Shadow Reports are a method for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to supplement or present alternative information to the periodic government reports State parties are required to submit under international treaties. NGOs play an essential role in providing both reliable and independent information to UN committees on issues such as violence against women, a topic which is often overlooked in official reports.

Many NGOs around the world have used shadow reports to successfully lobby various UN bodies, including treaty-monitoring bodies. For example, shadow reports focusing upon women’s rights include the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women; thematic groups – such as the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women; charter-based bodies – such as the Commission on the Status of Women; and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, who have then examined particular human rights issues more closely.

There is no single shadow report format, but generally, they are organised according to the articles of the particular treaty, as a commentary on the State party report. A shadow report should always analyze a particular problem rather than merely describe it. NGOs often find it useful to produce reports that shadow the entire State report. However, it is also possible for NGOs working on particular problems or issues to produce reports that only shadow one or a few articles of a convention.

Very often, NGOs work in coalitions to create shadow reports, with various NGOs working only on the area of their expertise. These areas could include poverty, social exclusion, violence, equal access to education or labor issues, just to name a few. Working in coalitions is an effective way to ensure the particular treaty-monitoring body gains a comprehensive view of the situation of the issue or topic in a particular country.