66 Example The French National Advisory Commission on Human Rights provided comments to government’s sixth periodic report to CEDAW, considered in 2008, which were reflected in the state report. The Commission also separately submitted additional information on the list of questions posed by the CEDAW Committee. This demonstrates the Commission’s role both as a contributor to the state report and as an independent body. France: Sixth periodic report on implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women HANDBOOK FOR NHRIs ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and is of particular relevance to NHRIs working for the protection and promotion of women’s rights and gender equality. In 2008, CEDAW issued a  statement recognizing the important role played by NHRIs in implementing the Convention.45 The statement clarified that NHRIs may: • Provide comments and suggestions to the States party reports; • Where the state has recognized the individual complaint mechanism, assist alleged victims in submitting individual communications to the Committee; • Provide information on States party reports before the pre-session working groups and attend the relevant sessions; • Engage with the Committee through time allocated for NHRIs contributions in the provisional agenda; and • Provide information in relation to the mandate of the Committee to conduct an inquiry. 46 45 Statement by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its relationship with national human rights institutions, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, 40th Session, 14 January – 1 February 2008. Annex II. 46 CEDAW issues specific information for NHRIs in relation to its sessions and pre-sessions. See: Participation by National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).