THE CONTRIBUTION OF NGOS TO CERD’S WORK of each summary record begins with CERD/C/SR. , followed by the number of the meeting. These numbers can be found by looking up the concluding observations where they will be mentioned in the first paragraph. Please note that summary records are issued, at best, a few weeks later, and sometimes even months afterwards. They are issued in English and French, although in the first instance in only one of those languages. C. After the session —follow-up It is good to collect information about CERD s proceedings and to see concerns expressed by NGOs included in the Concluding Observations, but the real success of the involvement of an NGO largely depends on an effective follow-up process. Examples of follow-ups: ● NGOs can inform the public through the media and/or their own periodicals about salient aspects of CERD s proceedings. Concluding Observations may be important not only for states but also for NGOs. Organizing workshops or similar meetings may be considered to discuss actions to be taken for the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Concluding Observations. Analysis of, and commentary on, the Concluding Observations might help people to understand the implications of the Committee s recommendations for the domestic situations. Translation of the Concluding Observations into national and/or other minorities languages is equally important. Illustration — Mundo Afro’s follow-up activities After consideration of the Uruguayan report by CERD in August 1999, Mundo Afro obtained a copy of the Concluding Observations. The organization sent copies of their report to the press for publication, held press conferences and sent a letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay asking about the measures that would be taken in the light of CERD’s Concluding Observations. Mundo Afro also organized seminars in association with other organizations to analyse the Concluding Observations and the possible action to be taken for their implementation. Within the framework of presidential elections in Uruguay (held in November 1999) members of Mundo Afro interviewed all candidates asking them about their position regarding the implementation of CERD’s Concluding Observations. Moreover, Mundo Afro has participated in panels organized by university student bodies where copies of CERD’s Concluding Observations were distributed. It is now working on a larger educational project focusing on CERD. ● Involvement of parliamentarians is particularly important in the follow-up process, as some of the recommendations can be implemented only if a certain law is enacted or amended, or other legislative or administrative measures are taken. ● NGOs may also approach relevant ministries/departments, local authorities, associations or unions in order to make them aware of the state s obligations in the Convention and CERD s recommendations to the state. ● With a view to putting pressure on a government to implement the Committee s recommendations, NGOs might also draw the attention of other UN fora — other treaty bodies, the Commission on Human Rights or its subsidiary organs — to those recommendations which have particular relevance to their respective mandates. ● Concluding Observations can also be used within other frameworks — regional and international — for example, the ERRC informed us that it refers to them wherever appropriate in its legal briefs to, for example, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. ● The follow-up, in particular on the recommendations contained in concluding observations, should be considered simultaneously as the first stage of the preparation of a next supplementary report. Illustration – The following schedule of activities carried out by NGOs with regard to the consideration by the Human Rights Committee (the treaty body under the ICCPR) of the 4th periodic report of Japan may allow other NGOs to assess the time needed for each step: 1998: July: IMADR sent out questionnaires to 23 organizations in Japan which had submitted supplementary reports to the Human Rights Committee (HRC) in 1992 at the time of the Committee’s consideration of Japan’s 3rd periodic report. 8 Sept.: Based on the answers to the questionnaires, a meeting was held to exchange information among organizations which planned to submit supplementary reports on Japan’s 4th periodic report to the HRC. Eighteen organizations participated. 22 Sept.: Meeting between Diet (Parliament) members, NGOs and representatives of various ministries and agencies – including Construction, Education, Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Justice, Labour, National Policy (Police) and Welfare. cont... ICERD: A GUIDE FOR NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 17