Chapter 2 | Page 82 This require States to identify benchmarks or goals against which their performance is assessed. Whereas the substantial rights set out in Part III form the core of the Covenant in terms of State obligations to respect, protect and fulfil, the procedural aspects outlined in Part IV identify reporting obligations as a basic tool to assist States parties to fulfil their obligations and for the ESCR Committee to monitor State compliance. Critical analysis of the existing situation with regard to ESC rights is an essential step towards promoting these rights. The reporting process aims, among other things, to provide ‘the basis for the elaboration of clearly stated and carefully targeted policies’, to facilitate public scrutiny of government policies and to encourage ‘the involvement of various economic, social and cultural sectors of society in formulation, implementation and review of the relevant policies’.188 The Committee also recognised that reporting serves the purpose of providing a comprehensive review with respect to national legislation, administrative rules and procedures, and practices, as well as monitoring the actual situation with regard to each right on a regular basis.189 The process of monitoring State reports was initially carried out by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) through its Sessional Working Group on the Implementation of the ICESCR. Beginning in 1982, work was carried out by the Sessional Working Group of Government Experts on the Implementation of the International Covenant. The supervision mechanism was strengthened in 1985 through the establishment of the ESCR Committee under ECOSOC.190 The ESCR Committee requires States parties to include information on progress over time, using qualitative and quantitative processes and data to provide an adequate assessment of progress that can be used to better understand the problems and shortcomings of their own effort. In this context, 188 Ibid., [4] [5]. 189 Ibid., [1] [2] [3]. 190 The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Monitoring the economic, social and cultural rights <http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CESCR/Pages /CESCRIntro.aspx>; Saul, Kinley and Mowbray, above n 7, 4.