PART 2: Procedures of the Human Rights Commitee and the Committee against Torture NGOs may also submit written information before the adoption of the LoIPR. Submissions must be received by the Secretariat of the CAT Committee no later than two months before the opening of the session at which they will be adopted.378 In 2009, at its 97th session, the HRC adopted a similar new optional reporting procedure, also consisting of LoIPRs to guide the drafting of State reports.379 The procedure is largely the same to that of the CAT Committee, with reports to be considered within a maximum time frame of one year following submission.380 The format for the LoIPR outlined by the HRC consists of two sections: (a) A first section, with standard paragraphs, on “General information on the national human rights situation, including new measures and developments relating to the implementation of the Covenant”. This section will also provide the State party with an opportunity to highlight relevant positive developments. (b) A second section where questions are organized according to clusters of provisions as in the standard list of issues, highlighting specific issues depending on the situation of the concerned State party and the information available to the Committee, in particular, the recommendations included in the last concluding observations addressed to the State party as well any follow-up information provided by the State.381 The HRC has so far adopted 24 LoIPRs under the new procedure.382 It is hoped that the new optional procedure adopted by both Committees will enable them to re-engage with States that are far behind in reporting or have yet to submit their initial report, and permit a speedier and more focused reporting cycle.383 NGOs are encouraged to submit written information to the Committee when it prepares LoIPRs, usually up to ten weeks before the session at which an LoIPR will be adopted. c) Use of the Reporting Process by and on behalf of Torture Victims The Committees make use of alternative sources of information in conducting dialogues with States parties over their reports. It is, of course, crucial that 378 See CAT Committee, “Information for Civil Society Organizations and NHRIs”, available at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CAT/Pages/NGOsNHRIs.aspx. 379 HRC, “Focused reports based on replies to lists of issues prior to reporting (LOIPR): Implementation of the new optional reporting procedure”, (2010) UN Doc. CCPR/C/99/4. 380 Ibid., para 3. 381 Ibid., para 11. 382 Access to the LOIPRs in HRC, “Simplified Reporting Procedure”, available at: http://tbinternet.ohchr. org/_layouts/TreatyBodyExternal/OptionalReporting.aspx?TreatyID=8&Lang=En. 383 HRC, “Focused reports based on replies to lists of issues prior to reporting (LOIPR): Implementation of the new optional reporting procedure”, (2010) UN Doc. CCPR/C/99/4, para. 4. 127