Minority rights focus in the United Nations 57 launch of an alternative report could be the first step in a continuing campaign to highlight omissions or errors in the State report and to publicize ongoing human rights issues. The report should generally be submitted after the State report, as it should take into account the information provided by the State, but well in advance of the session at which the State will be examined. If a State report has not been submitted on time, this does not preclude NGO involvement in the reporting process. Some committees review the situation in non-reporting States in the absence of a report, precisely to encourage States to submit them. Whenever a State is scheduled for review, information from NGOs and other groups can be helpful to the committee. Information for submission should be sent directly to the relevant committee in Geneva. The schedule for submission of reports and review sessions can be found on each committee’s web page, accessible via the OHCHR website (under Human Rights Bodies). It is important that a committee receives supplementary information well before it meets to consider a State report. Contact OHCHR to ensure that the information provided is disseminated in time. To allow the Committee to consider a comprehensive alternative view to the State report, rather than a large quantity of uncoordinated information, NGOs are encouraged to coordinate their submission with those of other organizations. It is best to organize the information according to the sequence in which the rights are set forth in the particular treaty. When available, reference should be made to relevant authorities and supporting material, such as statistical evidence, official reports, court decisions or materials from other bodies within the United Nations system. If possible, NGOs should send multiple copies of their materials to the committee, together with a written request that they be distributed to all committee members, where this is permitted. Supplying the materials in more than one language can be effective. Participating in committee meetings Although it may require considerable resources, NGOs might consider travelling to Geneva or New York to provide information directly to the committee when it meets to consider the State report. This can prove useful in clarifying and expounding on the written submission of NGOs or minority representatives. Rules covering the participation of NGO representatives vary from committee to committee. All treaty bodies welcome written information submitted by NGOs and, apart from informal, socalled lunchtime briefings, most also allow time during their formal pre-session working groups or the plenary session for NGOs to interact with committee members. During the consideration of a State report, the committee sets aside one hour for NGOs and national human rights institutions to present information directly and orally to the Committee, in addition to the written reports submitted in advance of the session. NGOs and national human rights institutions may also submit information for adoption in the list of issues produced by the committee and in the context of follow-up to the committee’s concluding observations. Further, NGOs may provide information for adoption in a list of issues prior to reporting. This optional reporting procedure consists of a list of issues which is transmitted to States parties before they submit their periodic reports; it is a mechanism to assist States parties to prepare and submit more focused reports. A list of issues prior to reporting thus guides the content and preparation of a State report, facilitates the reporting process and strengthens the capacity of States parties to fulfil their reporting obligation in a timely and effective manner. Specific treaty bodies operate as follows. • The Human Rights Committee allocates time during the morning of the first day of each session for oral NGO interventions. Members also interact with NGO representatives during informal meetings organized at lunchtime.