Opportunity for Government to Comment

Prior to a Country Review Team presenting its final report to the APR Panel of Eminent Persons for consideration, the government of the country in question is given an opportunity to review the findings of the report and make comments on the report which are attached as an appendix to the report when it is presented to the APR Panel. These comments can in no way affect the substance of the report, and are considered by the APR Panel of Eminent Persons when they meet to decide whether or not to accept the report in its present form.

This opportunity has in some cases been misunderstood as governments rejecting or objecting to parts of the report. The opportunity for government to comment on the report is outlined in the APRM: Organization and Process, 9 March 2003, Section 7.14. According to the document, the report is first discussed with the national government in order to provide the government with an opportunity to consider the accuracy of information and react to the findings of the team. The government's response is appended to the report, although in no way, shape or form is the government entitled to change the content of the original report presented to them.