STRUCTURE OF THE HANDBOOK The Handbook structure mirrors, as far as practicable, the process of reporting for the Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and relates the Commission's experience in directly engaging in the treaty reporting process. TEXT OF THE CONVENTION AND THE REPORTING GUIDELINES The handbook begins with the text of the United Nations International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the ‘Basic Reference Document on the Revised Guidelines regarding the form and content of reports by states parties in accordance with Articles 16 and 17 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’. These guidelines replaces the previous revised general guidelines (E/C.12/1991/1) and already takes into account the harmonized guidelines on reporting under the international human rights treaties (HRI/GEN/2/Rev.5), as well as the evolving practice of the Committee in relation to the application of the Covenant, as reflected in various issuances including concluding observations, general comments and statements. The Convention text alongside the guidelines for reporting sets the stage for both government and non-government duty holders in ensuring substantive submissions to the treaty body. GENERAL COMMENTS AND STATEMENTS Deepened understanding of the provisions of the Covenant is provided through issuances of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ General Comments and Statements. These documents provide greater understanding of the ‘normative content’ of rights contained in the covenant. Simply stated, the normative content of rights is the norm (or prescribed action, behavior) by which government is expected to demonstrate its obligations to human rights. General Comments also elaborate on the scope of specific and related rights. It also elaborates the meaning of the language used and spirit of Convention provisions. Some general comments discuss procedural For an appreciation aspects such as the general comment of National Human on reporting by states parties. Rights Institutions in the implementation of the Convention, General Comment No. 10 is instructive as it discusses the role of national human rights institutions in the protection of economic, social and cultural rights. This General Comment on NHRis was issued by the Committee in 1998, the first issuance on NHAls after the ‘Paris Principles’ was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.’ PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT'S 2ND TO 4TH PERIODIC REPORT, LIST OF ISSUES, GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE LIST OF ISSUES The submission of the government or state report to the covenant is examined through a pre- sessional working group which meets prior to each of the Committee’s sessions. It is composed of 5 members which meets for the purpose of identifying advance questions to facilitate the dialogue with government representatives of the reporting States.* Members of the working group assigns responsibility for undertaking a detailed review of a specific number of reports based on their area of expertise. Accordingly, members present to the working group a preliminary list of issues, A country rapporteur drafts the list and revises this based on observations raised by other working group members. A 2 3 4 final version of the list of issues is then adopted by the working group as a whole.* General Assembly Resolution No. 48/134 of 20 December 1993 Working Methods of the Committee on Economic, Social and cescr_é 2009 22 2009.pdf Ibid. Cultural Rights, http://www.bayefsky.com/methods