A/RES/58/165 measure progress in the national implementation by States parties of the rights protected by the Covenant; 26. Takes note with interest of the establishment by the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-ninth session of an open-ended working group with a view to considering options regarding the elaboration of an optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and making specific recommendations on its course of action concerning the question of such an optional protocol, and encourages all parties to participate actively in the first session of the working group; 27. Encourages the specialized agencies that have not yet done so to submit their reports on the progress made in achieving the observance of the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in accordance with article 18 of the Covenant, and expresses its appreciation to those that have done so; 28. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to assist States parties to the International Covenants on Human Rights in the preparation of their reports, including by convening seminars or workshops at the national level for the training of government officials engaged in the preparation of such reports and by exploring other possibilities available under the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights; 29. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights effectively assists the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the implementation of their respective mandates by providing, inter alia, adequate Secretariat staff resources and conference and other relevant support services; 30. Welcomes the initiative of the Secretary-General, taking into account the suggestions of the Human Rights Committee, to take determined steps, in particular through the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, to give more publicity to the work of that Committee and of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 31. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, under the item entitled “Human rights questions”, a report on the status of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including all reservations and declarations. 77th plenary meeting 22 December 2003 5