologically. |
17. If the committee reviews a state party in the absence of a report, does it consider such states in an order indicated only by the length of time reports are overdue?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
no, criteria include length of time overdue, whether a CERD member has volunteered to be the country rapporteur, priority given to states never considered by CERD. |
Human Rights Committee |
n/a |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
no, (The Committee selects countries on the basis of geographic balance.) |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
n/a |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
n/a |
18. If special reports are requested and submitted, are they dealt with by altering the order of regular reports and considered as soon as they come in?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
yes, (Given a priority for consideration; deadline set for submission is short and considered when they come in (or situation is considered anyway if no report)) |
Human Rights Committee |
yes, in general. (The Committee would try to bring the report forward by putting it on reserve for the next session, since the backlog of already scheduled reports is approximately 1.5 years.) |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
yes |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
yes |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
n/a |
19. If following the consideration of a report additional information is requested in advance of the next report, and it is submitted, and furthermore it is considered by the committee in a dialogue with the state party in advance of the next report which is due (as opposed to being considered at the time of the next report), is it dealt with by altering the order of regular reports and considered as soon as it comes in?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
n/a it is not considered |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
normally additional information is not considered by the committee separately from the next report; exceptions are Colombia, France, Jamaica, Jordan, Panama, Philippines, Zaire |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
n/a |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a; it is not considered |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
n/a; it is not considered. |
20. Do states which are scheduled for examination drop out and refuse to come?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
occasionally, not often |
Human Rights Committee |
yes, sufficiently often to interfere with constructive use of committee’s time |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes, sufficiently often to interfere with constructive use of committee’s time |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
last minute drop-outs are rare; about one state per session selected for consideration asks in advance to postpone consideration, the committee pre-selects back-up states which it then substitutes |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
occasionally, not often |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
no, (does not happen because UNICEF helps state to attend, they will even support costs of the delegation’s attendance; so UNICEF helps to avoid last minute drop-outs) |
21. If so, will the committee insist on the examination in the states’ absence?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
no |
Human Rights Committee |
yes, starting March 2001 |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
no |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
no |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
n/a |
The timing of the consideration of individual communications
22. Does the committee consider cases in the order in which they are submitted?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
yes |
Human Rights Committee |
no. (Cases may take differing lengths of time to be “ready” for decision, that is until all the submissions from the author and the state party are in. Also, if admissibility and merits are severed the case will take longer. From the time cases are ready for decision, the committee also does not take cases in the order in which they are submitted. It will take into account: (a) how long the case has been ready (b) whether the matter appears to be more urgent, that is: (i) death row is always fast-tracked, (ii) all cases in which an interim measure was requested are given priority, (iii) people in detention get priority, (iv) older people get priority.) |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
n/a |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
n/a |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
yes, unless interim measures are involved |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
n/a |
23. How much of the committee’s time is devoted to the consideration of individual communications?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
10% of meeting time (this includes the 2-3 hours spent during the session by a working group on communications) |
Human Rights Committee |
30-35% of meeting time |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
n/a |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
n/a |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
20% of meeting time |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
n/a |
Pre-sessional Working Groups
24. Is there a pre-sessional working group?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
no |
Human Rights Committee |
yes, (there are two pre-sessional working groups if sufficient members come.) |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
yes |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
no |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
yes |
25. How many members does the working group have?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
At least five are required for the working group on communications. If an additional 3 or more members come, the group will be split into two, and those over and above 5 will do state reports. |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
five |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
three-four |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
approximately eight |
26. How are members of the working group selected?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
volunteer |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
one is selected from each of the five regional groups within the committee by the group members. |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
regional group representation |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
volunteer |
27. Does the pre-sessional working group meet, before or after the session?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
before |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
after |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
after |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
after |
28. How many months in advance of the scheduled dialogue with a specific state party, does the working group meet to consider the report of that state party?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
one session before - that is 4 months |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
one session before - currently 3 months. |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
one session before - that is 5 months |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
one session before - that is 3 months |
29. What are the responsibilities of the pre-sessional working group?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
a) considers the admissibility of cases - adopts decisions finding a case to be admissible (where unanimous become final; if not unanimous case goes to the Committee) - makes recommendations to the Committee on inadmissibility (unless Special Rapporteur has decided to send a recommendation of inadmissibility directly to the Committee) b) can order interim measures c) considers the merits of cases and makes recommendations If there are 8 members or more, than the working group will split into 5 and 3 and a second group will do the following (if not the following is done by the one working group): a) adopts list of issues b) considers general comments |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
a) draft list of issues (each member acts as a country rapporteur for one state report) b) look over additional information submitted and decide whether to take up c) make recommendations re: working methods other (ad-hoc) |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
adopts list of issues |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
a) adopts list of issues b) informal review of state report with NGOs and with UN agencies |
In session working groups or sub-committees
30. Are there ad-hoc working groups or sub-committees during the committee session?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
yes |
Human Rights Committee |
yes |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
yes (though at the moment it is actually a “working group of the whole”; previously there were two in-session working groups) |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
very rarely, one occasion |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
yes |
31. How many members does the working group(s)/sub-committees have?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
between 3-7 members |
Human Rights Committee |
ad-hoc |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
ad-hoc |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
everyone - 23 |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
ad-hoc |
32. How are members of the working group(s)/sub-committees selected?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
volunteer, Chair appoints a convener of the working group |
Human Rights Committee |
volunteer |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
one member is asked to take responsibility for its creation and the rest volunteer. |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
all members are expected to attend |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
volunteer |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
volunteer, but also expertise |
33. Do they meet outside session hours?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
yes |
Human Rights Committee |
yes |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
no |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
yes |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
no |
34. What are their responsibilities?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
ad-hoc (e.g. informal working group on communications; contribution to world conference; drafting recent general recommendation) |
Human Rights Committee |
ad-hoc (e.g. International Law Commission Task Force on reservations, Working Methods, World Conference on Racism) |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
ad-hoc (e.g. have worked on general comments, and working methods) |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
ways and means - procedural questions; Article 21 - general recommendations and specialized agencies |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
drafting general comment |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
ad-hoc (e.g. one was media; and there is another informal working group (with outside persons) on disabilities) |
Special Rapporteur on New Communications
35. What are the responsibilities of the special rapporteur on new communications?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
a) whether to register a case or not b) whether to recommend directly to the Committee (without going through the working group) that a registered case should be found inadmissible c) if a case is not sent directly to the Committee with a recommendation from the Special Rapporteur that it be found inadmissible, then the Special Rapporteur transmits the case to the state party for submissions on admissibility and merits d) if the state party requests that the admissibility decision and the merits decision be severed or considered separately by the Committee, the Special Rapporteur decides whether to sever the two issues e) prior to the decision on admissibility whether to ask for interim measures |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
n/a |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
n/a |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
n/a |
Special Rapporteur on Follow-up to Individual Communications
36. What are the responsibilities of the Special Rapporteur on Follow-up to Individual Communications?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
a) recommends to the committee to conduct meetings with state parties in light of the information received (or not) following the 90-day period given to states to provide a remedy in cases of a decision finding a violation b) holding meetings with selected states parties in the cases of a failure to provide a remedy c) reporting to the committee on the follow-up meetings with state parties d) recommending to the committee any further activities after the follow-up meetings e) responsibility for the substance of the follow-up portion of the committees annual reports. |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
n/a |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
n/a |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
n/a |
Country Rapporteurs
37. Are country rapporteurs appointed for state reports?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
yes |
Human Rights Committee |
yes |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
yes |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
yes |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
yes |
38. What is the role of the country rapporteur?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
(a) makes evaluation of state report and information received from other sources (b) is first member of the committee to comment on state report by making opening comments and asking first questions (c) is responsible, with the assistance of the secretariat, for drafting the concluding observations |
Human Rights Committee |
(a) first draft of the list of issues (b) first draft of the concluding observations |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
(a) first draft of the list of issues (b) first draft of the concluding observations |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
(a) collect background information on state (b) in a closed meeting for approximately 15 minutes, just prior to the dialogue with the state party, introduce to the committee the background information/situation of the state and the major issues (c) speak first following the state party’s introduction (d) sometimes sum up at the end of the dialogue (e) first draft of the concluding observations with the assistance of the secretariat (does not do first draft of list of issues) |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
(a) study report and other material on state party (b) given the lead to ask questions in dialogue (c) do first draft of concluding observations |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
(a) together with the secretariat, produces first draft of the list of issues (b) the first draft of the concluding observations. |
39. Are the country rapporteurs known publicly?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
yes |
Human Rights Committee |
no |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
no |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
yes |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
yes, (if asked will provide their professional address, fax and email number) |
40. How are country rapporteurs selected?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
volunteer (some members never volunteer) |
Human Rights Committee |
volunteer |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
country rapporteurs are members of the pre-sessional working group, and within that group volunteer. |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
usually volunteer, (Bureau suggests names; Rapporteurs usually come from same region or speak language), occasionally Chair unilaterally selects |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
volunteer, take into account linguistic ability |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
volunteer |
List of Issues
41. Is a list of issues prepared in advance of the dialogue for the state party?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
no |
Human Rights Committee |
yes |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
yes for periodic reports, no for initial reports |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
no |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
yes |
42. How is the list of issues prepared?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
(a) secretariat draft (b) sent to country rapporteur (country rapporteur responsible for getting comments of colleagues) (c) discussed and finalized in working group |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
(a) draft prepared by country rapporteur with help of the secretariat (b) draft is discussed by the working group (c) adopted by the working group |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
(a) secretariat and country rapporteur suggest draft questions, (based on the suggestions of the country rapporteur, notes by the secretariat, and issues left over from the previous dialogue) (b) reviewed and amended by Committee in the working group (c) adopted by the working group |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
(a) draft by secretariat (b) country rapporteur then works on the list (c) the list is then considered by the working group (d) adopted by the working group |
43. Are the list of issues published as a UN document, or put on line?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
yes |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
no |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
yes |
44. Are the list of issues published or put on line prior to the dialogue?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
yes |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes (approximately one month before) |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
no |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
no, (they are available to the public through the secretariat about a month after they are adopted, and on line after the dialogue) |
45. When the secretariat sends the list of issues to the respective permanent missions, are written answers requested?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
no |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
yes |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
yes with respect to some questions/issues and not others. |
46. Is a deadline given for receipt of written answers prior to the dialogue?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
n/a |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes, three months in advance of the meeting where considered (adopted one-two sessions prior to the dialogue) |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
yes, one month from receipt of request/list (adopted one session before the dialogue) |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
yes, two months in advance of the meeting (adopted one session before the dialogue) |
47. How often are written answers submitted?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
n/a |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
more than 50% of the time |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
50% of the time |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
80% of the time |
48. Are written answers to the list of issues published as a UN document or put on line?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
n/a |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
generally no, (They will only be put on line in a very limited number of circumstances where they are given to the Committee in electronic form.) |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
no |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
n/a |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
no. (They are given to the NGO-CRC group and they in turn send it to national level NGOs, and they are available upon request; they are put on the web if they are given to the secretariat on disk, and are put up only in the original language.) |
Country Information
49. Does the secretariat prepare a country profile or summary for the committee?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
no |
Human Rights Committee |
yes, for periodic reports only |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
no |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
yes |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
yes |
50. In preparing the country profile what information does the secretariat consider/consult?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
- previous concluding observations of the Committee - previous report of state party |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
- information from desk officers - other treaty bodies’ concluding observations - country profiles of CRC - thematic and country rapporteur reports - all country-specific resolutions of UN bodies and specialized agencies on state concerned - relevant annual reports and country reports of UN bodies or specialized agencies - annual human rights reports of NGOs - annual human rights reports of governments - NGO shadow reports - academic publications |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
n/a |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
- information from desk officers - other treaty bodies’ concluding observations: - country profiles of CRC - thematic and country rapporteur reports when relevant (focus on Reports of Special Rapporteur on Torture, Arbitrary Executions, Independence of Justice, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and Working Group on Disappearances) - information from OHCHR in field on internal data base - all country-specific resolutions of UN bodies and specialized agencies on state concerned - relevant annual reports and country reports of UN bodies or specialized agencies when relevant, primarily reports of UNHCR - annual human rights reports of NGOs - annual human rights reports of governments - some national country data bases - regional international organizations primarily Council of Europe and OAS; reports of the European Committee on the Prevention of Torture - NGO shadow reports - academic publications |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
- information from desk officers - other treaty bodies’ concluding observations, summary records, country profiles - thematic and country rapporteur reports - information from OHCHR in field usually through the desk officer - all country-specific resolutions of UN bodies and specialized agencies on state concerned - relevant annual reports and country reports of UN bodies or specialized agencies (UNICEF, WHO, ILO, UNHCR, UNESCO, UNAID); UNHCR prepares written submission to the working group and hence is not incorporated at the time the country profile is written - regional data bases, such as Council of Europe - many web sites with country specific information: eg. universities, UN agencies etc. - annual human rights reports of NGOs - annual human rights reports of governments - NGO shadow reports - academic publications |
51. How long is the country profile?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
8-10 pages |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
approximately 15 pages |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
n/a |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
approximately 15-20 pages |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
approximately 25-30 pages, (country profile has two parts; first is a general human rights component; idea was to situate UNICEF’s work in general human rights context and to allow other treaty bodies to use it) |
52. When is the country profile provided to the committee members?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
n/a |
Human Rights Committee |
(a) country rapporteur: when get to working group meeting (b) working group: when get to working group meeting (c) rest of committee members: at the committee session |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
(a) country rapporteur: one session in advance of working group meeting (2 sessions in advance of committee meeting) (b) working group: one session in advance of committee meeting (c) rest of committee members: at the session at which the report is considered |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
n/a |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
(a) country rapporteur: 3-4 weeks in advance of committee meeting is mailed to country rapporteur (b) working group: n/a (c) rest of committee members: at the session at which the report is considered |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
(a) country rapporteur: usually when get to working group, mailed in advance of the working group if requested (usually is not requested) (b) working group: usually when get to working group, mailed in advance upon request, usually is not requested) (c) rest of committee members: at the session at which the report is considered |
53. Does the secretariat provide committee members with additional information to the country profile? If so, what information? When?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
(a) no country profile is prepared (b) mailed to all committee members six weeks in advance of meeting is the state report, previous report of state, CORE document (c) the following information is gathered in unedited form for members (the country rapporteur receives this six weeks in advance of the meeting; the rest of the committee members receive it at the time of the meeting (the UN material is provided in their individual files, other material is in a country file in the meeting room)): - summary records of last consideration of state party by the committee - desk officers are notified of meeting, submit information in writing occasionally - other treaty bodies’ concluding observations, country profiles of CRC - thematic and country rapporteur reports - all country-specific resolutions of UN bodies and specialized agencies on state concerned - relevant annual reports and country reports of UN bodies or specialized agencies - NGO material (CERD does not solicit information from NGOs; secretariat will put before the Committee NGO material sent in on the NGOs’ initiative, reports of Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, and other annual NGO reports, country reports of the European Commission on Racism; NGO (ARIS) provides the committee with other information (eg. World Directory on Minorities and World Report on Anti-Semitism)) - ARIS also prepares a list of documents they have available and committee members can ask for copies from them |
Human Rights Committee |
(a) mailed to all committee members in advance of the meeting as they become available are the state report, CORE document, list of issues, NGO materials if received in advance (usually are not) (b) mailed to the country rapporteur about two months in advance of the pre-sessional meeting are: the summary records and concluding observations of the last session of the committee on that state, the concluding observations of other committees, NGO material received in advance (most is not) and supplied in 20 copies for all members; the state report goes out to all members as it is received (c) members of the working group are most likely to receive material additional to the state report at the time they arrive at the pre-sessional meeting (d) in a country file in the room at the time of the session is: - information from desk officers - other treaty bodies’ concluding observations: - thematic and country rapporteur reports - relevant annual reports and country reports of UN bodies or specialized agencies - occasionally UNDP reports - annual human rights reports of NGOs - annual human rights reports of governments - NGO shadow reports (also included are most Annexes to state reports (whatever language they are in; they are normally not translated)) |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
(a) given to members of working group while in Geneva (one session in advance of working group meeting) is the state report, CORE document, country profile (b) mailed to all committee members as soon as they are published are the state reports (as well as all other committee documentation), list of issues, written replies if received (but rarely are), NGO submissions if received in advance (NGOs are advised by the secretariat to send their reports directly to the members) (c) in a country file in the room at the time of the session is everything else that has been gathered. |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
(a) no country profile is prepared (b) mailed to all committee members one month before the session is the state report, list of issues, written replies to list of issues (if submitted), concluding observations of other treaty bodies (c) mailed to the country rapporteur and to members of the working group about 2.5 months before the pre-session meeting is the state report, information on other treaty bodies conclusions, thematic mechanism information, reservations on CEDAW by the state, ratification and reporting profile, list of suggested questions, NGO material which has come in (state reports may be sent earlier, when available) (d) the following information is gathered in an unedited form for members and placed in a country file at the time of the session (information primarily drawn from UN database and UN reports): - other treaty bodies’ concluding observations - thematic and country rapporteur reports - information from OHCHR in field which is on UN database - all country-specific resolutions of UN bodies and specialized agencies on state concerned on UN database - relevant annual reports and country reports of UN bodies or specialized agencies on UN database - NGO information submitted |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
(a) mailed to all committee members 3-4 weeks in advance of the session is the state report, CORE document, previous reports from same country; NGO material if well-structured and sent sufficiently in advance (usually NGO material is not received far enough in advance); NGOs also have the addresses of most committee members and some send them material in advance directly (b) in a country file in the room at the time of the session is everything else that has been gathered; this includes most NGO material (which is often received at the last moment); a list of material received and available in the file is provided to each member |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
(a) available to Committee members by mail if requested in advance of the session - but usually not requested, so is in country file in room at the time of the working group during the working group meeting, and at the time of the session for non-working group members: UNICEF’s situation analysis (done by UNICEF for each state) every 3 years or so; NGO-CRC Group report (b) in a country file in the room at the time of the session is everything that has been gathered, about 115 different documents |
54. Is the committee (country rapporteur, working group, committee as a whole) briefed orally by OHCHR desk officers?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CERD) |
no, (sometimes they provide information in writing) |
Human Rights Committee |
yes, working group, (sometimes there is also continuing informal interaction between desk officer and the country rapporteur) |
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee |
yes, working group |
Women’s Discrimination Committee (CEDAW) |
no |
Committee Against Torture (CAT) |
no, (there is informal interaction; desk officers occasionally (not as a matter of routine) brief the country rapporteurs) |
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) |
desk officers brief the working group (desk officers are contacted by the secretariat 2-3 months before the working group, desk officers contact the field offices, collect information, and prepare a 3-10 page memo for the committee - or will put on paper their briefing notes for the working group) |
Core Documents
55. Are the core documents made available to the committee?
Racial Discrimination Committee (CER |