the first to be cut if the CHR is running behind schedule. States will sometimes make a right of reply to an NGO (more usually, they reply to other states) but NGOs do not have a right of reply to a state. Often when a state does reply to an NGO, the reply consists of the state attacking the legitimacy of the NGO and the credibility of the information; therefore, you should be very clear about your sources. Another problem for NGOs is a lack of resources, so they are unable attend the CHR for more than a few days. This means that if the CHR falls behind schedule NGOs may have to leave before their turn to speak. Making an oral intervention and submitting a written statement will not, in themselves, have much impact. Therefore, it is important for you to use your intervention as a means for other advocacy work. Dialogue with your government One possibility is for you to contact your government representative in advance of making the intervention, tell them what you propose to say and ask for their reaction. You may have a specific action that you want them to take. Governments do not like to be publicly criticized and may be willing to take the action you wish, or make a gesture of goodwill, in order to avoid an unfavourable intervention. Government representatives at the UN operate according to instructions received from officials in the capital, so you should allow enough time for consultations before you make your intervention. If the government responds positively, you can include this in your intervention and thank them for the action taken. This will ensure that you have a public record of their commitment to act that you can use if they later fail to take the steps promised. If you do not get a positive response, you can make your intervention as originally planned. It may be useful for you to keep in close contact with colleagues in your country who will be able to verify the government response. You may wish to use your time in Geneva to initiate dialogue with your government representatives, especially if you have not been able to voice your concerns at home. Since the government delegates require instructions from the central government, they will not be able to take actions or decisions; however, they may put you in touch with appropriate officials. You may also find that your presence at a UN meeting encourages government officials to take you more seriously and listen to your concerns on your return home. Case study: Nubian community in Kenya MRG has been working with partner organizations to raise the issue of the denial of citizenship to the Nubian community in Kenya in different forums including the regional African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, CERD and CHR. The idea behind the strategy of raising the same issue in different forums is to keep constant pressure on the government. The issue was raised at the CERD thematic session on noncitizens in March 2004 through the attendance of a partner organization. At the CHR in 2003, MRG worked closely with an NGO with good contacts with the Kenyan delegation; while the partner organization stayed informed of developments in Nairobi, to assist the NGOs present in Geneva to decide whether to make an intervention and what the most effective intervention would be. Once all parties were convinced that there would be no significant action by the Kenyan government, the NGOs prepared and delivered an intervention explaining the situation of the Nubians and recommending that the Kenyan government start a dialogue with the community The CHR adopts hundreds of Resolutions and decisions on different human rights issues. NGOs can influence these Resolutions. Resolutions of the CHR govern the way the other Charter-based human rights bodies work; for example, CHR Resolutions create or amend the mandate of Special Rapporteurs/Representatives (SRs), control the work of the Sub-Commission and its working groups, and give a good indication of the thinking of the international community on human rights issues. Take time to become familiar with the type of language used in UN Resolutions. Each Resolution is sponsored by a state that takes responsibility for drafting the text and for negotiations over the draft. Some Resolutions are very contentious; on others there is consensus. Initially all discussions take place between government representatives in private and focus on the wording of the Resolution. NGOs who wish to influence the wording of the Resolution need to lobby the representative of the sponsoring state and other sympathetic states to obtain their support for the requested wording. It may also be useful to speak to states that are not supportive in order to try to persuade them not to actively oppose the wording. Once agreement is reached on the draft, it is considered for adoption by the 53 members of the CHR. If no states have any comments to make on the draft Resolution, it is adopted by consensus. States that object to the draft may ask that the CHR takes a vote. A majority is required to pass the Resolution. During the drafting process you should get an idea of whether the resolution will be decided by a vote. If so, NGOs will need to lobby those states whose position is undecided to try to win their support, and those states in opposition, to try to persuade them to abstain rather than vote against the Resolution. NGOs should be aware that states sometimes take a group position on an issue, for example all of the 28 MINORITY RIGHTS: A GUIDE TO UNITED NATIONS PROCEDURES AND INSTITUTIONS Influencing CHR Resolutions