A/HRC/10/25 page 16 measures aimed at overcoming patterns of racial and ethnic discrimination and intolerance that may lead to hatred, violence and exclusion. State parties are asked to demonstrate and explain the preventive strategies that they have in place and the institutions that they have established to protect against risks and overcome discrimination and exclusion. 60. In addition to their ongoing dialogue with individual Governments and civil society organizations within the framework of the periodic State reporting process, the treaty bodies contribute to awareness-raising through the holding of thematic debates and the elaboration of general recommendations, which are aimed at giving guidance to all States on specific subjects. In 2005, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination held a thematic discussion on the prevention of genocide and adopted a declaration thereon.4 The debate was preceded by a meeting with concerned Governments, non-governmental organizations and United Nations human rights mechanisms and entities. In the same year, the Committee adopted a decision identifying a set of indicators of systematic and massive patterns of racial discrimination, known to be important components of situations leading to conflict and genocide.5 C. Collaboration and exchange of information 61. As noted by the Secretary-General in his reports, the responsibilities of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide include the collection of information, in particular from within the United Nations system, on the massive and serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law of ethnic and racial discrimination that, if not prevented or halted, might lead to genocide. The Secretary-General stresses the importance of collaboration in prevention and draws attention to the need to bring existing information together in a focused way, so as to better understand complex situations and warning signs, and thus be in a position to suggest appropriate action. In this regard, he also notes that the Special Adviser maintains close contact and exchanges information with relevant special procedures and human rights treaty bodies. Such contacts have included the Special Adviser’s participation in a thematic debate on the prevention of genocide of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 2005, and a meeting of the Special Adviser with the bureau of the Human Rights Committee in the same year, at its eighty-third session, after which the Committee designated a focal point to liaise with the Special Adviser and exchange relevant information. While these meetings and exchanges have been fruitful, enhanced contacts and consultation might help to strengthen early warning capacities as well as prevention efforts. Such collaboration would appear to be particularly important in efforts aimed at addressing deficits outlined by the Secretary-General in his reports with regard to the systematic processing, management and evaluation of information received, with a view to bringing significant information to the prompt attention of relevant Secretariat entities and United Nations decision-making bodies.6 ----4 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 18 `` (A/60/18), chap. viii. 5 Ibid., chap. ii. 6 For example, see E/CN.4/2006/84, paras. 20-38, and A/HRC/7/37, para 21.