It may be prudent, therefore, when devising regulations for such bodies as the Commission on Sustainable Development that might require special arrangements, to allow other commissions to function under the framework of the rules of Resolution 1296 with only the adjustments necessary for that commission. At every level of society, the same issues of concern to civic society are addressed. Hence, the Working Group might wish to examine what is the scope, form of organization and activities of NGOs that might qualify to be heard at the international level. As a starter, the United Nations might encourage, nay facilitate, the participation of regional and national NGOs in meetings of the UN Regional Commissions located on all the continents as well as in regional preparatory meetings for global conferences. The Commission on Human Rights might also be well advised to require Special Rapporteurs and Representatives to consult with appropriate local, national and regional NGOs in their area of concern when they are compiling their reports.
Some reports are country specific, while others are global in scope.
Rapporteurs and Special Representatives should make known ahead of time their schedule of work and when they plan to be in a given country or region. In that way interested NGOs might be able to make their presentations in person or send their written submissions on time without having to travel to New York or Geneva. Recent trends at the UN suggest an increasing role for the Security Council in the protection and promotion of Human Rights. In some instances Special Representatives have submitted their reports to the Security Council before submitting them to the Commission on Human Rights, the body that mandated the study in the first place. Many international NGOs already participate in the work of the General Assembly and its committees.