A/HRC/34/50 the emphasis placed on implementation of review recommendations in resolutions adopted by the Council in connection with this right. Recommendations made during the first and second cycles of the universal periodic review: 52,282 Total freedom of religion or belief recommendations 1 280 (2.45 per cent) Regional Group First cycle Second cycle Total number Asia-Pacific Group 199 347 546 Western European and Others Group 127 282 409 African Group 56 96 152 Eastern European Group 54 94 147 Latin American and Caribbean Group 12 14 26 Total 448 833 1 281 Number of recommendations accepted 260 543 803 C. Treaty bodies 13. The work of the treaty bodies, especially those that address States’ obligations relating to the right to freedom of religion or belief, are critical to the work of the mandate holder. The Human Rights Committee – which periodically monitors the compliance of State parties with article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the main international legal provision protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief, among other rights – identifies deficits in compliance and makes recommendations on improvement by means of its concluding observations. In addition, the general comments made by the treaty bodies, and the jurisprudence from the complaints procedures of these committees, provide substantive and authoritative content on the normative framework of fundamental rights. 14. The special procedures play a vital role in ensuring that concluding observations and other work of the treaty bodies are integrated into the work of their mandates. Where treaty bodies do not undertake field visits, they could also benefit from the expertise gathered by the special procedures. Last but not least, the special procedures should follow up on treaty body recommendations aimed at withdrawing reservations to human rights treaties, including those to article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, that are inconsistent with the objective and purpose of the treaties. D. Other United Nations-related initiatives 15. The annual resolution adopted by consensus by the Human Rights Council on freedom of religion or belief, together with a comparable resolution of the Third Committee, highlight the key concerns of the international community with regard to the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief and provide guidance 6