International Human Rights and the International Human Rights System A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has also incorporated NHRIs into its working methods and rules of procedure.210 Table 10.2: The roles of NHRIs TMB function NHRI role Promotion of ratification of the treaty • Advocacy with the Government for ratification and implementation • Community education and promotion of the treaty • Contribute to the development of the State report • Contribute to the list of issues Examination of the State report • Participate in pre-sessional meetings • Prepare parallel reports • Participate in the session • Promote the concluding observations and the recommendations • Propose a general comment or general recommendation Interpretation of the treaty • Participate in days of general discussion • Provide submissions on draft texts Individual complaints • Provide assistance to complainants Inquiries • Submit information Early warning or urgent action • Submit information Follow-up • Monitoring • Submit information KEY POINTS: CHAPTER 10 • The treaty-based system is the second component of the international human rights system. It is based on treaties and so binds only those States that are parties to each of the treaties. • There are nine core human rights treaties and a large number of supplementary human rights treaties. • Each of the nine core treaties and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment has a specialist committee of independent human rights experts, known as a treaty monitoring body, to promote the treaty, monitor State compliance with the treaty obligations and, in most cases, investigate complaints of violations of the treaty. • All NHRIs can participate in all aspects of the work of the treaty monitoring bodies. 210 See: www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/workingmethods.htm#B and www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/cb35dcd69a1b5 2a3802564ed0054a104?Opendocument. Chapter 10: The treaty-based system: An overview | 69