ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We would like to express our sincere gratitude to those who provided invaluable help and contributions during the updating and editing of this second edition: Alexandra Kossin and Seynabou Benga for their comments and suggestions based on their extensive knowledge of the UN System; Fernanda Santana and João Nataf for their support in clarifying questions about the functioning of the UN Treaty Bodies; Emma Hunter who conducted thematic research and contributed to the editing and proofreading of this volume; Robert Archer and the Plain Sense team for the final proofreading; Marina Gente for her help with research and for her general support; and Anne-Laurence Lacroix for her assistance at various stages of this project. In the writing and editing of the first edition, we would like to sincerely recognize and thank the support provided by Boris Wijkström (main editor); Victoria Lee and Aubra Fletcher (editorial assistance); Professors Michael O’Flaherty and Cees Flinterman for their feedback as experts of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women; Sanne Rooseboom and Sarah Atchison (background and thematic research); Veronica de Nogales Leprevost for the cover illustration; and those organisations who granted us permission to reproduce materials. DISCLAIMER The views expressed in this book are solely those of the authors. They do not represent the views of any organisations, institution or Government. 5