A/HRC/43/37 was suggested that OHCHR draft a handbook to disseminate summaries of the reports and recommendations of the Advisory Committee. In addition, it was recommended that the Advisory Committee, for its part, make more actionable recommendations, trying to identify entities able to implement them. B. Confidential complaint procedure 17. The confidential complaint procedure is the only universal complaint mechanism covering all rights in all States, without distinction. A complaint can be submitted by individuals or civil society organizations against any State, irrespective of whether the State has ratified any particular treaty. This alone makes it a potentially valuable tool. Moreover, two aspects of the methods of work of the complaint procedure’s working groups (on communications and on situations) have proved to be real assets in terms of prevention. First, the confidential nature of the complaint procedure encourages greater cooperation from the State concerned. 2 Second, both working groups have adopted a victim-centred approach, which enables them, when needed, to enter into a written dialogue with complainants and to keep them informed of the proceedings, and to explore with the States concerned the measures necessary to provide effective remedies for the victims. These methods of work have led to the release of detainees, bloggers and political opponents; reduced prison sentences; the adoption of amnesty laws; the alignment of national laws with international human rights standards; the granting of compensation to victims; and the establishment of independent national commissions of inquiry. The complaint procedure has also contributed to truth and reconciliation processes by declassifying information at the request of some States. It has also led some States to increase their engagement with human rights mechanisms, including by accepting country visits by special procedures. 18. The complaint procedure, however, is not sufficiently known despite outreach activities, including briefings for States and civil society organizations, and the publication of an information booklet. More briefings should be conducted. The decision of the Working Group on Communications to enhance its visibility by using social media and other technologies is a welcome initiative. 19. The proceedings of both working groups are based only on written materials, which always slows down their progress. To increase the efficiency of the working groups, notably to address urgent situations, the possibility for them to conduct country visits could be explored, as well as holding hearings with victims and representatives of the States concerned. In addition, the merit of the non-duplication principle, which prevents the complaints procedure from using data from other United Nations communications procedures, should be revisited for the complaints procedure to gain access to sufficient data to identify consistent patterns of violations more efficiently. Synergies with other human rights mechanisms should also be enhanced. For instance, the Working Group on Communications could participate in the annual or coordination meetings of the special procedures and treaty bodies. 20. For the complaints procedure to make a real difference, its work would need to be significantly scaled up. Only 11 situations concerning 8 countries have been forwarded to the Council for further consideration since the procedure was set up. The consultations showed that discontinued cases may need to be followed up, since discontinuation of a particular case may not always imply the absence of a pattern of violations. This follow-up should be done by the Working Group on Situations, which is the natural channel to engage in a constructive dialogue with States. C. Forums and open-ended intergovernmental working groups 21. The forums and open-ended intergovernmental working groups have a preventive potential, especially concerning the need for particular attention on the human rights protection of certain groups (indigenous peoples, minorities, children, ethnic and racial groups, peasants and people working in rural areas), in specific contexts (the business 2 The response rate from the States concerned to communications is greater than 90 per cent. 5