For states, ratification of United Nations human rights instruments entails the necessity to report to international expert bodies on the implementation of their international legal obligations, usually every 4-5 years. This contribution offers a brief overview on the German experience.State reporting allows to bring together national key experiences in the implementation of UN human rights treaties and discuss them with international expert committees, set up under the individual treaties. States reporting focuses on the description of relevant constitutional provisions, laws, and administrative orders etc, sometimes supported by relevant statistics. Reports often give an idea of what is the real situation regarding respect for the rights of children in a given country. But they can be developed and improved to reflect national reality. UN committee formulate so-called concluding observations which identify progress and weak points in the implementation; they also ask for more information on certain crucial issues.In the contribution, reference is made to recent concluding observations on Germany in 2004 by the UN Human Rights Committee which monitors civil and political rights. Progress has been made according that committee, but also weaknesses in the implementation were identified and recommendations were formulated.State reporting is coordinated in Germany between the ministries of foreign affairs, justice and other sector ministries (education, health etc.). German and sometimes foreign NGOs send their own appreciation of Germany reality to the relevant UN expert committee which are often taken into account when its members formulate questions to the German government delegation (when a report is being discussed).In the future, stronger efforts will be undertaken to provide for a more vigorous follow up of UN expert bodies discussions and especially its concluding observations. The German Institute for Human Rights hopes to play a stimulating role to bring together actors from government parliament, academia and civil society.