Twenty-sixth meeting of chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies

Geneva, 23–27 June 2014

Item 2 of the provisional agenda

Adoption of the agenda

Provisional agenda and annotations

Note by the Secretary-General

1.The twenty-sixth meeting of chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies will be held from 23 to 27 June 2014, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 49/178 of 23 December 1994.

2.The present document contains the provisional agenda and annotations for the twenty-sixth meeting.

Provisional agenda

1.Opening of the meeting and election of officers.

2.Adoption of the agenda.

3.Organizational matters.

4.Follow-up to General Assembly resolution 68/268 on strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system and to the decisions of the twenty-fifth meeting of chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies pertaining to the harmonization of working methods.

(a)General discussion:

(i)Tasks and related measures under resolution 68/268;

(ii)Enhanced interaction between the chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies and their respective treaty bodies to ensure follow-up and implementation of the recommendations contained in resolution 68/268, includingthe mandated review foreseen in paragraphs 40 and 41 of the resolution;

(b)Simplified reporting procedure;

(c)Constructive dialogue between treaty bodies and States parties;

(d)Concluding observations.

5.Informalconsultation with States.

6.Informal consultation with civil society organizations and the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutionsfor the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

7.Follow-up to General Assembly resolution 68/268 on strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system and to the decisions of the twenty-fifth meeting of chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies pertaining to reporting compliance by States parties.

8.Other matters.

9.Adoption of the report and identification of the dates and venue for the twenty-seventh meeting of the chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies.

Annotations

1.Opening of the meeting and election of officers

The meeting will convene in Geneva on Monday 23 June 2014 at 10 a.m. The meeting will elect its Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, based on the principle of rotation among chairpersons and in accordance with the decision adopted by the chairpersons at their twenty-fifth meeting.

2.Adoption of the agenda

The meeting will adopt its agenda on the basis of the provisional agenda contained in the present document.

3.Organizational matters

Under this agenda item, the meeting will consider and adopt a programme of work.

4.Follow-up to General Assembly resolution 68/268 on strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system and to the decisions of the twenty-fifth meeting of chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies pertaining to the harmonization of working methods

(a)General discussion

Participants will be briefed on General Assembly resolution 68/268.The chairpersons will discuss the impact of the resolution on their respective treaty bodies and the need to enhance interaction between those bodies and the meeting of chairpersons in order to ensure follow-up to, and implementation of, the recommendations in the resolution.

At their twenty-fifth meeting, the chairpersons committed themselves to continuing to align their working methods, which is in line with resolution 68/268. At the same meeting, they reiterated their recommendation,which had previously been discussed within each committee, that they should adopt measures on working methods and procedural matters that would be common to all the treaty bodies,and that such measures should be implemented by all the treaty bodies, unless a committee subsequently dissociated itself from them.

(b)Simplified reporting procedure

In resolution 68/268, the General Assemblyencouraged the human rights treaty bodies to offer to States parties for their consideration a simplified reporting procedure, also known as the list of issues prior to reporting, and to set a limit on the number of questions included. The meeting will have before it a report containing an overview of existing practices concerning thelists of issues prior to reportingand recommendations for consideration by the chairpersons.

(c)Constructive dialogue between treaty bodies and States parties

As agreed during the twenty-fifth meeting of chairpersons, participants will review the possible alignment of the methodologies for the constructive dialogue between States parties and treaty bodies. The meeting will have before it a report containing an overview of existing methodologies in relation to the constructive dialogue with States parties and recommendations for consideration by the chairpersons.

(d)Concluding observations

As agreed during the twenty-fifth meeting of chairpersons, participants will review the possibility of developing a common format for concluding observations. The meeting will have before it a report containing an overview of existing formats of concluding observations, and recommendations for consideration by the chairpersons.

5.Informal consultation with States

Participants will meet with representatives of States. It is proposed that the main topic of discussion during the informal consultation should be the implementation of resolution 68/268.

6.Informal consultation with civil society organizations and the International Coordinating Committeeof National Institutionsfor the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights

Participants will meet with representatives of the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions and with civil society organizations. It is proposed that the topic of discussion forthis informal consultation should be the engagement of treaty bodies with civil society organizations and national human rights institutions and the implementation of resolution68/268.

7.Follow-up to General Assembly resolution 68/268 on strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system and to the decisions of the twenty-fifth meeting of chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies pertaining to reporting compliance by States.

At their twenty-fifth meeting, the chairpersons expressed concern over late reporting and non-reporting by a number of States parties to international human rights treaties. They decided to include overdue and non-reporting by States parties as a standing item on the agenda of the annual meeting and to include the status of late reporting and non-reporting by States parties in future reports on the meeting. Participants will review the status of reporting compliance by State parties.

8.Other matters

The chairpersons will discuss any other matters relating to the work of treaty bodies, as considered necessary.

9.Adoption of the report and identification of the dates and venue for the twenty-seventh meeting of chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies

The chairpersons will adopt a report on their meeting, including conclusions and recommendations, to be submitted to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session.

They will also determine the dates and venue of their twenty-seventh meeting, to be held in 2015.