ÿWPC\ ÷Gž[÷iG[ÓnQeÛrùòÁžDý9o¥O3÷àIªêcÀÿ‘Tiríne¸q¢—VvÉôâqyeÿúxß­;J!ýVò”É–¯„*ÄÀ ·óI!= Ù/{µ1Ïm>IÈ‘fÚJD8ˆ±É2WÜýŒ>ZA¸ TkcàÙ&/* £± ¶ XV§õ‡€­î˜¯;c›‹3µšØtˆ[“OS]ô4 âUèæMÜîÍ¿·`ùðñQM!gú4~ËQjY£›™{zŒ4Iq‡R±×ò²Éèíç÷ô'?à‘ͳ!‚½ã¡±µ*I-PóÏŸ½²%Ÿi/Ÿ•vqõ2Ê#Ðtòæp?bø ÎÛs¦þRêbBžGzA™p$ÍC8§ñäOÀ­ã•ÿ¨eur iõsÔÞÒƒ]ƾŠñ¦ 0Ä 0ÛÉ 0ؤ 0Õ| 0ÒQ 0Ï# 0Ìò 0ɾ 0Ƈ 0ÃMMM^ w4 4C mE˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ûœ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,Ô2G+J ÿÿ0_level1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ/%4 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤/ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2D+J ÿÿ0_level2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2A+J ÿÿ0_level3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>+J ÿÿ0_level4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;+J ÿÿ0_level5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó28+J ÿÿ0_level6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó25+J ÿÿ0_level7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22+J ÿÿ0_level8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2/+J ÿÿ0_level9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2GJ ÿÿ0_levsl1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ/%4 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤/ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2DJ ÿÿ0_levsl2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2AJ ÿÿ0_levsl3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>J ÿÿ0_levsl4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;J ÿÿ0_levsl5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó28J ÿÿ0_levsl6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó25J ÿÿ0_levsl7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22J ÿÿ0_levsl8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2/J ÿÿ0_levsl9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2GJ ÿÿ0_levnl1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ/%4 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤/ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2DJ ÿÿ0_levnl2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2AJ ÿÿ0_levnl3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>J ÿÿ0_levnl4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;J ÿÿ0_levnl5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó28J ÿÿ0_levnl6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó25J ÿÿ0_levnl7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22J ÿÿ0_levnl8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2/J ÿÿ0_levnl9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý ÓŸ\.— Ñ~T. Docume0Z 3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òÔ_ÔCEDAWÔ_Ô€€Ô_ÔCEDAWÔ_Ô/C/1997/5€(1997)ó óÐ ° ÐÌÓ  ÓDistr.€GENERALÐ ˆØ ÐÌCEDAW/C/1997/5Ð `° Ð6€December€1996Ð L œ ÐÌORIGINAL:€ENGLISHÐ $ t ÐÓµÓÓ  ÓÌCOMMITTEE€ON€THE€ELIMINATION€Ô_ÔOFDISCRIMINATIONÔ_Ô€AGAINST€WOMENÐ ü L  ÐSixteenth€sessionÐ è 8  ÐNew€York,€13„31€January€1997Ð Ô$  ÐItem€8€of€the€provisional€agenda€òò*óó/Ð À  ÐÌWAYS€AND€MEANS€OF€EXPEDITING€THE€WORK€OF€THE€COMMITTEEÐ ˜è  ÐÌÓ  ÓòòReport€by€the€SecretariatóóÐ pÀ ÐÓÂÓÌòòCONTENTSóóà0 ` àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àà0p(#(#àà0Èp(#p(#àà0 È(#È(#àà0x (# (#à€€€€€€òòParagraphsóóÐH˜x(#x(# ÐÌÓ  ÓI.€€INTRODUCTION€..................................................................................................................€1€„€3Ð  p ÐÌII.€€COOPERATION€WITH€UNITED€NATIONS€BODIES€AND€SPECIALIZEDÐ øH ÐAGENCIES€.................................................................................................................................€4€„€11Ð ä4 ÐÌIII.€€COUNTRY€RAPPORTEURS€AND€CONCLUDING€COMMENTS€..............................€12€„€16Ð ¼  ÐÌIV.€€COMMITTEE€ON€THE€ELIMINATION€OF€DISCRIMINATION€AGAINSTÐ ”ä ÐWOMEN€AND€OTHER€TREATY€BODIES€..........................................................................€17€„€18Ð €Ð ÐÌV.€€COMMITTEE€ON€THE€ELIMINATION€OF€DISCRIMINATION€AGAINSTÐ X ¨ ÐWOMEN€AND€THEMATIC€AND€COUNTRY„SPECIFIC€MECHANISMS€........................€19€„€22Ð D!” ÐÌVI.€€REPORTS€TO€BE€CONSIDERED€AT€UPCOMING€SESSIONS€OF€THEÐ #l! ÐCOMMITTEE€...........................................................................................................................€23€„€27Ð $X" ÐÌVII.€€THE€PRACTICE€OF€OTHER€TREATY€BODIES€IN€RELATION€TOÐ à%0!$ ÐNON„GOVERNMENTAL€ORGANIZATIONS€(DECISION€15/II)€.......................................€28€„€48€Ð Ì&"% ÐÓÓÌÌÌÌ________________________Ð h+¸&* Ðà  àòò*óó/€€Ô_ÔCEDAWÔ_Ô/C/1997/1.Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, ЇI.€€òòINTRODUCTIONóóÐ ° ÐÌ1.€€At€its€twelfth€session,€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€against€WomenÐ ˆØ Ðdecided€that€the€Secretariat€should€prepare€each€year€a€report€on€ways€and€means€of€improving€theÐ tÄ ÐCommittee's€work.€The€report€should€contain€information€that€the€Secretariat€believed€necessary€forÐ `° Ðthe€discussion€of€the€item,€arising€from€the€Secretariat's€experience€of€the€previous€year,€theÐ L œ Ðcomments€made€by€members€to€the€Secretariat,€or€developments€elsewhere€in€the€human€rightsÐ 8 ˆ Ðregime.€It€should€also€contain€a€list€of€States€parties€whose€reports€could€be€considered€at€theÐ $ t Ðsubsequent€session,€according€to€geographical€representation.€òò1óó/€€The€present€report€addresses€aÐ  ` Ðnumber€of€issues€based€on€experience€from€the€previous€year,€including€relations€between€theÐ ü L  ÐCommittee€and€specialized€agencies,€country€rapporteurs€and€concluding€comments,€the€CommitteeÐ è 8  Ðand€the€other€treaty€bodies,€the€Committee€and€thematic€and€country„specific€mechanisms€and€choiceÐ Ô$  Ðof€reports€to€be€considered€at€future€sessions€of€the€Committee.€Ð À  ÐÌ2.€€With€a€view€to€consolidating€material€in€a€single€report,€the€present€report€also€contains€anÐ ˜è  Ðanalysis€of€the€practice€of€other€human€rights€treaty€bodies€in€receiving€information€from€non„Ð „Ô  Ðgovernmental€organizations€and€the€participation€of€the€latter€in€the€meetings€of€those€bodies,€asÐ pÀ Ðrequested€by€the€Committee€at€its€fifteenth€session€in€its€decision€15/II.€òò2óó/€Ð \¬ ÐÌ3.€€Subsequent€to€the€fifteenth€session€of€the€Committee,€the€Secretary„General,€in€a€letter€dated€8Ð 4„ ÐFebruary€1996€to€the€Chairperson€of€the€Committee,€stated:€Ð  p ÐÌ"...€I€have€considerable€sympathy€with€the€considerations€which€led€the€Committee€to€propose€thatÐ øH Ðit€should€be€located€in€Geneva€and€serviced€by€the€Centre€for€Human€Rights€so€as€to€interact€moreÐ ä4 Ðclosely€with€other€human€rights€treaty€bodies.€At€the€same€time,€I€am€committed€to€ensuring€that€theÐ Ð  ÐUnited€Nations€has€a€strong,€unified€programme€for€the€advancement€of€women."€Ð ¼  ÐÌThe€Secretary„€General€pointed€out€that€the€Platform€for€Action€adopted€by€the€Fourth€WorldÐ ”ä ÐConference€on€Women€òò3óó/€concluded€that€the€substantive€servicing€of€the€Committee€should€beÐ €Ð Ðprovided€by€the€Division€for€the€Advancement€of€Women.€The€Secretary„General€expressed€fullÐ l¼ Ðappreciation€for€the€importance€of€linking€the€work€of€the€Committee€to€the€mainstream€of€humanÐ X ¨ Ðrights€activities€and€assured€the€Chairperson€and€other€members€of€the€Committee€that€renewedÐ D!” Ðefforts€would€be€made€to€ensure€close€collaboration€between€the€Division€for€the€Advancement€ofÐ 0"€  ÐWomen€and€the€Centre€for€Human€Rights,€including€with€respect€to€exchange€of€informationÐ #l! Ðbetween€the€Committee,€other€human€rights€treaty€bodies€and€the€special€rapporteurs€on€humanÐ $X" Ðrights.€The€present€report€therefore€takes€into€consideration€the€decision€that€the€servicing€of€theÐ ô$D # ÐCommittee€will€continue€to€be€provided€by€the€Division€for€the€Advancement€of€Women.€Ð à%0!$ ÐÌII.€€òòCOOPERATION€WITH€UNITED€NATIONS€BODIES€AND€SPECIALIZED€AGENCIESóóÐ ¸'#& ÐÌ4.€€Article€22€of€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€WomenÐ )à$( Ðprovides€that€the€Committee€may€invite€specialized€agencies€of€the€United€Nations€to€submit€reportsÐ |*Ì%) Ðfor€consideration€by€the€Committee€on€the€implementation€of€the€Convention€in€areas€falling€withinÐ h+¸&* Ðthe€scope€of€their€activities.€Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð5.€€In€the€light€of€the€emphasis€in€the€Beijing€Declaration€and€Platform€for€Action€on€the€girl€child,Ð ° Ðthe€Committee€recommended€at€its€fifteenth€session,€the€development€of€closer€cooperation€with€theÐ œì ÐUnited€Nations€Children's€Fund€(UNICEF),€particularly€to€achieve€the€objectives€of€the€ConventionÐ ˆØ Ðand€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child.€Ð tÄ ÐÌ6.€€At€its€fifteenth€session,€the€Committee€also€requested€the€specialized€agencies€to€continueÐ L œ Ðpresenting€to€it€reports€that€focus€on€the€implementation€of€the€Convention€in€areas€falling€withinÐ 8 ˆ Ðthe€scope€of€their€activities.€The€Committee€welcomed,€in€particular,€reports€that€refer€to€those€ofÐ $ t ÐStates€parties€currently€under€consideration.€The€Committee€also€welcomed€the€assistance€andÐ  ` Ðcooperation€of€the€specialized€agencies€in€implementing€its€mandate€under€the€Convention€and€theÐ ü L  ÐBeijing€Platform€for€Action,€as€well€as€giving€effect€to€its€general€recommendations,€and€in€theÐ è 8  Ðtranslation€and€wide€dissemination€of€the€Convention.€Ð Ô$  ÐÌ7.€€The€Committee€identified€a€list€of€subjects€to€which€it€attached€priority€following€the€PlatformÐ ¬ü  Ðfor€Action€and€the€relevant€United€Nations€agencies,€programmes€and€funds.€These€are€culturalÐ ˜è  Ðtraditions€and€stereotypes€(United€Nations€Educational,€Scientific€and€Cultural€OrganizationÐ „Ô  Ð(UNESCO));€poverty€and€structural€adjustment€programmes€(United€Nations€DevelopmentÐ pÀ ÐProgramme€(Ô_ÔUNDPÔ_Ô),€the€United€Nations€Development€Fund€for€Women,€the€Bretton€WoodsÐ \¬ Ðinstitutions€and€the€International€Fund€for€Agricultural€Development€(Ô_ÔIFADÔ_Ô));€violence€(WorldÐ H˜ ÐHealth€Organization€(WHO)€and€UNESCO);€health€(WHO€and€the€United€Nations€Population€FundÐ 4„ Ð(Ô_ÔUNFPAÔ_Ô));€employment€and€migration€(International€Labour€Organization€(ILO));€power€andÐ  p Ðdecision„making€(UNESCO€and€the€Commission€on€the€Status€of€Women);€education,€training€andÐ  \ Ðthe€mass€media€(UNESCO,€ILO€and€the€Department€of€Public€Information€of€the€Secretariat);€ruralÐ øH Ðwomen€(Food€and€Agriculture€Organization€of€the€United€Nations€(FAO)€and€Ô_ÔIFADÔ_Ô);€and€refugeeÐ ä4 Ðwomen€(Office€of€the€United€Nations€High€Commissioner€for€Refugees€(Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô)).€The€CommitteeÐ Ð  Ðalso€identified€the€International€Organization€for€Migration€(Ô_ÔIOMÔ_Ô),€an€intergovernmentalÐ ¼  Ðorganization,€in€connection€with€employment€and€migration.€òò4óó/Ð ¨ø ÐÌ8.€€Of€the€bodies€identified,€UNESCO,€WHO,€ILO€and€FAO€have€regularly€contributed€writtenÐ €Ð Ðsubmissions€to€the€Committee€since€its€inception.€Ô_ÔIFADÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔUNDPÔ_Ô,€the€United€Nations€DevelopmentÐ l¼ ÐFund€for€Women€and€Ô_ÔUNFPAÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€and€the€Bretton€Woods€institutions€have€not,€as€yet,Ð X ¨ Ðcontributed€reports€to€the€Committee.€Similarly,€Ô_ÔIOMÔ_Ô€has€yet€to€contribute€reports€to€the€Committee.Ð D!” ÐThe€Committee€may€wish€to€discuss€the€potential€contributions€to€its€work€of€the€bodies€that€it€hasÐ 0"€  Ðidentified.€It€may€wish€also€to€reflect€on€how€best€these€bodies€might€assist€the€work€of€theÐ #l! ÐCommittee,€perhaps€considering€detailed€proposals€to€guide€them€in€this€regard.€Ð $X" ÐÌ9.€€A€number€of€specialized€agencies€that€regularly€submit€reports€to€the€Committee€have€alreadyÐ à%0!$ Ðwelcomed€the€appointment€by€the€Committee€of€designated€focal€points€responsible€for€links€withÐ Ì&"% Ðthem.€As€it€agreed€at€its€fifteenth€session,€the€Committee€should€continue€to€designate€one€of€itsÐ ¸'#& Ðmembers€to€serve€as€a€focal€point€for€different€specialized€agencies€and€other€United€Nations€bodies.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐAt€the€same€time,€a€number€of€specialized€agencies€have,€over€the€past€two€years,€requested€moreÐ )à$( Ðguidance€in€relation€to€their€contributions€to€the€Committee€and,€in€particular,€how€best€to€assist€itÐ |*Ì%) Ðin€its€work.€The€Committee€might€wish€to€provide€these€bodies€with€more€detailed€suggestions€thatÐ h+¸&* Ðwill€facilitate€more€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€inputs€from€them.€Guided€input€would€not€only€assist€the€Committee€inÐ T,¤'+ Ðits€constructive€dialogue€with€reporting€States€parties,€but€could€also€provide€information€for€theÐ @-(, Ðpreparation€of€general€recommendations.€The€Committee€may€wish€to€include€suggestions€as€toÐ ° Ðlength,€content€and€focus€of€inputs.€The€Committee€might€also€wish€to€consider€how€to€provideÐ œì Ðfeedback€to€specialized€agencies€and€other€bodies€that€contribute€to€its€work.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌ10.€€The€Committee€might€also€wish€to€consider€various€ways€by€which€specialized€agencies€andÐ `° Ðother€United€Nations€entities€might€contribute€to€its€work.€A€number€of€the€other€treaty€bodies€haveÐ L œ Ðdeveloped€practices€that€allow€representatives€of€United€Nations€entities€to€participate€in€theirÐ 8 ˆ Ðsessions.€At€its€fifty„second€session,€in€October€1994,€the€Human€Rights€Committee,€the€treaty€bodyÐ $ t Ðestablished€under€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€decided€to€inviteÐ  ` Ðhenceforth€representatives€of€specialized€agencies€and€other€United€Nations€bodies€to€make€oralÐ ü L  Ðpresentations€at€the€Committee's€pre„sessional€working€group€on€article€40€of€the€Covenant€duringÐ è 8  Ðwhich€the€Human€Rights€Committee€conducts€a€preliminary€review€of€periodic€reports€which€areÐ Ô$  Ðscheduled€to€be€considered€by€the€plenary.€The€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€meets€regularlyÐ À  Ðwith€United€Nations€bodies€and€specialized€agencies.€As€well€as€submitting€relevant€information€toÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€country€files€used€by€the€pre„sessional€working€group€of€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€theÐ ˜è  ÐChild,€òò5óó/€representatives€of€United€Nations€bodies€take€part€in€the€meetings€of€the€working€group.òò6óó/Ð „Ô  ÐThis€practice€has€also€been€adopted€by€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights,Ð pÀ Ðwhich,€at€its€fourteenth€session€in€spring€1996€decided€to€invite€representatives€of€the€specializedÐ \¬ Ðagencies€to€attend€the€first€meeting€of€each€of€its€pre„sessional€working€groups€with€a€view€toÐ H˜ Ðenabling€them€to€provide€information,€in€private€session,€of€a€more€precise€and€country„specificÐ 4„ Ðnature.€òò7óó/€In€order€to€begin€this€practice,€it€directed€its€secretariat€to€inform€agencies€immediately€ofÐ  p Ðthe€countries€to€be€considered€by€its€pre„sessional€working€group€at€the€next€session.€Ð  \ ÐÌ11.€€In€revising€rules€of€procedure,€the€Committee€may€wish€to€reflect€on€sub„rules€34(2)€and€70(1)Ð ä4 Ðand€(2)€of€the€rules€of€procedure€of€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child,€which,€combined€withÐ Ð  Ðarticle€45€of€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child,€give€wide€scope€for€the€participation€ofÐ ¼  Ðspecialized€agencies€and€other€bodies€of€the€United€Nations€in€the€work€of€that€Committee.€This€hasÐ ¨ø Ðincluded€field€level€input€from€agencies,€such€as€UNICEF,€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔUNDPÔ_Ô€and€the€United€NationsÐ ”ä ÐDevelopment€Fund€for€Women,€whose€work€includes€field€operations.€Ð €Ð ÐÌIII.€€òòCOUNTRY€RAPPORTEURS€AND€CONCLUDING€COMMENTSóóÐ X ¨ ÐÌ12.€€The€sixteenth€session€of€the€Committee€will€be€the€fourth€session€at€which€the€Committee€hasÐ 0"€  Ðformulated€concluding€comments€in€respect€of€the€reports€of€States€parties.€The€practice,€introducedÐ #l! Ðby€the€Committee€to€make€its€work€more€accessible€to€government€policy€makers,€civil€servants€andÐ $X" Ðnon„governmental€organizations,€is€common€among€other€human€rights€treaty€bodies.€Ð ô$D # ÐÌ13.€€The€procedures€for€the€formulation€of€concluding€comments€are€to€be€found€in€the€report€of€theÐ Ì&"% ÐCommittee's€thirteenth€session.€òò8óó/€By€its€decision€15/III,€òò2óó/€the€Committee€agreed€to€revise€theÐ ¸'#& Ðstructure€of€its€report€to€be€more€in€line€with€those€of€other€treaty€bodies.€Dispensing€with€a€lengthyÐ ¤(ô#' Ðreporting€of€the€constructive€dialogue,€the€Committee€agreed€that€the€presentation€of€States€partiesÐ )à$( Ðreports€would€be€reflected€in€the€report€of€the€Committee€by€way€of€a€brief€summary€of€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðpresentation€of€the€State€party€concerned,€followed€by€the€Committee's€concluding€comments€andÐ h+¸&* Ðrecommendations.€Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð14.€€Increasingly,€the€Committee's€concluding€comments€have€followed€the€pattern€of€the€concludingÐ ° Ðobservations€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee€and€consist€of€five€sections:€introduction,€factors€andÐ œì Ðdifficulties€affecting€implementation€of€the€Convention,€positive€aspects,€principal€subjects€ofÐ ˆØ Ðconcern,€and€suggestions€and€recommendations.€On€average,€concluding€comments€are€three€to€fourÐ tÄ Ðpages€in€length.€The€Committee€may€wish€to€continue€to€use€this€format.€Ð `° ÐÌ15.€€The€Committee€may€also€wish€to€develop€guidelines€for€the€introductory€section€of€eachÐ 8 ˆ Ðconcluding€comment.€The€introduction€might€include€comments€on€the€nature€of€the€State€party'sÐ $ t Ðreport€and€how€far€this€report€complied€with€the€Committee's€guidelines€and€whether€statistical€orÐ  ` Ðother€data€required€by€the€Committee€featured€in€the€report.€The€introduction€might€also€be€anÐ ü L  Ðappropriate€place€to€address€the€question€of€reservations.€Insofar€as€factors€and€difficulties€affectingÐ è 8  Ðthe€implementation€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€may€wish€to€consider€whether€this€might€beÐ Ô$  Ðthe€section€of€the€comment€in€which€overarching€factors€appear.€In€the€balance€of€the€comment,€theÐ À  ÐCommittee€might€wish€to€reflect€on€whether€"positive€aspects"€and€"principal€subjects€of€concern"Ð ¬ü  Ðshould€be€consistently€structured€to€follow€the€order€of€the€articles€of€the€Convention€or€at€least€theÐ ˜è  Ðbroad€subjects€addressed€in€the€Convention€and€decide€whether€specific€articles€of€the€ConventionÐ „Ô  Ðshould€be€cited€in€the€text€of€this€part€of€the€comment.€Further,€the€Committee€may€wish€to€considerÐ pÀ Ðwhether€concluding€comments€relating€to€periodic€reports€should€address€progress€that€has€beenÐ \¬ Ðmade€since€the€presentation€of€the€last€report€and€issues€that€emerged€during€constructive€dialogueÐ H˜ Ðrelating€to€the€earlier€report€which€have€or€have€not€been€addressed€by€the€State€party.€In€this€way,Ð 4„ Ðthe€Committee€will€enhance€the€reporting€process€as€a€tool€for€progressive€development€in€StatesÐ  p Ðparties.€Ð  \ ÐÌ16.€€The€Committee€is€encouraged€to€regularize€its€practice€of€identifying€individual€members€whoÐ ä4 Ðhave€responsibility€for€drafting€concluding€comments€for€particular€countries€under€consideration.Ð Ð  ÐOne€member,€perhaps€with€another€nominated€as€a€back„up,€should€be€identified€for€each€report,€atÐ ¼  Ðthe€session€prior€to€which€the€country€will€be€considered€and€this€information€should€be€made€public.Ð ¨ø ÐDuring€the€session€when€the€report€is€being€considered,€the€designated€country€rapporteur€should€beÐ ”ä Ðencouraged€to€consult€informally€with€other€members€as€required€when€drafting€comments€for€theÐ €Ð Ðadoption€of€the€Committee€as€a€whole.Ð l¼ ÐÌIV.€€òòCOMMITTEE€ON€THE€ELIMINATION€OF€DISCRIMINATION€AGAINST€WOMEN€ANDÐ D!” ÐOTHER€TREATY€BODIESóóÐ 0"€  ÐÌ17.€€In€September€1996,€the€seventh€meeting€of€persons€chairing€the€human€rights€treaty€bodiesÐ $X" Ðrecalled€the€conclusions€made€at€their€sixth€meeting€wherein€they€recommended€that:€Ð ô$D # ÐÌà0  à"(a)€€The€treaty€bodies€shall€fully€integrate€gender€perspectives€into€their€pre„sessional€andÐ Ì&"% Ðsessional€working€methods,€including€identification€of€issues€and€preparation€of€questionsÐ ¸'#& Ðfor€country€reviews,€general€comments,€general€recommendations€and€concludingÐ ¤(ô#' Ðobservations.€In€particular,€the€treaty€bodies€should€consider€the€gender€implications€of€eachÐ )à$( Ðissue€discussed€under€each€of€the€articles€of€the€respective€instruments;€Ð|*Ì%)(#(# Ðà0  àÐ (#(# Ðà0  à"(b)€€Guidelines€for€the€preparation€of€reports€by€States€parties€should€be€amended€to€reflectÐ T,¤'+ Ðthe€necessity€of€providing€specific€information€on€the€human€rights€of€women€forÐ @-(, Ðconsideration€by€the€respective€committees;€Ð°(#(# Ðà0  àÐ (#(# Ðà0  à"Ô_Ô(cÔ_Ô)€€In€undertaking€investigative€procedures,€the€treaty€bodies€should€make€special€effortsÐ ˆØ Ðto€elicit€information€about€the€situation€of€women€in€the€area€of€inquiry;€ÐtÄ(#(# Ðà0  àÐ (#(# Ðà0  à"(d)€€Treaty€bodies€should€consistently€request€gender„Ô_ÔdisaggregatedÔ_Ô€data€from€States€partiesÐ L œ Ðand€United€Nations€specialized€agencies€and€use€the€data€in€reviewing€country€reports;€Ð8 ˆ(#(# Ðà0  àÐ (#(# Ðà0  à"(e)€€In€preparing€reports€of€the€treaty€body€sessions,€attention€should€be€paid€to€the€use€ofÐ  ` Ðgender„€inclusive€language€wherever€possible."€òò9óó/€Ðü L (#(# ÐÌ18.€€To€contribute€to€the€achievement€of€the€goals€identified€by€the€chairpersons,€the€CommitteeÐ Ô$  Ðshould€continue€the€practice€of€appointing€Committee€members,€whose€identity€should€be€madeÐ À  Ðpublic€in€the€annual€report,€to€act€as€liaisons€with€individual€treaty€bodies.€It€should€also€activelyÐ ¬ü  Ðmonitor€the€progress€made€by€each€treaty€body€towards€implementation€of€the€recommendations€ofÐ ˜è  Ðthe€chairpersons€on€the€steps€that€have€been€taken€towards€implementation,€and€the€results€of€theirÐ „Ô  Ðrecommendations,€taking€into€account€efforts€being€made€by€the€Secretariat€to€mainstream€genderÐ pÀ Ðinto€the€human€rights€regime.€Ð \¬ ÐÌV.€€òòCOMMITTEE€ON€THE€ELIMINATION€OF€DISCRIMINATION€AGAINST€WOMEN€ANDÐ 4„ ÐTHEMATIC€AND€COUNTRY„SPECIFIC€MECHANISMSóó€Ð  p ÐÌ19.€€During€1996,€some€steps€have€been€taken€to€foster€coordination€between€the€human€rightsÐ øH Ðspecial€procedures€system,€consisting€of€special€and€thematic€rapporteurs,€representatives,€expertsÐ ä4 Ðand€working€groups€and€treaty€bodies.€At€the€third€meeting€of€the€specialÐ Ð  Ðrapporteurs/representatives/experts€and€chairmen€of€working€groups€of€the€special€procedures€andÐ ¼  Ðthe€advisory€services€programme€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€(meeting€of€human€rightsÐ ¨ø Ðspecial€procedures)€in€May€1996,€òò10óó/€the€chairperson€of€the€meeting€of€the€chairpersons€of€humanÐ ”ä Ðrights€treaty€bodies€suggested€continuation€of€the€practice€of€inviting€that€chairperson€to€the€meetingÐ €Ð Ðof€human€rights€special€procedures.€She€also€suggested€that€the€chairman€of€the€meeting€of€theÐ l¼ Ðspecial€procedures€should€attend€the€chairpersons€annual€meeting€as€a€matter€of€course.€òò11óó/€At€theÐ X ¨ Ðmeeting€of€human€rights€special€procedures€it€was€regretted€that€greater€coordination€between€theÐ D!” Ðtreaty€bodies€and€the€special€procedures€had€not€occurred€and€agreed€to€move€in€that€direction.Ð 0"€  ÐSimilar€sentiments€were€expressed€during€the€seventh€chairperson's€meeting,€which€was€addressedÐ #l! Ðby€the€chairperson€of€the€third€meeting€of€special€procedures.€The€chairpersons€recommended€that,Ð $X" Ðwhere€appropriate,€the€treaty€bodies€should€take€a€more€active€role€in€supporting,€suggesting€topicsÐ ô$D # Ðfor,€and€cooperating€in€the€preparation€of€studies€by€the€Ô_ÔSubcommissionÔ_Ô€on€Prevention€ofÐ à%0!$ ÐDiscrimination€and€Protection€of€Minorities,€as€well€as€by€special€rapporteurs€and€other€expertsÐ Ì&"% Ðappointed€by€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights.€They€also€recommended€that€"special€rapporteursÐ ¸'#& Ðand€other€experts€whose€work€is€of€direct€relevance€to€the€activities€of€a€particular€treaty€body€couldÐ ¤(ô#' Ðschedule€their€visits€to€the€United€Nations€in€connection€with€the€meeting€of€the€treaty€bodiesÐ )à$( Ðconcerned€in€order€to€have€direct€cooperation€on€issues€of€mutual€concern".€òò12óó/Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ20.€€In€the€light€of€the€recommendations€of€the€meeting€of€the€persons€chairing€human€rights€treatyÐ T,¤'+ Ðbodies,€the€Committee€may€wish€to€reflect€on€ways€that€coordination€in€its€work€and€that€of€theÐ @-(, Ðspecial€procedures€might€be€achieved.€Like€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€RightsÐ ° Ðat€its€fourteenth€session,€the€Committee€may€wish€to€suggest€that€the€United€Nations€HighÐ œì ÐCommissioner€for€Human€Rights€invite€the€Committee€to€nominate€one€of€its€members€to€participateÐ ˆØ Ðin€the€next€meeting€of€the€special€procedures.€The€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€CulturalÐ tÄ ÐRights€felt€that€it€would€be€very€useful€on€both€sides€if€a€discussion€could€take€place€as€to€the€mostÐ `° Ðappropriate€and€productive€means€by€which€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€could€be€reflectedÐ L œ Ðin€the€work€of€the€different€mechanisms.€It€considered€that€the€best€way€to€achieving€greaterÐ 8 ˆ Ðinteraction€and€better€understanding€was€in€the€context€of€the€regular€meeting€of€special€rapporteursÐ $ t Ðand€thematic€mechanisms.€Ð  ` ÐÌ21.€€As€the€Committee€will€be€aware,€that€meeting€brings€together€thematic€and€country€rapporteursÐ è 8  Ðof€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights,€other€experts€appointed€by€that€Commission,€working€groupsÐ Ô$  Ðand€rapporteurs€of€the€Ô_ÔSubcommissionÔ_Ô€on€the€Prevention€of€Discrimination€and€Protection€ofÐ À  ÐMinorities.€A€number€of€these€have€mandates€that€involve€consideration€of€issues€that€are€of€concernÐ ¬ü  Ðto€the€Committee.€They€include,€for€example,€the€special€rapporteurs€on€torture€and€other€cruelÐ ˜è  Ðinhuman€or€degrading€treatment,€internally€displaced€persons,€religious€intolerance€and€sale€ofÐ „Ô  Ðchildren,€child€prostitution€and€child€pornography.€The€Committee€might€like€to€consider,€in€advanceÐ pÀ Ðof€the€meeting,€the€specific€procedures€that€are€especially€relevant€to€its€work€and€means€ofÐ \¬ Ðachieving€cooperation€between€the€Committee€and€those€procedures,€as€well€as€the€concreteÐ H˜ Ðadvantages€to€be€gained€from€such€cooperation.€Ð 4„ ÐÌ22.€€Particular€efforts€are€required€to€ensure€that€the€work€of€the€Committee€and€that€of€the€SpecialÐ  \ ÐRapporteur€on€violence€against€women,€its€causes€and€consequences€is€coordinated€and€mutuallyÐ øH Ðenhancing.€The€United€Nations€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights€has€been€requested€by€theÐ ä4 ÐCommittee,€as€a€matter€of€priority,€to€facilitate€the€presence€of€the€Special€Rapporteur€on€violenceÐ Ð  Ðagainst€women€at€all€sessions€of€the€Committee.€The€Committee€might€consider€setting€asideÐ ¼  Ðspecific€time€in€its€agenda€well€in€advance€when€it€could€discuss€matters€of€mutual€concern€with€theÐ ¨ø ÐSpecial€Rapporteur.€Such€issues€might€include€the€implementation€of€the€Committee's€generalÐ ”ä Ðrecommendation€19.€The€High€Commissioner€might€again€be€requested€to€facilitate€the€participationÐ €Ð Ðof€individual€Committee€members€in€the€country€missions€of€the€rapporteur.€The€Special€RapporteurÐ l¼ Ðon€violence€against€women€might€consider€informing€the€Committee€well€in€advance€of€her€plansÐ X ¨ Ðfor€missions.€She€might€also€be€encouraged€to€invite€individual€members€of€the€Committee€toÐ D!” Ðparticipate€in€missions€as€appropriate.€This€might€be€particularly€useful€where€the€Rapporteur'sÐ 0"€  Ðmission€is€to€the€home€countries€or€countries€of€residence€of€Committee€members.€Ð #l! ÐÌVI.€€òòREPORTS€TO€BE€CONSIDERED€AT€UPCOMING€SESSIONS€OF€THE€COMMITTEEóóÐ ô$D # ÐÌ23.€€Currently,€the€reports€of€32€States€parties€are€awaiting€consideration€by€the€Committee.€Of€these,Ð Ì&"% Ð13€have€been€translated,€including€4€initial€reports,€1€combined€initial,€second€and€third€report,€1Ð ¸'#& Ðsecond€report,€3€combined€second€and€third€reports,€and€4€third€reports.€At€its€eleventh€session,€theÐ ¤(ô#' ÐCommittee€agreed€that€the€reports€would€be€selected€for€consideration€on€the€basis€of€the€date€onÐ )à$( Ðwhich€they€had€been€received.€At€subsequent€sessions,€the€Committee€added€the€consideration€ofÐ |*Ì%) Ðgeographical€balance.€Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ24.€€The€Committee€may€wish€to€consider€selecting€at€least€10€of€the€translated€reports€for€reviewÐ @-(, Ðat€its€July€session,€retaining€the€balance€as€reserve.€The€Committee€should€also€consider€identifyingÐ ° Ðreports€to€be€considered€at€its€eighteenth€and€nineteenth€sessions€on€the€basis€of€order€of€receipt€andÐ œì Ðavailability.€One€member€of€the€Committee€has€suggested€that€those€States€parties€selected€forÐ ˆØ Ðconsideration€for€the€seventeenth€session€should€be€notified€immediately€after€the€sixteenth€session.Ð tÄ ÐAt€this€time,€it€should€be€determined€when€the€next€periodic€report€of€each€of€these€States€parties€isÐ `° Ðdue.€In€the€event€that€the€date€has€passed€or€that€the€date€will€occur€within€the€next€12€months,€thenÐ L œ Ðthe€Secretariat,€at€the€request€of€the€Committee,€should€invite€the€State€party€to€submit€its€nextÐ 8 ˆ Ðperiodic€report€within€8€months€of€the€Committee's€decision.€This€would€allow€the€Committee€toÐ $ t Ðhave€available€for€consideration€the€most€current€information€relating€to€the€implementation€of€theÐ  ` ÐConvention€in€that€State€party€and€would,€at€the€same€time,€allow€the€State€party€to€be€fully€onÐ ü L  Ðschedule€with€regard€to€its€reporting€obligations.€In€addition,€this€would€provide€the€Committee€withÐ è 8  Ðwritten€information€that€would€relieve€the€State€party€of€the€burden€of€presenting€a€lengthy€oralÐ Ô$  Ðupdate€during€the€reporting€session.€Ð À  ÐÌ25.€€As€the€Committee€may€wish€to€recall,€the€question€of€consideration€of€periodic€reports€isÐ ˜è  Ðcurrently€being€reviewed€by€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights.€It€isÐ „Ô  Ðconsidering€a€proposal€that€involves€the€maintenance€of€comprehensive€initial€reports€by€StatesÐ pÀ Ðparties,€but€the€elimination€of€subsequent€comprehensive€periodic€reports€which,€like€periodicÐ \¬ Ðreports€under€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€Women,Ð H˜ Ðhave€been€required€to€address€all€of€the€issues€identified€in€the€Committee's€reporting€guidelines.€InÐ 4„ Ðplace€of€these€periodic€reports,€the€pre„sessional€working€group€of€the€Committee€on€Economic,Ð  p ÐSocial€and€Cultural€Rights€would,€on€the€basis€of€all€available€sources€of€information,€identify€aÐ  \ Ðlimited€number€of€specific€issues€in€relation€to€which€a€report€would€be€requested€from€the€StateÐ øH Ðparty€concerned.€The€Committee€would€then€conduct€its€dialogue€on€the€basis€of€that€detailed€report.Ð ä4 ÐAmong€the€advantages€would€be€a€reduction€in€the€burden€imposed€on€States€parties,€a€much€clearerÐ Ð  Ðfocus€for€the€dialogue€between€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€and€StatesÐ ¼  Ðparties,€with€capacity€to€focus€in€greater€depth€upon€issues€of€particular€interest€or€concern.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ26.€€The€current€practice€of€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€is€to€hold€itsÐ €Ð Ðpre„session€working€group€at€the€end€of€the€previous€session€at€which€the€State€party's€report€willÐ l¼ Ðbe€considered.€The€same€practice€applies€to€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child.€As€theÐ X ¨ ÐCommittee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€points€out€in€its€overview€of€the€reporting€procedures,€òò14óó/€theÐ D!” Ðprincipal€purpose€of€the€working€group€is€to€identify€in€advance€the€most€important€issues€to€beÐ 0"€  Ðdiscussed€with€the€representatives€of€States.€The€intent€is€to€give€advance€notice€to€the€States€partiesÐ #l! Ðof€the€principal€issues€that€might€arise€in€the€examination€of€their€reports.€The€possibility€forÐ $X" Ðgovernment€representatives€to€prepare€in€advance€their€answers€to€some€of€the€principal€questionsÐ ô$D # Ðis€likely€to€make€the€discussion€more€constructive.€Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ27.€€With€the€regularization€of€the€second€annual€session€of€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€ofÐ ¸'#& ÐDiscrimination€against€Women,€it€should€be€possible€for€the€Committee€to€move€towards€a€similarÐ ¤(ô#' Ðpattern€for€its€sessions.€This€would€allow€the€Committee€to€develop€further€reporting€methods€andÐ )à$( Ðthe€conduct€of€constructive€dialogue.€It€would€also€provide€States€parties€with€a€more€structuredÐ |*Ì%) Ðframework€in€which€to€address€particular€issues€that€pose€the€greatest€challenges€to€implementationÐ h+¸&* Ðof€the€Convention.€A€pattern€of€sessions€along€the€lines€suggested€(i.e.,€with€the€pre„session€beingÐ T,¤'+ Ðheld€at€the€prior€session)€could€also€contribute€to€greater€and€more€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€inputs€from€specializedÐ @-(, Ðagencies€and€non„governmental€organizations.€Ð ° ÐÌVII.€€òòTHE€PRACTICE€OF€OTHER€TREATY€BODIES€IN€RELATION€TO€NON„Ð ˆØ ÐGOVERNMENTAL€ORGANIZATIONS€(DECISION€15/II)óó€Ð tÄ ÐÌ28.€€The€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights€in€1993€recognized€the€important€role€played€by€non„Ð L œ Ðgovernmental€organizations€in€the€effective€implementation€of€all€human€rights€instruments.€òò15óó/€InÐ 8 ˆ Ðits€resolution€1996/22€of€19€April€1996,€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€once€again€recognizedÐ $ t Ðthe€key€role€played€by€non„governmental€organizations€in€the€effective€implementation€of€all€humanÐ  ` Ðrights€instruments€and€encouraged€the€exchange€of€reliable€information€between€treaty€bodies€andÐ ü L  Ðsuch€organizations.€Ð è 8  ÐÌ29.€€Moreover,€the€meeting€of€the€persons€chairing€United€Nations€human€rights€treaty€bodies€hasÐ À  Ðconsistently€underlined€the€important€function€that€non„governmental€organizations€have€in€the€workÐ ¬ü  Ðof€these€bodies.€At€their€sixth€meeting€in€1995,€the€chairpersons€stressed€the€central€role€that€non„Ð ˜è  Ðgovernmental€organizations€have€in€providing€information€necessary€for€the€€conduct€of€the€activitiesÐ „Ô  Ðof€the€treaty€bodies€and€recommended€that€the€Secretariat€of€the€United€Nations€facilitate€exchangeÐ pÀ Ðof€information€between€treaty€bodies€and€such€organizations.€The€Centre€for€Human€Rights€wasÐ \¬ Ðrequested€to€develop€a€database€of€national€institutions€for€the€promotion€and€protection€of€humanÐ H˜ Ðrights€and€of€nationally€based€non„governmental€organizations€that€should€be€informed€of€theÐ 4„ Ðscheduled€consideration€of€any€of€the€reports€of€individual€countries€by€the€treaty€bodies.òò16óó/€TheÐ  p ÐCentre€has€been€developing€the€database€and€has€begun€the€practice€of€providing€a€number€ofÐ  \ Ðinternational€non„governmental€organizations,€on€a€regular€basis,€with€(a)€the€schedule€ofÐ øH Ðforthcoming€meetings€of€human€rights€treaty€bodies€and€of€the€States€parties€reports€programmedÐ ä4 Ðfor€consideration€during€those€meetings€(which€are€issued€in€May€and€November);€(b)€whenÐ Ð  Ðappropriate,€copies€of€the€lists€of€issues€treaty€bodies€address€to€the€States€parties€before€consideringÐ ¼  Ðtheir€reports;€and€(c)€the€provisional€agenda€and€annotations€for€each€session€of€the€treaty€bodies.òò17óó/Ð ¨ø ÐInternational€non„governmental€organizations€have,€in€turn,€been€invited€to€circulate€this€informationÐ ”ä Ðamong€national€and€local€organizations.€The€Division€for€the€Advancement€of€Women,€in€workingÐ €Ð Ðclosely€with€the€Centre,€has€suggested€that€information€on€the€Committee€regularly€be€incorporatedÐ l¼ Ðin€this€dissemination.€Ð X ¨ ÐÌ30.€€The€issue€of€the€participation€of€non„governmental€organizations€in€the€work€of€the€treaty€bodiesÐ 0"€  Ðwas€again€taken€up,€in€the€presence€of€a€number€of€non„governmental€organizations,€by€the€seventhÐ #l! Ðmeeting€of€the€persons€chairing€the€treaty€bodies€which€was€held€in€September€1996.€òò18óó/€The€vitalÐ $X" Ðrole€of€non„governmental€organizations€in€supplying€the€treaty€bodies€with€documentation€and€otherÐ ô$D # Ðinformation€on€human€rights€developments€was€affirmed€and€each€treaty€body€was€encouraged€toÐ à%0!$ Ðconsider€how€best€to€monitor€and€facilitate€this€role.€Non„governmental€organizations€wereÐ Ì&"% Ðencouraged€to€continue€to€take€an€active€role€in€critically€examining€the€work€of€the€treaty€bodiesÐ ¸'#& Ðso€that€more€effective€performance€by€treaty€bodies€as€a€whole,€as€well€as€by€individual€experts,Ð ¤(ô#' Ðcould€be€achieved.€The€meeting€agreed€that€non„governmental€organizations€would€continue€to€beÐ )à$( Ðentitled€to€participate€in€the€chairpersons'€meeting€at€appropriate€points€during€the€meeting€andÐ |*Ì%) Ðwould€also€be€granted€a€specific€opportunity€to€present€their€views.€The€meeting€furtherÐ h+¸&* Ðrecommended€that€chairpersons€of€treaty€bodies€should€invite€non„governmental€organizations€toÐ T,¤'+ Ðattend€the€press€conference€which€is€usually€held€at€the€end€of€each€session,€although€non„Ð @-(, Ðgovernmental€organizations€would€not€participate€in€the€dialogue€between€journalists€and€theÐ ° Ðmembers€of€the€treaty€bodies.€Individual€treaty€bodies€were€also€encouraged€to€consider,€in€additionÐ œì Ðto€a€press€conference,€a€separate€non„governmental€organization€briefing€at€the€end€of€their€sessions.Ð ˆØ ÐThe€chairpersons€also€requested€each€treaty€body€to€make€available€to€the€public€the€addresses€ofÐ tÄ Ðtheir€members€to€facilitate€communication€between€treaty€body€experts€and€non„governmentalÐ `° Ðorganizations.€Ð L œ ÐÌ31.€€The€approach€towards€non„governmental€organization€participation€in€the€work€of€the€treatyÐ $ t Ðbodies€manifested€by€the€meeting€of€the€persons€chairing€those€bodies€is€reflected€to€a€certain€extentÐ  ` Ðin€the€practices€of€individual€treaty€bodies,€although€practices€differ€markedly.€The€independentÐ ü L  Ðexpert€on€long„term€approaches€to€enhancing€the€effective€operation€of€the€treaty€bodies€designatedÐ è 8  Ðin€paragraph€2€of€General€Assembly€resolution€47/111€of€16€December€1992€suggested€in€his€interimÐ Ô$  Ðreport€that€there€was€a€need€for€each€treaty€body€to€develop€a€more€open,€rational,€transparent€andÐ À  Ðbalanced€approach€to€dealing€with€information€from€non„governmental€organizations.€òò19óó/€TheÐ ¬ü  Ðindependent€expert€suggests€that€it€is€inappropriate€to€incorporate€non„governmental€organizationsÐ ˜è  Ðas€full€participants€in€the€actual€dialogue€between€the€treaty€bodies€and€States€parties€as€this€couldÐ „Ô  Ðbe€unnecessarily€"acrimonious"€and€unproductive€of€constructive€dialogue.€òò20óó/€He€has€suggested€thatÐ pÀ Ðthe€principal€options€for€treaty€bodies€were:€Ð \¬ ÐÌ(a)€Providing€an€opportunity€at€the€beginning€of€each€Committee€session€for€groups€to€present€anyÐ 4„ Ðinformation€of€direct€relevance;€Ð  p ÐÌ(b)€Limiting€such€an€opportunity€to€the€Committee's€pre„sessional€working€group;€Ð øH ÐÌÔ_Ô(cÔ_Ô)€Scheduling€informal€sessions,€without€summary€records€and€with€only€essential€interpretation,Ð Ð  Ðoutside€the€Committee's€regular€meetings.€òò21óó/€Ð ¼  ÐÌ32.€€Current€practices€of€individual€treaty€bodies€with€respect€to€non„governmental€organizationÐ ”ä Ðparticipation€differ,€with€the€Committee€against€Torture€and€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€ofÐ €Ð ÐRacial€Discrimination€retaining€only€informal€links€with€non„governmental€organizations,€whileÐ l¼ Ðthose€treaty€bodies€which€have€adopted€more€formal€links€with€non„governmental€organizationsÐ X ¨ Ðhave,€in€essence,€taken€the€approaches€outlined€in€options€(b)€and€(c)€of€the€independent€expert'sÐ D!” Ðsuggestions.€His€option€(a)€has€been€adopted€by€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€CulturalÐ 0"€  ÐRights€to€a€certain€extent.€Variants€of€option€(b)€have€been€adopted€by€the€Committee€on€Economic,Ð #l! ÐSocial€and€Cultural€Rights€and€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€and€are€now€being€pursuedÐ $X" Ðby€the€Human€Rights€Committee.€Option€(c)€which€has€been€pursued€to€some€degree€by€all€theÐ ô$D # ÐGeneva„based€treaty€bodies€has€been€described€by€the€independent€expert€as€having€a€number€ofÐ à%0!$ Ðstrengths€and€he€has€outlined€how€it€could€be€implemented€in€practice:€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà0  à"If€there€were€very€few€groups€wanting€to€place€their€views€before€the€Committee€a€singleÐ ¤(ô#' Ðinformal€session€could€be€held€at€the€beginning€of€the€Committee's€session.€Thus,€forÐ )à$( Ðexample,€the€Monday€afternoon€of€the€first€week€could€be€set€aside€for€that€purpose.Ð |*Ì%) ÐAlternatively,€one€hour€meetings€might€be€scheduled€in€relation€to€an€individual€countryÐ h+¸&* Ðreport,€at€either€9€a.m.€or€2€p.m.€the€day€before€the€country€is€scheduled€to€report.€SuchÐ T,¤'+ Ðmeetings€could€be€open€to€all€concerned€groups€and€individuals€and€to€all€interestedÐ @-(, ÐCommittee€members.€At€the€very€least€the€Committee€could€ask€one€of€its€members€to€reportÐ ° Ðback€to€it,€perhaps€informally,€on€the€outcome€of€such€a€session."€òò22óó/€Ðœì(#(# ÐÌ33.€€What€follows€reviews€the€practice€of€each€treaty€body€with€respect€to€non„governmentalÐ tÄ Ðorganizations.€It€makes€suggestions€with€regard€to€how€the€Committee€may€wish€to€proceed€inÐ `° Ðstrengthening€its€relations€with€non„governmental€organizations€so€as€to€benefit€its€work€and€toÐ L œ Ðenhance€the€potential€of€the€Convention€to€eliminate€gender„based€discrimination.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌA.€€òòCommittee€against€TortureóóÐ  ` ÐÌ34.€€The€Committee€against€Torture,€like€the€Human€Rights€Committee€and€the€Committee€onÐ è 8  ÐEconomic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights,€has€developed€the€practice€of€inviting,€generally€two€monthsÐ Ô$  Ðbefore€the€Committee's€sessions,€those€non„governmental€organizations€that€closely€follow€theÐ À  Ðactivities€of€the€Committee,€to€submit€information€concerning€States€parties€whose€reports€have€beenÐ ¬ü  Ðscheduled€for€consideration.€òò23óó/€The€working€relationship€of€such€non„governmental€organizationsÐ ˜è  Ðwith€the€Committee€against€Torture€has€been€facilitated€by€rule€62,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Committee'sÐ „Ô  Ðrules€of€procedure€òò24óó/€which€entitles€the€Committee€to€invite,€òòinter€aliaóó,€non„€governmentalÐ pÀ Ðorganizations€in€consultative€status€with€the€Economic€and€Social€Council€to€submit€to€itÐ \¬ Ðinformation,€documentation€and€written€statements,€as€appropriate,€relevant€to€the€Committee'sÐ H˜ Ðactivities€under€the€Convention.€Further,€any€non„governmental€organization€may€submit€materialÐ 4„ Ðto€any€member€of€the€Committee€who€may€choose€to€use€it€or€not€in€the€course€of€carrying€out€thatÐ  p Ðindividual€member's€functions€under€the€Convention.€In€this€way,€non„governmental€organizationÐ  \ Ðsource€material,€together€with€that€of€the€State€party€becomes€part€of€the€collective€information€uponÐ øH Ðwhich€the€Committee€relies.€However,€the€links€with€non„governmental€organizations€and€theÐ ä4 ÐCommittee€are€informal€and€the€Committee€against€Torture€does€not€meet€with€them€in€any€formalÐ Ð  Ðway.€Ð ¼  ÐÌB.€€òòCommittee€on€the€Elimination€of€Racial€Discrimination€and€non„governmental€organizationsóó€Ð ”ä ÐÌ35.€€Coordination€of€non„governmental€organization€information€and€input€into€the€work€of€theÐ l¼ ÐCommittee€on€the€Elimination€of€Racial€Discrimination€is€facilitated€by€the€Anti„Racism€InformationÐ X ¨ ÐService€(Ô_ÔARISÔ_Ô)€a€non„governmental€organization€that€also€disseminates€United€Nations€documents,Ð D!” Ðreports€and€observations.€During€the€course€of€its€forty„sixth€session,€in€March€1995,€the€CommitteeÐ 0"€  Ðconvened€a€meeting€of€non„governmental€organizations€on€the€work€of€the€Committee€outside€itsÐ #l! Ðregular€meeting€time€that€was€attended€by€representatives€of€20€non„governmental€organizations€andÐ $X" Ðthree€members€of€the€Committee.€Ð ô$D # ÐÌC.€€òòHuman€Rights€Committeeóó€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ36.€€For€a€number€of€years,€the€Human€Rights€Committee,€the€monitoring€body€established€underÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€has€received€information€supplied€by€non„Ð )à$( Ðgovernmental€organizations,€both€through€the€Secretariat€and€independently.€Further,€during€theÐ |*Ì%) Ð1990s€the€practice€has€developed€of€non„governmental€organizations€briefing€the€Human€RightsÐ h+¸&* ÐCommittee€informally€in€sessions€outside€the€scheduled€meetings€of€the€Committee.€These€briefingÐ T,¤'+ Ðsessions,€which€occur€at€the€request€of€individual€non„governmental€organizations,€are€facilitatedÐ @-(, Ðby€the€Centre€for€Human€Rights,€which€arranges€the€time€and€place€for€the€briefing.€The€briefing€isÐ ° Ðorganized€by€the€individual€non„governmental€organization,€although€a€representative€of€the€CentreÐ œì Ðattends€the€briefing,€but€only€as€a€facilitator.€The€sessions€can€take€place€in€the€meeting€room€of€theÐ ˆØ ÐCommittee,€at€another€location€on€United€Nations€premises€or€elsewhere.€The€informal€briefingÐ tÄ Ðsessions€are€closed€and€attendance€is€at€the€invitation€of€the€organizing€non„governmentalÐ `° Ðorganization.€It€is€unusual€for€the€non„governmental€organization€to€invite€government€delegations,Ð L œ Ðbut€invitations€to€relevant€delegations€have€sometimes€been€made€and€they€have€attended.€òò25óó/€ThisÐ 8 ˆ Ðpractice€of€informal€briefing€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee€by€non„governmental€organizationsÐ $ t Ðhas€proved€successful€and€as€the€option€to€request€a€briefing€session€has€become€more€known€in€theÐ  ` Ðnon„governmental€organization€community,€up€to€four€briefings€by€non„governmental€organizationsÐ ü L  Ðhave€been€organized€at€the€time€of€the€sessions€of€the€Committee.€The€resulting€demands€on€theÐ è 8  ÐCommittee€members'€time€has€been€addressed€to€some€extent€by€the€practice€of€encouraging€non„Ð Ô$  Ðgovernmental€organizations€to€consolidate€their€briefings.€The€Centre€for€Human€Rights€does€notÐ À  Ðarrange€for€the€reproduction€or€translation€of€documents€that€non„governmental€organizations€giveÐ ¬ü  Ðto€the€Human€Rights€Committee€either€at€briefing€sessions€or€during€their€formal€meetings.€Ð ˜è  ÐÌ37.€€At€its€fifty„third€session,€in€October€1996,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€experimented€with€aÐ pÀ Ðnew€model€of€non„governmental€organization€input€into€its€work,€inviting,€for€the€first€time,€selectedÐ \¬ Ðnon„governmental€organizations€to€attend€one€meeting€of€the€closed€working€group€of€theÐ H˜ ÐCommittee€for€the€purpose€of€briefing€experts€on€the€list€of€issues€arising€out€of€reports€of€StatesÐ 4„ Ðparties€that€the€Committee€draws€up€during€the€working€group.€Government€delegations€wereÐ  p Ðinformed€of€the€new€practice,€but€they€were€not€invited€to€attend.€Invitations€to€participate€wereÐ  \ Ðissued€by€the€non„governmental€organizations€taking€part€in€the€briefing;€thus,€on€a€future€occasionÐ øH ÐGovernments€might€be€invited€and€attend.€As€in€the€case€of€the€informal€briefings,€the€Centre€forÐ ä4 ÐHuman€Rights€was€not€in€a€position€to€arrange€for€reproduction€or€translation€of€non„governmentalÐ Ð  Ðorganization€documentation.€It€is€to€be€noted€that€the€new€practice€is€experimental€and€requiresÐ ¼  Ðassessment.€Early€reactions€have€pointed€to€the€fact€that€the€working€group€meets€two€weeks€priorÐ ¨ø Ðto€the€consideration€of€States€parties'€reports€and€that€non„governmental€organizations€may€beÐ ”ä Ðreluctant€to€deploy€scarce€resources€at€this€time,€when€they€consider€their€input€might€be€moreÐ €Ð Ðeffective€at€the€time€of€consideration€of€reports.€Ð l¼ ÐÌD.€€òòCommittee€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€RightsóóÐ D!” ÐÌ38.€€In€May€1993,€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€adopted€a€new€procedureÐ #l! Ðrelating€to€the€participation€of€non„governmental€organizations€in€the€Committee's€activities.€Non„Ð $X" Ðgovernmental€organizations€are€encouraged€to€provide€written€information€to€the€Committee€andÐ ô$D # Ðhave€been€given€the€opportunity€to€present€it€with€information€that€is€reliable,€relevant€and€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_ÔÐ à%0!$ Ðon€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and/or€country€situations€to€the€Committee€both€during€its€pre„Ð Ì&"% Ðsessional€working€group€and€at€the€beginning€of€each€of€its€sessions.€The€oral€contributions€of€non„Ð ¸'#& Ðgovernmental€organizations,€which€are€heard€by€the€Committee€during€the€first€meeting€of€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðsession,€are€referred€to€in€the€proceedings€of€the€Committee,€but€are€formally€incorporated€in€theÐ )à$( ÐCommittee's€proceedings€and€do€not€appear€as€part€of€the€summary€record€and€the€report€of€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðsession.€Further,€at€its€fourteenth€session€in€1996,€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€CulturalÐ h+¸&* ÐRights€agreed€to€invite€non„governmental€organizations€to€attend€the€second€meeting€of€its€workingÐ T,¤'+ Ðgroup€and€requested€that€the€Secretariat€notify€non„governmental€organizations€as€widely€as€possibleÐ @-(, Ðof€this€opportunity.€The€Committee€also€recalled€its€earlier€request€that€the€Secretariat€send€copiesÐ ° Ðof€reports€pending€consideration€to€a€range€of€national€non„governmental€organizations€in€each€ofÐ œì Ðthe€States€parties€whose€reports€were€pending€consideration.€It€further€requested€the€Secretariat€toÐ ˆØ Ðprovide€the€Chairperson€with€a€list€of€non„governmental€organizations€to€which€the€reports€had€beenÐ tÄ Ðsent€and€to€do€so€at€least€two€months€prior€to€each€session.€òò19óó/€The€Committee€on€Economic,€socialÐ `° Ðand€Cultural€Rights€has€expressed€the€view€that€closer€cooperation€should€be€established€Ô_ÔbetweennÔ_ÔÐ L œ Ðon„governmental€organizations€dealing€with€development€and€those€involved€in€the€field€of€humanÐ 8 ˆ Ðrights.€It€has€envisaged€a€non„governmental€organization€coordinating€body,€similar€to€that€whichÐ $ t Ðexists€in€the€context€of€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child,€whose€functions€could€includeÐ  ` Ðcoordinating€activities€relating€to€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€with€actors€outside€the€UnitedÐ ü L  ÐNations€and€assisting€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€in€its€treatyÐ è 8  Ðmonitoring.€òò26óó/€Ð Ô$  ÐÌE.€€òòCommittee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Childóó€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌ39.€€Article€45€of€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€provides€that€specialized€agencies,Ð „Ô  ÐUNICEF€and€other€United€Nations€organs€shall€be€entitled€to€be€represented€at€the€consideration€ofÐ pÀ Ðthe€implementation€of€such€provisions€of€the€Convention€as€fall€within€the€scope€of€their€mandate.Ð \¬ ÐThe€Committee€is€also€empowered€to€invite€the€specialized€agencies,€UNICEF€and€other€competentÐ H˜ Ðbodies€as€it€may€consider€appropriate€to€provide€expert€advice€on€the€implementation€of€theÐ 4„ ÐConvention€in€areas€falling€within€the€scope€of€their€respective€mandates.€The€capacity€for€theÐ  p ÐCommittee€to€invite€"other€competent€bodies€as€it€may€consider€appropriate"€to€provide€advice€onÐ  \ Ðthe€Convention's€implementation,€combined€with€rules€34(2)€and€70(2)€òò27óó/€of€the€rules€of€procedureÐ øH Ðof€the€Committee,€has€been€interpreted€in€such€a€way€as€to€allow€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€theÐ ä4 ÐChild€to€establish€an€active€role€for€a€number€of€non„governmental€organizations€in€the€conduct€ofÐ Ð  Ðits€work.€Ð ¼  ÐÌ40.€€Questions€concerning€States€parties€reports€are€prepared€by€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€theÐ ”ä ÐChild€during€a€pre„sessional€working€group€which€meets€at€the€end€of€the€prior€session€of€theÐ €Ð ÐCommittee.€òò28óó/€Country€files,€containing€information€relevant€to€each€of€the€reports€to€be€examined,Ð l¼ Ðare€prepared€by€the€Secretariat,€and€the€Committee€has€encouraged€non„governmental€organizationsÐ X ¨ Ðto€submit€appropriate€documentation€to€the€Secretariat€for€inclusion€in€these€files.€Some€of€thisÐ D!” Ðinformation€becomes€part€of€the€"country€analysis"€document€that€the€Secretariat€prepares,€whileÐ 0"€  Ðother€information€is€placed€in€files€that€are€available€to€Committee€members€during€sessions.€òò29óó/€TheÐ #l! Ðworking€group€may€choose€to€invite€representatives€of€non„governmental€organizations€to€attend€theÐ $X" Ðmeeting€and€give€advice.€Ð ô$D # ÐÌ41.€€The€provisions€of€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€and€the€practice€of€the€CommitteeÐ Ì&"% Ðon€the€Rights€of€the€Child€has€encouraged€non„governmental€organizations€interested€in€children'sÐ ¸'#& Ðrights€to€establish€a€non„governmental€organization€group€for€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€theÐ ¤(ô#' ÐChild.€The€Group€brings€together€37€international€non„governmental€organizations€òò31óó/€that€areÐ )à$( Ðinvolved,€directly€or€indirectly,€in€the€implementation€of€the€Convention.€The€Group€was€originallyÐ |*Ì%) Ðformed€in€1983€as€the€Informal€Ad€Hoc€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Group€for€the€Drafting€of€the€Convention€on€theÐ h+¸&* ÐRights€of€the€Child.€òò32óó/Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð42.€€One€of€the€principal€tasks€of€the€Group€is€to€facilitate€the€flow€of€information€between€theÐ ° ÐCommittee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€and€the€national€and€international€non„governmentalÐ œì Ðorganization€community.€In€order€to€maximize€this€contact,€the€Group€appointed€a€Coordinator,€nowÐ ˆØ Ðknown€as€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child/non„governmental€organization€liaison€officer.Ð tÄ ÐThe€revised€terms€of€reference€of€the€liaison€officer€indicate€that€the€role€of€the€officer€is€to€enhanceÐ `° Ðcooperation€and€interaction€between€the€global€non„governmental€organization€community€and€theÐ L œ ÐCommittee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child.€Five€of€the€officer's€eight€main€tasks€focus€on€facilitatingÐ 8 ˆ Ðcontact€between€the€non„governmental€organization€community€and€the€Committee€on€the€RightsÐ $ t Ðof€the€Child€and€its€secretariat€and€emphasize€the€importance€of€securing€all€relevant€informationÐ  ` Ðfor€the€reporting€process.€òò33óó/€Under€the€direction€of€the€officer,€the€Group€promotes€the€preparationÐ ü L  Ðof€alternative,€complementary€or€supplementary€reports€by€non„governmental€organizations€òò34óó/€thatÐ è 8  Ðcan€assist€the€Committee€in€constructive€dialogue€with€States€parties.€To€facilitate€this,€the€GroupÐ Ô$  Ðhas€prepared€a€guide€for€non„governmental€organizations€reporting€to€the€Committee€on€the€RightsÐ À  Ðof€the€Child,€which€provides€information€on€the€reporting€procedure€and€the€participation€of€non„Ð ¬ü  Ðgovernmental€organizations€in€this€process.€Based€on€written€information€provided€in€advance€byÐ ˜è  Ðnon„governmental€organizations,€the€Committee€may€invite€non„governmental€organizations€toÐ „Ô  Ðparticipate€in€its€pre„sessional€working€group€in€order€to€provide€it€with€information€related€toÐ pÀ Ðspecific€aspects€of€the€implementation€of€the€Convention€in€those€States€parties€which€are€scheduledÐ \¬ Ðto€report€to€the€Committee.€The€Group€may€provide€limited€funding€in€order€to€allow€oneÐ H˜ Ðrepresentative€from€each€country€who€has€been€invited€by€the€Committee€to€participate€in€theÐ 4„ Ðworking€group€to€travel€to€Geneva€for€this€purpose.€òò35óó/€To€facilitate€this€and€to€enhance€theÐ  p Ðcredibility€of€non„governmental€organization€input€into€the€reporting€process,€the€Group€promotesÐ  \ Ðthe€creation€and€development€of€broad„based€and€representative€national€coalitions€of€non„Ð øH Ðgovernmental€organizations€working€with€children.€òò36óó/€Ð ä4 ÐÌF.€€òòCommittee€on€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€against€Womenóó€Ð ¼  ÐÌ43.€€Since€its€establishment,€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€against€WomenÐ ”ä Ðhas€enjoyed€strong€support€from€both€international€and€national€non„governmental€organizations.Ð €Ð ÐA€number€of€non„governmental€organizations€have€voluntarily€provided€Committee€members,€bothÐ l¼ Ðindividually€and€collectively,€with€information€for€the€consideration€of€States€parties€reports€and€forÐ X ¨ Ðother€purposes.€The€International€Women's€Rights€Action€Watch,€which€was€established€at€the€non„Ð D!” Ðgovernmental€organization€forum€of€the€World€Conference€to€Review€and€Appraise€theÐ 0"€  ÐAchievements€of€the€United€Nations€Decade€for€Women:€Equality,€Development€and€Peace,€heldÐ #l! Ðat€Nairobi€in€1985€specifically€to€monitor€the€work€of€the€Committee,€has€sought€to€provide€country„Ð $X" Ðspecific€information€to€the€Committee€on€a€regular€basis€and,€in€cooperation€with€theÐ ô$D # ÐCommonwealth€Secretariat,€has€prepared€a€guide€for€non„governmental€organizations€on€reportingÐ à%0!$ Ðunder€the€Convention.€òò37óó/€Other€international€and€national€non„governmental€organizations€fromÐ Ì&"% Ða€number€of€countries€have€also€contributed€information.€Non„governmental€organization€input€hasÐ ¸'#& Ðalso€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€on€the€formulation€of€general€recommendations,€with€the€International€League€forÐ ¤(ô#' ÐHuman€Rights€and€International€Women's€Rights€Action€Watch€having€contributed€to€theÐ )à$( Ðpreparation€of€general€recommendation€19.€The€International€Human€Rights€Law€group€and€otherÐ |*Ì%) Ðnon„governmental€organizations€co„hosted€the€meeting€which€developed€the€Maastricht€draftÐ h+¸&* Ðoptional€protocol€for€the€Convention,€which€is€the€basis€of€the€Committee's€suggestion€No.€7€andÐ T,¤'+ Ðhave€also€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€their€attention€on€the€working€methods€of€the€Committee€and€hosted€general€andÐ @-(, Ðspecific€briefings€for€Committee€members.€For€example,€in€1996,€the€International€Women's€RightsÐ ° ÐAction€Watch€in€collaboration€with€the€Jacob€Ô_ÔBlausteinÔ_Ô€Institute€for€the€Advancement€of€HumanÐ œì ÐRights€and€the€United€Nations€Development€Fund€for€Women,€hosted€a€one„day€colloquium€withÐ ˆØ Ðthe€Committee,€which€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€on€working€methods€of€the€Committee.€Ð tÄ ÐÌ44.€€The€Committee€may€now€wish€to€formalize€and€develop€the€fruitful€relationship€that€it€alreadyÐ L œ Ðhas€with€non„governmental€organizations.€In€this€regard,€the€Committee's€current€rules€of€procedureÐ 8 ˆ Ðdo€not€provide€for€non„governmental€organization€participation€in€the€Committee's€sessions.€TheÐ $ t ÐCommittee€may€wish€to€consider€whether€in€the€context€of€the€revision€of€its€rules€of€procedure€itÐ  ` Ðmight€wish€to€formulate€a€general€rule€which€might€allow€for€more€formalized€participation.€In€thisÐ ü L  Ðregard,€the€Committee€might€wish€to€consider€both€sub„rules€34(2)€and€70(2)€of€the€provisional€rulesÐ è 8  Ðof€procedure€of€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child.€òò27óó/€Both€sub„rules€subject€participationÐ Ô$  Ðof€non„governmental€organizations€to€the€discretion€of€the€Committee.€Insertion€of€a€rule€or€rulesÐ À  Ðsimilar€to€those€of€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€would€enable€the€Committee€to€takeÐ ¬ü  Ðpositive€steps€to€allow€formalized€non„governmental€organization€participation.€Ð ˜è  ÐÌ45.€€Two€models€of€non„governmental€organization€participation,€drawn€from€the€experience€of€otherÐ pÀ Ðtreaty€bodies,€might€be€considered€by€the€Committee.€First,€the€Committee€might€decide€to€makeÐ \¬ Ðitself€available€for€non„governmental€organization€briefings,€which€would€be€facilitated€by€theÐ H˜ ÐSecretariat,€outside€the€Committee's€formal€meetings.€It€might€decide€to€identify€time€prior€to€itsÐ 4„ Ðmeeting,€between€meetings€or€after€meetings€when€it€could€exchange€views€with€non„governmentalÐ  p Ðorganizations.€The€Committee€could€also€consider€whether€non„governmental€organizations€mightÐ  \ Ðbe€invited€to€participate€in€its€pre„session€working€group€and€again€exchange€views.€Either€modelÐ øH Ðcould€be€introduced€on€an€experimental€basis€over€a€number€of€sessions.€The€experience€might€thenÐ ä4 Ðbe€evaluated€and€future€approaches€determined€on€the€basis€of€such€evaluation.€Ð Ð  ÐÌ46.€€The€issue€of€non„governmental€organization€participation€in€the€work€of€the€Committee€is€notÐ ¨ø Ðconfined€to€developing€a€modus€operandi€to€allow€non„governmental€organizations€to€make€informalÐ ”ä Ðor€formal€presentations€to€the€Committee,€but€may€also€include€the€question€of€whether€theÐ €Ð ÐCommittee€should€produce€guidelines€or€suggestions€for€non„governmental€organizations€concerningÐ l¼ Ðthe€form,€content€and€manner€of€submissions€and€input€to€the€Committee€for€its€consideration€in€theÐ X ¨ Ðcontext€of€States€parties€reports.€Current€non„governmental€organization€submissions€to€theÐ D!” ÐCommittee€and€experts€individually€take€many€forms€and€the€Committee€might€care€to€makeÐ 0"€  Ðsuggestions€as€to€the€form€and€content€and€channelling€of€submissions€that€it€finds€most€helpful.€Ð #l! ÐÌ47.€€It€is€to€be€noted€that€some€treaty€bodies€have€also€provided€opportunities€for€non„governmentalÐ ô$D # Ðorganizations€to€contribute€to€the€development€of€the€jurisprudence€of€their€Committee.€For€example,Ð à%0!$ Ðduring€its€sessions,€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights,€like€the€Committee€onÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€Rights€of€the€Child,€holds€discussion€days€during€which€the€content€of€rights€in€the€Covenant€orÐ ¸'#& Ðthemes€cross„cutting€the€Covenant€are€elaborated.€The€practice€of€the€Committee€on€Economic,Ð ¤(ô#' ÐSocial€and€Cultural€Rights€is€to€incorporate€non„governmental€organizations€in€these€discussions.òò38óó/Ð )à$( ÐAs€informal€non„governmental€organization€input€has€already€been€incorporated€by€the€CommitteeÐ |*Ì%) Ðon€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€against€Women€in€its€formulation€of€general€recommendations,Ð h+¸&* Ðthe€Committee€may€wish€to€consider€the€practice€of€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€andÐ T,¤'+ ÐCultural€Rights€of€providing€for€a€day€or€half€day€of€general€discussion,€during€which€non„Ð @-(, Ðgovernmental€organizations€might€intervene.€Again,€this€could€be€introduced€on€an€experimentalÐ ° Ðbasis€and€future€approaches€determined€on€the€basis€of€evaluation.€Ð œì ÐÌ48.€€It€is€important€that€non„governmental€organizations€be€made€aware€of€the€Convention€and€theÐ tÄ ÐCommittee€and€its€work€and€be€encouraged€to€assist€it€in€all€appropriate€ways.€This€raises€theÐ `° Ðquestion€of€the€Secretariat's€role€in€facilitating€non„governmental€organization€input€into€the€workÐ L œ Ðof€the€Committee.€It€has€already€been€noted€that€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€CulturalÐ 8 ˆ ÐRights€has€directed€its€secretariat€to€notify€non„governmental€organizations€of€the€growingÐ $ t Ðopportunities€that€exist€for€non„governmental€organization€contribution€during€sessions€of€theÐ  ` ÐCommittee€and€to€send€copies€of€reports€pending€consideration€to€a€range€of€national€non„Ð ü L  Ðgovernmental€organizations€in€the€countries€concerned.€The€secretariat€of€the€Committee€onÐ è 8  ÐEconomic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€has€also€been€requested€to€provide€the€Chairperson€with€a€listÐ Ô$  Ðof€those€non„governmental€organizations€to€which€pending€reports€have€been€sent€at€least€twoÐ À  Ðmonths€prior€to€each€session.€If€the€Committee€decides€to€establish€a€more€structured€approach€toÐ ¬ü  Ðnon„governmental€organization€input,€it€would€be€possible€for€non„governmental€organizations€fromÐ ˜è  Ðreporting€countries€who€were€accredited€to€the€Fourth€World€Conference€on€Women€to€be€notified.Ð „Ô  ÐMoreover,€the€Division€for€the€Advancement€of€Women€can€use€its€internet€sites€to€inform€non„Ð pÀ Ðgovernmental€organizations€and€to€upload€country€reports€available€in€electronic€format.Ð \¬ ÐAlternatively,€or€in€addition,€other€non„governmental€organizations€listed€in€the€Centre€for€Human€Ð H˜ ÐRights€database,€from€reporting€countries€could€also€be€informed€and€receive€copies€of€reports.€AÐ 4„ Ðnon„governmental€organization€group€following€the€model€of€the€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Group€for€the€ConventionÐ  p Ðon€the€Rights€of€the€Child€could€be€achieved€if€the€International€Women's€Rights€Action€WatchÐ  \ Ðand/or€other€non„governmental€organizations€were€in€a€position€to€consolidate€such€a€group€andÐ øH Ðassume€some€of€the€same€functions€that€the€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Group€performs€with€respect€to€the€Committee€onÐ ä4 Ðthe€Rights€of€the€Child.€Preferred€options,€once€identified€by€the€Committee,€will€need€to€beÐ Ð  Ðreviewed€by€the€Secretariat€to€determine€feasibility€given€existing€human€and€financial€resources.Ð ¼  ÐÌ__________________Ð ”ä ÐòòNotesóó€Ð €Ð ÐÌòò1óó/€€òòOfficial€Records€of€the€General€Assembly,€Forty„eighth€Session,€Supplement€No.€38óó€(A/48/38),Ð X ¨ Ðpara.€632.€Ð D!” ÐÌòò2óó/€€Ibid.,€òòFifty„first€Session,€Supplement€No.38óó€(A/51/38),€chap.€I,€sect.€A.Ð #l! ÐÌòò3óó/€€A/Ô_ÔCONFÔ_Ô.177/20,€chap.€I,€resolution€1,€annex€II.Ð ô$D # ÐÌòò4óó/€€òòOfficial€Records€of€the€General€Assembly,€Fifty„first€Session,€Supplement€No.€38óó€(A/51/38),Ð Ì&"% Ðpara.€340.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌòò5óó/€€CRC/C/33,€para.€9.Ð )à$( ÐÌòò6óó/€€Ibid.,€para.€11.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌòò7óó/€€Ô_ÔHRIÔ_Ô/MC/1996/2.Ð @-(, Їòò8óó/€€òòOfficial€Records€of€the€General€Assembly,€Forty„ninth€Session,€Supplement€No.€38óó€(A/49/38),Ð ° Ðparas.€813„816€of€which€state:€Ð œì ÐÌà0  à"813.€€At€the€outset€of€each€session,€the€Chairperson€should€designate,€for€each€report,€twoÐ tÄ Ðmembers€of€the€Committee€to€draft€concluding€comments€to€be€considered€for€adoption€byÐ `° Ðthe€Committee.€To€the€extent€possible,€at€least€one€of€those€rapporteurs€should€be€from€theÐ L œ Ðregion€of€the€reporting€State.€For€second€and€subsequent€reports,€they€should€consult€withÐ 8 ˆ Ðthe€members€of€the€pre„session€working€group.€Ð$ t(#(# ÐÌà0  à"814.€€The€comments€should€cover€the€most€important€points€raised€during€the€constructiveÐ ü L  Ðdialogue,€emphasizing€both€positive€aspects€of€the€reports€and€matters€on€which€theÐ è 8  ÐCommittee€had€expressed€concern,€and€should€clearly€indicate€what€the€Committee€wishedÐ Ô$  Ðthe€State€party€to€report€on€in€its€next€report.€The€comments€should€be€concise.€For€secondÐ À  Ðand€subsequent€reports,€the€comments€should€take€into€account€the€findings€of€the€pre„Ð ¬ü  Ðsession€working€group€as€well€as€the€constructive€dialogue.Иè (#(# ÐÌà0  à"815.€€The€drafts€should€be€considered€in€closed€meetings€of€the€Committee€scheduledÐ pÀ Ðperiodically€during€the€session,€but€at€least€one€per€week.€Ð\¬(#(# ÐÌà0  à"816.€€Once€agreed,€the€concluding€comments€would€be€incorporated€into€the€Committee'sÐ 4„ Ðreport€on€the€consideration€of€the€State€party's€report."€Ð p(#(# ÐÌòò9óó/€€A/51/482,€annex,€para.€58.Ð øH ÐÌòò10óó/€€E/CN.4/1997/3.Ð Ð  ÐÌòò11óó/€€Ibid.,€para.€40.Ð ¨ø ÐÌòò12óó/€€A/51/482,€annex,€para.€53.Ð €Ð ÐÌòò13óó/€€Australia,€third;€Antigua€and€Barbuda,€initial,€second€and€third;€Armenia,€first;€Argentina,Ð X ¨ Ðsecond;€Bangladesh,€third;€Bulgaria,€second€and€third;€Croatia,€initial;€Dominican€Republic,€secondÐ D!” Ðand€third;€Equatorial€Guinea,€second€and€third;€Israel,€first;€Mexico,€third;€Republic€of€Korea,€third;Ð 0"€  ÐZaire,€initial.€Ð #l! ÐÌòò14óó/€€CRC/C/33,€para.€8Ð ô$D # ÐÌòò15óó/€€A/Ô_ÔCONFÔ_Ô.157/24€(Part€I),€chap.€III,€para.€52.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌòò16óó/€A/50/505,€annex,€para.€23.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌòò17óó/€€Ô_ÔHRIÔ_Ô/MC/1996/2,€para.€69.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌòò18óó/€€A/51/482,€annex,€paras.€35„39.Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ðòò19óó/€€Interim€report€on€an€updated€study€by€Mr.€Philip€Alston€(A/Ô_ÔCONFÔ_Ô.157/PC/62/Add.11/Rev.1),Ð ° Ðannex.€Ð œì ÐÌòò20óó/€€Ibid.,€para.€232.Ð tÄ ÐÌòò21óó/€€Ibid.,€para.€234.Ð L œ ÐÌòò22óó/€€Ibid.,€para.€235.Ð $ t ÐÌòò23óó/€€Ô_ÔHRIÔ_Ô/MC/1996/2,€para.€67.Ð ü L  ÐÌòò24óó/€€CAT/C/3/Rev.10.Ð Ô$  ÐÌòò25óó/€€Ô_ÔHRIÔ_Ô/MC/1996/2,€para.€65.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌòò26óó/€€Ibid.,€para.€66.Ð „Ô  ÐÌòò27óó/€€CRC/C/4:Ð \¬ ÐÌà0  à(a)€€Rule€34(2).€Representatives€of€other€competent€bodies€concerned,€which€are€not€includedÐ 4„ Ðamong€those€in€paragraph€1€of€this€rule,€may€participate€in€public€or€private€meetings€of€theÐ  p ÐCommittee€or€its€subsidiary€bodies,€when€invited€by€the€Committee€to€do€so.€Ð \(#(# ÐÌà0  à(b)€€Rule€70(2).€The€Committee€may€invite€the€specialized€agencies,€the€United€NationsÐ ä4 ÐChildren's€Fund€and€other€competent€bodies,€as€it€may€consider€appropriate€to€provide€it€withÐ Ð  Ðexpert€advice,€pursuant€to€article€45,€subparagraph€(a),€of€the€Convention,€in€theÐ ¼  Ðimplementation€of€the€Convention€in€areas€falling€within€their€respective€mandates.€Ð¨ø(#(# ÐÌòò28óó/€€CRC/C/33,€para.€7.Ð €Ð ÐÌòò29óó/€€Ibid.,€para.€9.Ð X ¨ ÐÌòò30óó/€€Ibid.,€para.€11.Ð 0"€  ÐÌòò31óó/€€See€òòÔ_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Group€for€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Childóó,€p.€2.€The€list€of€members€of€theÐ $X" ÐGroup€is€published€on€p.€4€of€this€Ô_ÔfactsheetÔ_Ô.Ð ô$D # ÐÌòò32óó/€€Laura€Ô_ÔTheytazÔ_Ô„Bergman,€"Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Group€for€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child",€in€E.Ð Ì&"% ÐÔ_ÔVerhellenÔ_Ô€(ed.),€òòMonitoring€Children's€Rightsóó€(Ô_ÔKluwerÔ_Ô€International,€1996),€pp.€537€and€538.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌòò33óó/€€Revised€terms€of€reference€for€the€Coordinator€approved€by€the€Group,€6€and€7€April€1995.€Ð )à$( ÐÌòò34óó/€€Ô_ÔTheytazÔ_Ô„Bergman,€op.€cit.,€pp.€538€and€539.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌòò35óó/€€Ô_ÔTheytazÔ_Ô„Bergman,€op.€cit.,€p.€539.Ð @-(, Їòò36óó/€€Ô_ÔTheytazÔ_Ô„Bergman,€op.€cit.,€p.€540.Ð ° ÐÌòò37óó/€€Jane€Connors€and€Andrew€Byrnes,€òòAssessing€the€Status€of€Women:€A€Guide€to€Reporting€underÐ ˆØ Ðthe€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€Womenóó,€CommonwealthÐ tÄ ÐSecretariat€and€the€International€Women's€Rights€Action€Watch,€1995.€Ð `° ÐÌòò38óó/€€See€E/C.12/1993/SR.42€for€the€discussion€on€the€minimum€core€content€and€non„discriminationÐ 8 ˆ Ðdimensions€in€the€right€to€health€in€which€numerous€non„governmental€organizations€took€part.Ð $ t Ð