Type of Mechanism

Reporting and Monitoring

Scope of the Procedure

The rights enumerated in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Who Can Submit a Report

NGOs only

Role of Advocates

NGOs can submit "shadow" reports as alternatives to country reports, to the Committee as a whole or to individual members.  NGOs can also monitor the Committee proceedings during State reporting periods.

Available     Remedies

No remedies for individual rights violations. 

How to Submit a Report

There is no single format for shadow reports, but the report should be organized according to the articles of the Covenant and as a commentary on the State party report.  A shadow report should analyze a particular problem rather than merely describe it. 

More information on writing shadow reports, using shadow reports strategically and sample NGO reports can be found in the Human Rights Investigation and Documentation section of this website.

Where to Send Communications

Alexandre Tikhonov, Secretary to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office 1-025, United Nations Office at Geneva
8-14 avenue de la Paix
1211 Genève
Switzerland

Tel: + 41 22 917 3968
Fax: + 41 22 917 0099
Email:  atikhonov.hchr@unog.ch

How the Reporting Procedure Works

After ratifying the Covenant, State parties are required to submit an initial report on compliance.  States must then submit periodic reports every five years.

The Committee meets twice a year (May and November/December) to review the periodic reports.  Although generally a country will not be reviewed until it has submitted a report, in order to relieve backlog, the Committee agreed to review one non-reporting State each session.

There are no deadlines for submitting shadow reports, but NGO submissions are most useful to the Committee at the time that a specific State is reporting.  It is advantageous for NGOs to prepare reports for the pre-sessional period, six months earlier, which allows Committee members enough time to review the submission.

The sessions are open to the public, but only Committee members and official government representatives may participate in the discussion.  NGOs may attend, but not participate in, the formal proceedings.  NGOs are encouraged, however, to submit information to Committee members in pre-sessional working groups.

Once the Committee has reviewed the reports, it issues comments and recommendations.

Advantages/ Disadvantages

NGOs have used shadow reports effectively to advocate for change.  Periodic State reporting has put pressure on national governments to amend legislation and policies to bring them into compliance with the Covenant.  Individuals cannot submit information to the Committee.  There are no enforcement mechanisms applicable to States that do not submit periodic reports.