Welcome to the United Nations 
OHCHR 
Press releases Treaty bodies
COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE CONSIDERS DRAFT HARMONIZED GUIDELINES FOR TREATY DOCUMENTATION
12 May 2006
Share
12 May 2006
The Committee against Torture this morning considered draft harmonized guidelines on reporting under the international human rights treaties.
Committee Expert Felice Gaer, in her capacity as a member of the inter-committee technical working group on the subject, introduced a report on draft harmonized guidelines on reporting under the international human rights treaties, including guidelines on a common core document and treaty-specific documents (HRI/MC/2006/3).
Ms. Gaer said that the subject had been a perennial concern raised at the annual meeting of treaty body chairpersons. Following United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's recommendation that treaty bodies harmonize and unify documentation to be submitted to them, it had been agreed, following consultations, that a single unified report would not rationalize or improve the work of the treaty bodies, as it was felt such a document might even slow down and provide an obstacle to their work. There was a consensus, however, on the expansion and unification of the core document to be submitted by States parties, in the context of their presentation of periodic reports on the fulfilment of their treaty body obligations, which contained basic information on the State.
Giving some background on the process, Ms. Gaer said that at the meeting of treaty body chairpersons in June 2005, a Committee Expert from the Committee on the Rights of the Child had been asked to draft guidelines for a common core document, which he did. At the inter-committee meeting, also held last June, it was further decided that, rather than adopt the draft guidelines directly, a technical working group would be set up with representatives from each of the treaty bodies to discuss and revise the draft guidelines. That working group had met twice, from 8 to 9 December 2005 and from 15 to 17 February 2006.
The draft harmonized guidelines developed by that working group was before Committee members. The process of revision of the core document had taken over a year. Ms. Gaer said she hoped that it could be submitted to the inter-committee meeting this June for approval.
Following a discussion among Committee Experts, it was decided to consider the issue of the draft guidelines again next week.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., in Room XVI, it will hear the answers of the Republic of Korea to the questions posed by the Experts on Thursday, 11 May.
* *** *
For use of the information media; not an official record
The Committee against Torture this morning considered draft harmonized guidelines on reporting under the international human rights treaties.
Committee Expert Felice Gaer, in her capacity as a member of the inter-committee technical working group on the subject, introduced a report on draft harmonized guidelines on reporting under the international human rights treaties, including guidelines on a common core document and treaty-specific documents (HRI/MC/2006/3).
Ms. Gaer said that the subject had been a perennial concern raised at the annual meeting of treaty body chairpersons. Following United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's recommendation that treaty bodies harmonize and unify documentation to be submitted to them, it had been agreed, following consultations, that a single unified report would not rationalize or improve the work of the treaty bodies, as it was felt such a document might even slow down and provide an obstacle to their work. There was a consensus, however, on the expansion and unification of the core document to be submitted by States parties, in the context of their presentation of periodic reports on the fulfilment of their treaty body obligations, which contained basic information on the State.
Giving some background on the process, Ms. Gaer said that at the meeting of treaty body chairpersons in June 2005, a Committee Expert from the Committee on the Rights of the Child had been asked to draft guidelines for a common core document, which he did. At the inter-committee meeting, also held last June, it was further decided that, rather than adopt the draft guidelines directly, a technical working group would be set up with representatives from each of the treaty bodies to discuss and revise the draft guidelines. That working group had met twice, from 8 to 9 December 2005 and from 15 to 17 February 2006.
The draft harmonized guidelines developed by that working group was before Committee members. The process of revision of the core document had taken over a year. Ms. Gaer said she hoped that it could be submitted to the inter-committee meeting this June for approval.
Following a discussion among Committee Experts, it was decided to consider the issue of the draft guidelines again next week.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., in Room XVI, it will hear the answers of the Republic of Korea to the questions posed by the Experts on Thursday, 11 May.
* *** *
For use of the information media; not an official record