REPORTING TO THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS TREATY BODIES TRAINING GUIDE: Part II — Notes for Facilitators ¡¡ Be mindful that the storytelling requires prior preparation. In advance of the training (at least two weeks before), identify two participants, from different countries, who have previously been involved in the ratification process of any of the core international human rights treaties or their optional protocols in their respective countries; and invite them to share their experience during the training course. ¡¡ Brief them on the session sequence and its learning objectives. ¡¡ Ask them to structure the presentation of their experience around the following questions: What worked well? What were the challenges? What could be improved? – all in no more than 10 minutes. ¡¡ Make yourself available to coach them, as necessary, in preparation for their intervention. SESSION SEQUENCE Step 1: Sharing experiences: storytelling  Duration 25 minutes a) Explain that two participants have agreed to share their experiences in respect of the ratification of human rights treaties and that the floor will be open for discussion after the presentations (5 minutes). b) Introduce the first participant with national ratification experience to talk about a selected treaty ratification. Remind him or her of the time limit (10 minutes). c) Introduce the second participant with experience (from another country) to share the ratification experience in respect of another treaty. Remind him or her of the time limit (10 minutes). Step 2: Discussion  Duration 30 minutes a) Open the floor for discussion or sharing of experience on ratification of international human rights treaties. Step 3: Wrap-up: benefits of ratification  Duration 20 minutes a) Wrap-up the session by, for example: i. filling in knowledge gaps relating to the differences between signature, accession and ratification; ii. presenting the status of ratifications worldwide and in the relevant sub-region or region; and iii. mentioning the benefits of ratifying the international human rights treaties. TIP ÎÎStrict time-keeping is key to this session. ÎÎFilling in knowledge gaps is a useful way of closing the discussion and transiting to the end of the session. ÎÎIf participants want to discuss further among themselves, encourage them to do so over lunch and coffee. 8