A/HRC/10/25 page 15 55. Among the aspects covered in the reports of the Secretary-General, the focus on (a) early warning, (b) prevention by addressing the root causes of hatred and violence, and (c) system-wide collaboration are of particular relevance to the treaty body system. The comments below will therefore focus on these aspects. A. Detection of risks and early warning 56. Among the principal tasks identified in the Five-Point Action Plan is early and clear warning of situations that could potentially degenerate into genocide and the development of a United Nations capacity to analyse and manage information. The role of the treaty bodies in this area is recognized in the reports of the Secretary-General, who notes that the treaty bodies, together with other parts of the United Nations human rights system, are “well placed to sound the alarm” (E/CN.4/2006/84, para. 22). 57. Treaty bodies may indeed play an important role in detecting early warning signs, bearing in mind that they are charged with monitoring, at periodic intervals, compliance by States parties to international human rights treaties with their respective treaty obligations. Such monitoring is conducted with full respect for the sovereignty of States, as they agree to cooperate with relevant monitoring procedures envisaged in international instruments when becoming a party to them. 58. While several human rights treaties are nearing universal ratification, gaps in monitoring often result from non-compliance by some States parties with their reporting obligations. Treaty bodies have aimed to address such gaps, including through follow-up procedures and the review of country situations in the absence of a report, on the basis of information from other sources, in the case of States parties whose reports are seriously overdue. In addition, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has developed an early warning and urgent action procedure for the prevention of gross violations brought to its attention.2 In a study submitted to the Intergovernmental Working Group on the effective implementation of the Durban Programme and Plan of Action (A/HRC/4/WG.37), the Committee also outlined proposals for an inquiry procedure which would be in line with similar procedures under other international instruments relating to discrimination. B. Systematic prevention and awareness-raising 59. In his reports, the Secretary-General emphasizes the need to address the root causes of violence and genocide, namely hatred, intolerance, racism, tyranny and the dehumanizing public discourse that denies whole groups of people their dignity and rights. In a similar vein, he stresses the importance of raising awareness and highlights the role of the treaty bodies in, inter alia, the area of prevention.3 Prevention and awareness-raising form is indeed a significant part of the work of treaty bodies, as they engage with States on a regular basis through dialogue, recommendations and follow-up. Treaty bodies regularly urge and encourage States to adopt 2 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/62/18), annex III. 3 A/HRC/7/37, paras. 18, 20 and 23.