II. SUBMISSION OF REPORTS BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 19 OF THE CONVENTION 17. During the period covered by the present report eight reports from States parties under article 19 of the Convention were submitted to the Secretary-General. Initial reports were submitted by Honduras, Nicaragua and Chad. Second periodic reports were submitted by El Salvador and the Philippines. A third periodic report was submitted by Azerbaijan. A fourth periodic report was submitted by Colombia and a fifth periodic report was submitted by Spain. 18. As of 16 May 2008, the Committee had received a total of 210 reports. 19. As at 16 May 2008, there were 227 overdue reports (see annex IX). 20. The Committee with two sessions per year is only able to deal with 14 reports, consequently, since 2005 and as an exceptional measure, it has decided to consolidate overdue reports. This measure is reviewed on a case-by-case basis after the consideration of a report, in particular when the Committee considers that the information provided by the State party covers the entire overdue reporting period. The Committee indicates the new date and number of report that the State party should submit in the last paragraph of the concluding observations. 21. At its thirty-eighth session in May 2007, the Committee adopted a new procedure on a trial basis which includes the preparation and adoption of a list of issues to be transmitted to States parties prior to the submission of a State party’s periodic report. The State party’s replies to the list of issues would constitute the State party’s report under article 19 of the Convention. The Committee is of the view that this procedure could assist States parties in preparing focused reports. The lists of issues prior to reporting could guide the preparation and content of the report, and the procedure would facilitate reporting by States parties and strengthen their capacity to fulfil their reporting obligations in a timely and effective manner. 22. The Committee has decided to initiate this procedure in relation to periodic reports that are due in 2009 and 2010. It will not be applied to States parties’ reporting obligations where initial reports are concerned or to periodic reports for which a previous report has already been submitted and is awaiting consideration by the Committee. On 15 May 2007, the Committee met with States parties and introduced and discussed the new procedure. The Committee adopted lists of issues for States parties whose reports are due in 2009, at its thirty-ninth session in November 2007. The lists of issues were transmitted to the respective States parties on 28 February 2008, with a request that replies be submitted by 30 June 2009, should the State party wish to avail itself of this new procedure. 23. In addition, the Committee requested information from the 11 States parties eligible for this procedure as to their intention of availing themselves of the new procedure. This information was requested to allow the Committee to plan its meeting requirement to ensure the timely consideration of these reports. As of 16 May 2008, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Kuwait, Monaco and Turkey had officially confirmed that they would avail themselves of the new procedure. In addition, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia and Peru had informally notified the Committee that they too would avail themselves of the new procedure. 4