A/HRC/6/10 page 12 45. Some delegates expressed the view that the setting of complementary international standards should result neither in weakening existing mechanisms nor in creating new platforms which may justify human rights violations. Once identified, gaps could be filled either by strengthening existing instruments with, for example, additional protocols, or by drafting new instruments. The desire that possible new instruments should be universally ratified was expressed, though there was also the recognition that no international instrument had been universally ratified to date. VI. STUDY ON COMPLEMENTARY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS A. Presentation by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 46. On the second day of the second part of its session, the Working Group began its discussions on complementary international standards. A member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination introduced a study on possible measures to strengthen implementation through optional recommendations or the update of its monitoring procedures. 47. The member provided a summary of the study on behalf of the Committee. He began by speaking on the various procedures at the disposal of the Committee, highlighting recent developments, such as the new follow-up procedures developed by the Committee for both its concluding observations and its opinions adopted on individual and group communications. He stressed the Committee’s satisfaction at the success of the follow-up procedure, as established by the initial assessment of the follow-up procedure. He referred to a country visit conducted in 2006 by the coordinator on follow-up at the invitation of the State party in question. 48. The member went on to discuss the various obstacles, as presented in the study, to the effectiveness of the monitoring role with which the Committee had been entrusted. He highlighted the non-compliance of States parties with their reporting obligations as a major obstacle to the Committee’s work and the effective implementation of the Convention. Regarding individual complaints, he stated that the potential of the procedure remained to be fully exploited. 49. During the interactive dialogue which followed the presentation, several questions were put to the Committee member. One delegate referred to the proposal relating to treaty body reforms on the submission of consolidated reports. He stated that the consolidated report approach was an interesting proposal and expressed his concern at the large number of reports States had to submit to various human rights treaty bodies and mechanisms. 50. Another delegate queried how to evaluate the inputs for the review procedure of state reports. He also asked whether it would be possible to draft general guidelines for the early warning and urgent procedures. He also enquired about cooperation between the Committee and the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities. 51. Several delegates declared that failure by States to implement the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and to meet their reporting obligations