Engagement of National Human Rights Institutions and Civil Society Organizations in the Reporting Procedure 6 by other sources such as the UN system, is deemed necessary by the Treaty Bodies as it assists them in ensuring a well-informed review of a State party. This means that NHRIs’ and CSOs’ participation in and inputs into the State party report should not exclude them from the opportunity of contributing independently to the reporting process. State parties must respect the independent role of these stakeholders in engaging directly with the Treaty Bodies. Furthermore, State parties are urged by Treaty Bodies to ensure that individuals and groups which provide information to and cooperate with a specific Treaty Body are not subjected to reprisals. In this regard the Chairpersons of the Treaty Bodies adopted, in July 2015, the Guidelines against Intimidation or Reprisals, known also as the “San José Guidelines” (San José Guidelines), which are a common effort to reinforce procedures relating to intimidation and reprisals. According to San José Guidelines, the committees can take the following steps against intimidation and reprisals: Preventative measures: the committee can permit requests from individuals or groups to provide information to the relevant Treaty Body in a confidential manner and remind State parties of their primary obligation to prevent and refrain from all acts of intimidation or reprisals against individuals and groups seeking to cooperate or cooperating with the Treaty Bodies. Protection measures: the committee can request the relevant State party to adopt protective measures for the individual or group when it is alleged that an individual or group is at risk of intimidation or reprisals for seeking to communicate or for having communicated with a Treaty Body, including as a result of filing or considering or attempting to file a formal complaint to a Treaty Body in the framework of the individual communications procedures. Such measures can include requests to refrain from any acts of intimidation or reprisals and to adopt all measures necessary to protect those at risk. The State party may be requested to provide the committee, within a specific deadline, with information on measures taken to comply with the request. The NHRIs’ and CSOs’ reports to the Treaty Bodies aim at informing a) the preparation of List of Issues or List of Issues Prior to Reporting and questions (under both the Standard and Simplified Reporting Procedures); b) the consideration of a State party report; or c) the follow-up procedures to concluding observations. This information is made available on the webpage of the relevant Treaty Body, unless otherwise requested by the stakeholder. NHRIs and CSOs can also meet with the members of the Treaty Bodies to present them with country-specific oral information, either during the process of drafting the List of Issues and List of Issues prior to Reporting, along with any questions (pre-sessional working group), or during the session at which the relevant State party is going to be considered. The modalities of these meetings (open or closed) vary between the Treaty Bodies. The NHRIs and CSOs can also observe the constructive dialogue between a State party and a Treaty Body. NHRIs’ and CSOs’ involvement in the reporting process continues after consideration of a State party report; through follow-up activities they can play an important role in advocating for implementation on the ground of the recommendations emanating from the Treaty Bodies, thereby contributing to the advancement of human rights. Most Treaty Bodies issue an information note for NHRIs and all do so for CSOs, providing practical guidance on their participation in the reporting process, including on how to obtain their accreditation ahead of the session. These notes are updated every session and are posted on the webpage of each Committee. 69