Improving State Reporting to the United Nations: A Case Study of Four Self-Reporting Regimes

Abstract

Self-reporting regimes have become a fixture of multilateral diplomacy, and United Nations programs are no exception to this rule. It is estimated that over half of all treaties deposited with the UN contain some kind of monitoring arrangement, with self-reporting making up a sizable proportion. Despite self-reporting’s prevalence in international agreements and UN Security Council resolutions, there is a lack of consistency among different reporting regimes, and little scholarship exists that studies the reporting mechanisms themselves. Prior research involving reporting has mostly focused on compliance with the resolutions, that is to say the contents of the reports, rather than the reports and reporting structures themselves. Studies that do delve deeper into the reports often focus on the accuracy of information conveyed by the reports but give little attention to the way reporting is structured within that regime and how that structure may influence the content of reports. This pattern of study leaves a significant gap in the literature that has serious implications for existing and future UN programs. Because so many programs rely on self-reporting mechanisms to assess implementation and progress, it is critical that reporting structures facilitate as much as possible comprehensive and quality reporting by states.