How to prepare a parallel report for treaty bodies

A ‘parallel’ report (also referred to as a 'shadow report') is an alternative report to the one presented by the State parties to the treaty body committee.

 Parallel reports are prepared by non-government organizations and address the same categories as State party reports. They aim to present another picture of the human rights situation to the treaty body committee.

Experience has shown that well prepared alternative reports can have considerable impact on human right situations.

To prepare an effective alternative report:

Know what stage the reporting is at under a particular treaty.  

Find out what the previous report said, and what concerns the treaty body expressed last time Australia reported

Coordinate your efforts with other interested organizations. This will minimize duplication and the danger of overloading the treaty body with too much unfocused material.

Ensure that information included is factual, objective and concise.

Make sure your information is specific to the Covenant under review, and relevant to the matters under consideration

When presenting the report:

Information can be submitted in written form or orally at a treaty body session;

Written information can be provided at all times prior to the examination of the report;

Information can be submitted in an oral presentation during a lunchtime briefing held during Committee plenary session;

Treaty-Specific Reporting Guidelines

Each treaty-body has its own specific reporting guidelines. Please click here for reporting guidelines for:

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) (E/C.12/2008/2)

Human Rights Committee (CCPR)

Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

Committee Against Torture (CAT)

Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

The Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights’ Note on ‘NGO participation in the activities of the Committee on Economic,Social and Cultural Rights’ is also a useful document for preparing reports to CESCR and tips for other treaty-body committees.