PART III – CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION Illustration 14: Case of Australian NGO Coalition: Before the consideration of the State report78 Start of the work: The Australian NGO coalition started its substantive work, when Australia provided its periodic report to CERD. The idea was to prepare a single report in consultation with community organisations that would cover comprehensively CERD-related issues in Australia, and that could be endorsed broadly by Australian NGOs, in order to provide CERD with a single document which covers a wide range of issues and to minimise the likelihood of the Committee being provided with multiple reports and duplicated information. Preparation of an alternative report: First, the likely issues to be canvassed in an alternative report were identified. Then the peak bodies working with the key issues or with relevant affected communities were identified to form a Strategy Group to guide and inform the consultation. A meeting of the Strategy Group of key NGOs and experts was convened and a list of issues for the alternative report was prepared. A team was established to be primarily responsible for drafting the report. NGOs agreed that the alternative report should be developed on the basis of community consultation and evidence, and each of the Strategy Group members undertook to consult with their contacts and communities and to provide information and guidance to the drafting team in their area of interest and expertise. After a draft report was prepared, further consultation took place. Submission of the report: The final version of the alternative report was provided to CERD six weeks prior to the scheduled review. Six weeks was determined to be a sufficient amount of time to give CERD, particularly the country rapporteur and the secretariat, the chance to read and digest our information. Before the CERD session: In the months just prior to the review NGOs were in touch by email with the CERD secretariat to let them know that they were planning to provide an alternative report. They also began to build a relationship with the Australian government delegation in Australia, providing them with their materials. d) Submitting additional information on the list of themes:79 As a complement (or an alternative) to other input, civil society actors can consider submitting information that specifically focuses on the list of themes which compiles themes and topics to be raised during the dialogue between the Committee and state delegation. However, concerning the fact that the list will be usually published 4 to 6 weeks before the respective session, this should be regarded as an optional submission. If civil society actors send their representatives to Geneva or have partners in Geneva, they can consider providing precise information with regard to the List of Themes directly to Committee members, especially to the Country Rapporteur, e.g. during the informal briefing (see below). 1.2 During the CERD session If NGOs can send someone to the CERD session in Geneva, they will have the opportunity to: Interact with CERD members in an informal meeting at the beginning of the week; Organise an informal briefing to CERD members; Lobby CERD members; Observe the consideration of the State reports by CERD. 78 Communication with Ms. Emily Howie, Director – Advocacy and Strategic Litigation, Human Rights Law Resource Centre. More information on their NGO alternative report can be found at their website: http://www.hrlrc.org.au/content/topics/equality/cerdngo-report-for-review-of-australia/ 79 For the list of themes, please also refer to PART II, 2.1 c) and PART III 1.1 b) of this guide. 29 ICERD & CERD: A GUIDE FOR CIVIL SOCIETY ACTORS