Type of Mechanism

Reporting and Monitoring

Scope of the Procedure

The rights enumerated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Who Can Submit a Report

NGOs only

Role of Advocates

NGOs can submit "shadow" or alternative reports to country reports, to the Committee as a whole or to individual members.  NGOs with UN accreditation 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

The Human Rights Committee
c/o Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland

Tel: + 41 22 917 9000

Fax: +41 22 917 9003

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 and at the Committee's request.

The Committee normally meets three times a year to review the periodic reports 

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 to allow Committee members enough time to review the submission, for example a few months before the session date. 

The sessions in which the Committee reviews State reports are open to the public.  There is no specific procedure to allow the Committee to consider outside information, but NGOs have been invited to offer comments on the reports.  Committee members rely on information from a variety of source in their dialog with State representatives, including from other UN bodes and from NGOs.

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 Convention.  Individuals cannot submit information to the Committee.  There are no enforcement mechanisms applicable to States that do not submit periodic reports.