REPORTING TO THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS TREATY BODIES TRAINING GUIDE: Part I — Manual Word limits and translations of State party reports The cover page counts towards the word limit and, given United Nations formatting standards, typically 100 words need to be set aside for it. Titles, footnotes and paragraph numbers, as well as text in graphics, charts and tables also form an integral part of the document and are therefore included in the word limit. To ensure that reports are accessible, State parties should avoid including graphics, charts and tables. If reports include such graphics, charts or tables, the information contained therein should be transcribed to a position immediately following the respective graphic, chart or table. Such graphics, charts and tables should also be editable to facilitate the translation process. In principle annexes do not count against the word limits and are not translated, although CEDAW introduced separate word limits for annexes, as mentioned above. The pages should be formatted for A4-size paper, single spaced. Paragraphs should be numbered, and the text set out in 10 point Times New Roman type. State parties should submit their reports in electronic format by email to registry@ohchr.org in Word format (not PDF format). No hard copies should be sent. All documents submitted should be accompanied by a note verbale (see an example in 4.2.1, Preparation and Submission of the Report, Section vii. Submitting the Report). Format of State party reports Word limit (see GA 68/268, para. 16): ¡¡ Common core document: 42,400 words ¡¡ Initial reports: 31,800 words ¡¡ Periodic reports: 21,200 words Format ¡¡ Word format (not PDF format) ¡¡ Single spaced ¡¡ Paragraphs numbered ¡¡ 10 point Times New Roman type ¡¡ Submission: In electronic form only- no hard copies – to registry@ohchr.org Reports which on receipt are found to exceed the word limits, are manifestly incomplete or require significant editing are returned to the State party for modification before being officially accepted by the Treaty Bodies on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General. 4.2. The stages of the reporting cycle 40 For a State to report meaningfully to the Treaty Bodies, each stage of the reporting cycle requires that it has certain capacities. General knowledge of the different stages and working methods of the Treaty Body system forms part of the State’s engagement capacity (and such detailed knowledge is often only required of a few specialized colleagues in Government, most often in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whereas general knowledge of the treaties’ obligations and corresponding reporting