Political leaders, public officials, members of civil society organizations and members of the public will all, to a greater or lesser extent, have an understanding of the nature of present shortcomings and of what needs to be done. This understanding will be based on media reports, personal experience, information in the public domain and existing studies. The baseline study should only seek to confirm and systematize what is already known. It should be seen as a part of the national action plan process, not as a process in itself. In particular, it should not be a substitute for specific inquiries into matters of concern. Some countries may wish to embark on more detailed assessments of their human rights situations even if they present some difficulties. Indeed, it is unlikely that genuine human rights improvements can be achieved without confronting challenging issues. In some situations in-depth investigations will be required into instances of serious human rights violations. It is suggested, however, that these should be the subject of specific investigations and not form part of the baseline study. While the report should be frank, it need not be long. It should be comprehensive, covering economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development as well as civil and political rights. The report should draw on existing studies, where relevant, such as country reports to United Nations human rights treaty bodies, conclusions by United Nations treaty bodies and special rapporteurs, existing sectoral reports or reports by NGOs. It should focus on ways of contributing to the action plan and not on political advocacy, retrospective ascription of responsibility or inquiry into specific issues. 8.2.2 Content of the baseline study There is no single model for such a study, but some elements are generally appropriate. It should examine the legal framework, institutions for the protection of human rights and the state of human rights education and awareness. In particular, the report should identify the main areas in which problems have been encountered in meeting the country's human rights obligations. It should focus also on the situation of vulnerable groups and the picture presented by social indicators. Highlighting major human rights issues that have been identified in the public arena will enhance the immediacy and relevance of the study. Legal framework This should include the international framework, covering the extent to which the provisions of the Universal Declaration and applicable human rights treaties are observed as well as the status of the State’s ratification of all major international human rights treaties. The incorporation of international norms into domestic law should also be covered and there should be a general survey of domestic law in the human rights field. Human rights issues will probably be covered in some way in a country’s constitution and may appear in a variety of contexts in domestic legislation. It is important for the study to provide some impression of the effectiveness of the legal framework and the independence and capacity of the judicial system. 62