The Sub-Commission considers many reports submitted by individual members at each year's session. These reports are divided into studies and working papers. Studies are formal reports, approved for multi-year consideration. Each study usually has a preliminary report prepared during the 1st year, a progress report the 2nd year, and a final report the 3rd year. Some studies have evolved into annual reporting exercises, without expiration. A study must be formally approved by the Commission on Human Rights before the first report is submitted.
Working papers are less formal, usually for one year at a time. Some working papers eventually lead to formal studies on the relevant topic. Others are prepared to update or supplement studies completed in the past. Working papers have no financial implications to the UN budget and do not have to be approved by the Commission on Human Rights before they are begun.
Several years ago, to better rationalize its agenda and workload, the Sub-Commission has been restricted to no more than 13 studies ongoing at a time. However, there is no limit on working papers.
Note: these studies are not listed by their formal titles. For ease of reference abbreviated descriptions have been used. UN Document reference numbers appear in brackets after each item.
1. Non-citizens (Weissbrodt) [23]
2. Globalization (Oloka-Onyango & Udagama) [14]
3. Drinking water (Guisse) [10]
4. Terrorism (Koufa) [28]
5. Traditional practices (Warzazi) [30]
6. Small arms & light weapons (Frey) [29]
7. Discrimination in criminal justice (Zerrougui) [3]
8. Indigenous peoples permanent sovereignty over natural resources (Daes) [20]
9. Refugees' property (Pinheiro) [11]
1. Weapons of mass destruction (Sik Yuen) [35]
2. Democracy (Rodriguez Cuadros) [7]
3. Human rights treaty reservations (Hampson) [32]
4. Military tribunals (Decaux) [4]
5. Human genome (Motoc) [36]
6. UN personnel, accountability (Hampson) [5]
7. Non-discrimination (Van Hoof) [15]
8. Social Forum (Bengoa) [13]
9. Extreme poverty (5 member group, chaired by Bengoa) [17]
10. Minorities, peaceful/constructive approaches (Eide) [21]
11. Discrimination based on work & descent (Yokota & Eide) [24]
12. Women married to foreigners (Kartashkin) [34]
13. Regulation of citizenship by successor states (Kartashkin) [Oral presentation to be made. No written rept to be issued this year]
14. Corruption (Mbonu) [18]
15. Universal ratification (Decaux) [37]
1. High Commissioner's report on trade & investment [9]
2. States of emergency (biennial rept) [39]
3. High Commissioner's report on systematic rape, sexual slavery in armed conflict [27]