REPORTING TO THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS TREATY BODIES TRAINING GUIDE: Part I — Manual 5. Engagement of the United Nations System in the Reporting Procedure This Chapter discusses the involvement of the United Nations system, particularly specialized agencies, funds and programmes and other entities, and Resident Coordinators and United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs), in the different stages of the reporting process – from supporting the drafting of the report to implementation of the concluding observations. The UN system, in particular Resident Coordinators and country teams (UNCTs) have several unique opportunities for engaging with the Treaty Bodies, including by supporting State parties in the preparations of their reports, facilitating participation by relevant national stakeholders in the reporting process and in follow-up activities to support the implementation of recommendations. Such an engagement at country level has the potential to transform the regular reporting process into a dynamic tool for assessment, inclusive national dialogue and collaboration between a State party, the UN and civil society. The United Nations specialized agencies, funds and programmes, and Resident Coordinators and UNCTs are in a privileged position to use the Treaty Body system in their own activities to strengthen human rights at national level.45 UN entities have highlighted the opportunities provided by the UN human rights mechanisms at country level to further strengthen UN coherence, with a human rightsbased approach as one of the key programming principles. Concluding observations are valued as a useful analytical base and can be used to inform the elaboration of CCA/UNDAFs46 and thus are valued as strong programming and advocacy tools to support normative and operational linkages. Specific joint programmes to assist State parties with the implementation of Treaty Body recommendations have been developed in various contexts and regions. By helping national partners engage with the UPR, Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures, UNCTs have been able to effectively address key human rights issues. 45 For further information see: Human Rights Guidance Note for Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams (2015), p. 53, available at: https://undg.org/document/undg-guidance-note-on-human-rights-for-resident-coordinators-and-un-country-teams/. 64 46 The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) is the strategic programme framework that describes the collective response of the UN system to sustainable development. It supports national development priorities and inclusive and participatory development processes that contribute to the fulfilment of national obligations and commitments for the achievement of sustainable development and human rights. Informed by a UN common country analysis (CCA) the UNDAF focuses UN engagement on a limited number of strategic priority areas where it can have the greatest impact, taking into consideration both mandate and comparative advantage, in helping a country achieve sustainable development. In order to maximize the UN system’s contribution to achieving the latter, the development of the UNDAF requires, at all stages of the process, leadership by the Government and the involvement of all relevant stakeholders. Therefore, an UNDAF is a document agreed between a government and the UNCT. See: https://undg.org/document/2017-undaf-guidance/