The Commission has established four intergovernmental technical working groups. The purpose of these working groups is to:

• review the situation and technical issues related to their areas of competence;
• advise and make recommendations to the Commission on these matters;
• consider the progress made in implementing the Commission's programme of work;
• consider any other matters referred to them by the Commission; and
• report to the Commission on their activities.

In order for the working groups to carry out this mandate, the Commission assigns specific tasks to them.

The members of the working groups are elected at each regular session of the Commission and are composed of 28 Member Nations from the following regions:

• 5 from Africa
• 5 from Europe
• 5 from Asia
• 5 from Latin America and the Caribbean
• 4 from the Near East
• 2 from North America
• 2 from Southwest Pacific