Engagement of National Human Rights Institutions and Civil Society Organizations in the Reporting Procedure 6 b) Select randomly a participant to present the conclusions of his or her table (2 minutes). Ask the other groups whether they have found other opportunities for holding consultations within the reporting cycle and ask them to indicate them (3 minutes). c) Wrap-up the activity. Key messages can include: üü consultations with national human rights institutions and CSOs are encouraged to take place any time before the submission of a report in order, for example, to solicit inputs and strengthen transparency; üü after recommendations have been issued on the report, share findings and solicit support for implementation; üü alternatively States could also consult within the national reporting preparation schedule (e.g., before drafting the report, once a first draft is ready, just before its submission, when responding to the List of Issues, before the constructive dialogue, after the dialogue); üü at all times the report remains the responsibility of the State party; üü the participation of national human rights institutions and CSOs in the consultations held by the State does not preclude the possibility of engaging directly and independently with the Treaty Bodies (e.g., submitting alternative reports) (5 minutes). TIP ÎÎTo adjust this exercise to consultations with national human rights institutions and CSOs in both the context of treaty reporting and UPR reporting: • Prepare in advance five sets of large self-sticking cards, containing the stages of the Treaty Bodies’ reporting cycle (see Session 4.2) and the stages of the UPR reporting cycle (which can be summarized as follows: State party report; mid-term report; dialogue in UPR working group; recommendations; implementation) • Post on the walls of the room one set of self-sticking cards (i.e. both reporting cycles) per group; ask participants to identify which cycle applies to which international human rights mechanism (3 minutes); then continue with the activity as indicated. Key messages can remain the same. • Do not forget to ask participants to place “post-its” on both cycles. Step 4: Group activity: How to consult?  Duration 15 minutes a) Open the floor to participants so that they can share their views on how the State could better consult with national human rights institution and CSOs (10 minutes) üü Views expressed during previous training courses include: creation of task forces, networks, e mailing lists; holding of consultations beyond the capital; asking others to facilitate consultations, if the context is difficult; establishment of a CSO/national human rights institution desk in the NMRF; etc. b) Complete information, if needed (5 minutes). Use as a reference the checklist under the Consultation capacity of a NMRF, in OHCHR National Mechanisms for Reporting and Follow-up: A Practical Guide to Effective State Engagement with International Human Rights Mechanisms (https://goo.gl/MIz2bI). 77