NOTES United Nations Yearbook, vol. 4, 2000, pp. 271—87. 32 General Recommendation XXVII — See the annexes to this manual. 33 Article 71 of the Charter of the United Nations, and ECOSOC resolution 1996/31. If your NGO wishes to obtain consultative status, see the Useful addresses section at the back of this manual. Note, however, that NGOs have no official right to participate in the working processes of CERD, which is not an ECOSOC body. 34 The services ARIS offers to NGOs include: making official UN documents available to them; keeping them informed of CERD s schedule; assisting them in their lobbying efforts with governments; reporting on the outcome of the discussion of their governments reports by supplying them with the country report that ARIS prepares after the session, and further, upon request, the official annual report of the Committee; encouraging human rights groups in the countries that have not accepted Article 14 of the Convention to exert pressure on their governments to do so; assisting human rights groups, where appropriate, in filing individual complaints; and, sending UN press releases, immediately after discussion by CERD, to the major news media in the countries concerned. (From ARIS leaflet, Geneva, September 1999.) 35 Communication to IMADR from Mr Martin Scheinin. 36 Banton, M., Decision-taking in the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination , presented at a public lecture on 13 November 1997 convened by the International Law Association (British Branch) and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. 37 Examples of reports which have been submitted by NGOs, or at least a list of such NGOs, might be consulted through the CERD Secretariat or ARIS. See Useful addresses at the back of this manual. 38 Forum Against Racism, Racism in Switzerland: First NGO report of Switzerland to the UN, February 1998. 39 As from 2001, some of the sessions may also be held at a Conference Room in the Palais Wilson which houses the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Should its request be granted by the General Assembly, CERD may also hold one of its 40 41 42 43 two annual sessions at the UN headquarters in New York. CERD/C/35/Rev.3, of 1 January 1989, in particular Rules 80 to 97. See communication no. 6/1995 (Z.U.B.S. v. Australia), and communication no. 8/1996 (B.M.S. v. Australia). Communication no. 8/1996 (B.M.S. v. Australia), paras 6.1 and 6.2. CERD Annual Report, UN doc. A/54/18, Annexe III. A. ICERD: A GUIDE FOR NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 45