Minority rights focus in the United Nations 27 A communication should not use language deemed to be abusive or insulting. In addition, it should not refer to a case that appears to reveal a consistent pattern of gross and reliably attested violations of human rights already being dealt with by a special procedure, treaty body or other United Nations or similar regional complaints procedure in the field of human rights. Furthermore, the complaint should not be manifestly politically motivated and its object should be consistent with the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other applicable instruments in the field of human rights law. It must not be exclusively based on reports disseminated by mass media. Stage 1: Initial screening The OHCHR Secretariat together with the Chair of the Working Group on Communications screens all communications as they arrive, on the basis of admissibility criteria, and discards those found to be “manifestly ill founded” or anonymous. If a communication is not screened out, the author receives a written acknowledgement and the communication is sent to the State concerned for reply. Stage 2: Working Group on Communications The Working Group on Communications is made up of appointed members of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee and is mandated to meet at least twice a year for five days each session. It examines complaints which have passed the initial screening stage and any replies received from States, with a view to bringing to the attention of the Working Group on Situations any particular situation that appears to reveal a consistent pattern of gross and reliably attested violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Stage 3: Working Group on Situations The Working Group on Situations is composed of five members of the Human Rights Council, who serve in their personal capacity, and is mandated to meet at least twice a year, for five days each session, to consider situations referred to it. It produces a report for the Council on consistent patterns of gross and reliably attested violations and makes specific recommendations on action to be taken. Alternatively, it may decide to keep a situation under review or to dismiss a case. Stage 4: Human Rights Council The Council considers situations brought to its attention by the Working Group on Situations in closed plenary meetings as frequently as necessary, but at least once a year. The report of the Working Group on Situations is examined in a confidential manner, unless the Council decides otherwise. Based on its consideration of a situation, the Council may take any of the following actions, usually in the form of a resolution or decision: • To discontinue considering the situation when further consideration/action is not warranted; • To keep the situation under review and request the State concerned to provide further information within a reasonable period of time; • To keep the situation under review and appoint an independent and highly qualified expert to monitor the situation and report back to the Council; • To discontinue reviewing the matter under the confidential complaint procedure in order to take up public consideration of the same; • To recommend to OHCHR to provide technical cooperation, capacity-building assistance or advisory services to the State concerned. The authors of communications and the States concerned are informed of the proceedings at all key stages of the complaint procedure.