I. Recommendations of the eighth inter-committee meeting 13. At its forty-second session, the Committee discussed the recommendations of the eighth inter-committee meeting, especially: (a) The possibility of a merger of the inter-committee meeting and meeting of chairpersons which would allow for the ninth inter-committee meeting to take a decision on this issue, which the Committee supported; (b) The possibility to enhance the decision-making role of the inter-committee meeting with regard to harmonization of working methods, which the Committee did not support; (c) The necessity for OHCHR to allocate additional human and financial resources for the Human Rights Treaties Branch in order to ensure effective and continuous support for the work of the treaty bodies, which the Committee supported; (d) The need to assess and analyse the follow-up procedure, identifying difficulties, obstacles and results, which the Committee supported; (e) The need to develop effective cooperation between the treaty bodies and the Human Rights Council and strengthen institutional links among them; (f) The possibility to further prioritize concerns in the concluding observations so that these are appropriately reflected in the compilations that contain summaries of United Nations information; (g) The reference to the pledges and commitments made by States parties in the context of universal periodic review during their dialogue with States parties and concluding observations. J. Informal meeting with the States parties to the Convention 14. At its forty-second session, on 28 April 2009, the Committee held an informal meeting with representatives of 47 States parties to the Convention. The Committee and the States parties discussed the following issues: methods of work; targeted reports or lists of issues prior to the submission of periodic reports; follow-up to articles 19 and 22 of the Convention; the relationship between the Committee and the Subcommittee on Prevention; possible enlargement of the membership of the Committee; and possible additional meeting time. K. Participation of non-governmental organizations 15. The Committee has long recognized the work of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and met with them in private, with interpretation, on the afternoon immediately before the consideration of each State party report under article 19 of the Convention. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the NGOs, for their participation in these meetings and is particularly appreciative of the attendance of national NGOs, which provide immediate and direct information. 3