A/HRC/45/29 Mechanism and a shared vision of how the Expert Mechanism could best fulfil its mandate, without duplicating the work undertaken by other related mechanisms. It considered the mandates, methods of work and activities of the other United Nations human rights mechanisms that specifically dealt with the right to development, notably the Special Rapporteur on the right to development and the Working Group on the Right to Development. It noted the mandate that the Human Rights Council had assigned to the Advisory Committee to prepare a research-based report on the importance of a legally binding instrument on the right to development. Furthermore, the Expert Mechanism considered how the right to development was integrated into the work of other human rights mechanisms, notably the universal periodic review mechanism. Lastly, it discussed the consequent implications for the thematic work that it would undertake and the methods on the basis of which it would operate. 14. As a subsidiary body of the Human Rights Council, the Expert Mechanism would follow the rules of procedure of the Council and those regarding committees – as well as rules 45 and 60 – of the General Assembly, as applicable (rule 18 of the rules of procedure of the Human Rights Council). The Expert Mechanism did not prepare specific rules of procedure or methods of work, without precluding the possibility that it might prepare its own rules of procedure and methods of work in the future. 15. The Expert Mechanism agreed that the annual reports should address thematic issues, which could be informed by relevant panel discussions or topical issues, such as the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, anniversaries and commemorative events, or the preparation of a legally binding instrument. Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, members discussed the possibility of addressing the issue within a wider focus on pandemics or public health emergencies of international concern, either as a specific thematic study or as a cross-cutting issue. 16. With regard to the preparation of a legally binding instrument, the Expert Mechanism agreed on the importance of engaging with and supporting actively the mandate of the Working Group on the Right to Development. 17. The Expert Mechanism discussed its mandate to provide the Council with thematic expertise on the right to development in searching for, identifying and sharing best practices with Member States and to promote the implementation of the right to development worldwide. It determined that the identification of best practices would form part of the thematic studies. The promotional and advocacy work would also centre on the thematic studies, as well as on other topical issues. 18. For effective implementation of its mandate, the Expert Mechanism would consult and engage with Member States and other stakeholders, including international organizations and grass-roots organizations, with a view to identifying needs and areas for support and collaboration. IV. Thematic studies 19. Regarding the selection of topics for study, members felt that it would depend on what the Expert Mechanism was trying to achieve. There was general agreement on two overarching objectives: to mainstream, reinvigorate and operationalize the right to development; and to enhance the ability of grass-roots organizations to use the right to development. There was also general agreement that it was important to go beyond rhetoric, to identify obstacles to the realization of the right to development and to make concrete policy recommendations on how to overcome them. 20. It was also felt that the three levels of responsibility regarding the right to development, as identified by the former high-level task force on the implementation of the right to development, should be addressed: (a) States acting collectively in global and regional partnerships; (b) States acting individually as they adopted and implemented policies that affected persons not strictly within their jurisdiction; and (c) States acting individually as they formulated national development policies and programmes affecting persons within their jurisdiction (A/HRC/15/WG.2/TF/2/Add.2, annex). 4