Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Guidelines for Reporting E UNITED NATIONS i Economic and Social Distr. Council GENERAL E/C.12/2008/2 24 March 2009 Original: ENGLISH Guidelines on treaty-specific documents to be submitted by states parties under articles 16 and 17 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights? COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS from 26 November to 14 December 1990, adopted a set of revised general guidelines which replaced the original guidelines. Note Secretary-General by the 1. In accordance with article 17 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Economic (LX} of 11 which the in stages and Social Council, by its resolution 1988 May 1976, established a programme under States parties to the Covenant would furnish the reports referred to in article 16 of the Covenant and the Secretary-General, at the Council's request, subsequently drew up an appropriate set of general guidelines. In response to the introduction of 4 new reporting cycle, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, at its fifth session, held 1 Adopted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at its 49th meeting (forty-first session) on 18 November 2008, taking into consideration the guidelines on a common core document and treaty-specific documents, as contained in the harmonized quidelines ((ARI/GEIN/2/Rev.5). 2. The purpose of reporting guidelines is to advise States parties on the form and content of their reports, so as to facilitate the preparation of reports and ensure that reports are comprehensive and presented in a uniform manner by States parties. 3. The Committee has decided to replace the revised general guidelines (E/C.12/1991/1) by the present guidelines to take 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 its concluding observations, general comments and statements. 4. The text of the guidelines on treaty-specific documents to be submitted by States parties under articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant is contained in the annex to the present document. CESCR GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING 7