Issues addressed in the NGO contribution include the universal ratification of human rights conventions, an objective which is far from achieved. In addition, State parties should respect their periodic reporting obligations, which many do not: as an indication, there are currently 621 reports overdue, of which 316 are initial reports. Some of these reports are over 20 years old. For example, in the Arab world, Lebanon's report to the Human Rights Committee is more than 11 years overdue. This is particularly striking when compared to the first cycle of the UPR, which achieved 100% compliance in the first round - suggesting that compliance has more to do with political will than other impediments.

Signatory NGOs also call for more efforts to be made to ensure implementation of recommendations/observations and views issued by treaty bodies, and suggest that the annual meetings of State parties should focus on this issue.

Regarding election of treaty body experts, measures to ensure membership of treaty bodies is of an expert and fully independent nature need to be taken, and gender balance should also be taken into account when electing committee experts. In addition, adequate resources should be made available to the treaty bodies, given their expansion in recent years – as highlighted by the Assistant High Commissioner for Human Rights in a recent States party meeting. Finally, reprisals against those providing information to treaty bodies, including human rights defenders and victims of violations should be addressed adequately, and all measures taken to prevent such reprisals occurring in the first place.

At present, the President of the General Assembly has appointed Iceland and Indonesia as the two co-facilitators to support this inter-governmental process. These co-facilitators will meet informally with regional groups about the issues to be discussed within this process and should ensure arrangements are made for full NGO participation in the process.

The statement was signed by the following organizations: