Minority Rights: A Guide to United Nations Procedures and Institutions By Gudmundur Alfredsson and Erika Ferrer, as updated and revised by Kathryn Ramsay Contents 2 Abbreviations and terms used in the text 4 1. Introduction 8 2. Overview of international standards 10 3. Treaty bodies 10 3.1 Introduction 10 3.2 State reporting 16 3.3 General Comments 21 3.4 Complaints mechanisms 25 3.5 Thematic/general discussions 27 4. Charter bodies 27 4.1 Commission on Human Rights 29 4.2 Special procedures 4.3 Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights 30 31 4.4 Working Group on Minorities 34 4.5 1503 Procedure 36 5. Other United Nations procedures 36 5.1 International Criminal Courts 36 5.2 Good offices 36 5.3 Research 37 5.4 Technical cooperation 38 6. Annexes 38 6.1 Contact details 39 6.2 How to apply for ECOSOC status 40 6.3 Model communications form for treaty bodies 41 6.4 Guidelines for interventions at United Nations meetings 42 6.5 Special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights 44 Notes