bind those States that choose to accept the obligations contained in them by becoming a party in accordance with the final clauses of these instruments. Treaty body or committee A committee of independent experts appointed to review the implementation by State parties of a core international human rights treaty. The treaties use the term “committee” throughout, but the committees are widely known as “treaty bodies” because they are created in accordance with the provisions of the treaty which they oversee. In many important respects, they are independent of the United Nations system, although they receive support from the United Nations Secretariat and report to the General Assembly. Sometimes also called "treaty-monitoring body". Treaty-specific report/document The common core document is submitted to a treaty body in tandem with a targeted treaty-specific document, focusing on issues related specifically to the treaty concerned. Although often referred to as a “treaty-specific report”, the report to each treaty body in fact consist of a common document, which is the same for all committees, and a treaty-specific document for each specific treaty body. The two documents, read together, constitute the State party’s report. Working methods The procedures and practices developed by each treaty body to facilitate its work. Such practices are not always formally adopted in the rules of procedure. Each treaty body’s working methods change in response to the workload and other factors. In recent years, there has been a move, through the annual meeting of chairpersons, to streamline and harmonize working methods, especially if the different approaches of the committees cause confusion and inconsistency. Written response/replies to list of issues A State party’s written replies to a treaty body’s list of issues and questions submitted before the session at which its report will be considered. Written responses to a list of issues supplement the State party report or bring it up to date. 57