As of 1999, the activities of the CSDH were largely limited to promotional events, a small number of documents, and communication with the authorities on reported violations of human rights. The plan of action for 1998 was extremely general, including the establishment of some regional office, a popular education program, and a program aimed at public authorities. Some specific goals were not reached, for example, the CSDH set itself the goal of initiating studies on diverse aspects of human rights. The CSDH was given permanent offices in October 1998, but in March 1999, the offices were only partially furnished and occupied.

Since July 1997, the CSDH has met monthly in plenary sessions. Each of the commissions also meets regularly. The minutes are made public. Among its first tasks, the CSDH set about adopting internal regulations and setting in place the three Working Commissions: Organization, Promotion, and Protection. The organization commission focused its attention on establishing regional offices and developing the relations of the CSDH with the U.N. and regional organizations. Four regional offices have been set up, though with limited funding and without the direct participation of members of the commission on a regular basis.194 The commission on promotion was particularly involved in events surrounding the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. There was initially some conflict with a coalition of organizations working for the anniversary in coordination with the U.N. Information Center, which felt that the CSDH was trying to dominate the process.195 The problem doesn't appear to have left any scars. The commission on protection was drawn immediately into the case of Famara Kone-a Senegalese who had complained of arbitrary detention to the U.N. Human Rights Committee which had recommended compensation-after the prime minister turned to the CSDH for assistance. The commission noted the absence of legal provision in Senegal for compensation and appointed a rapporteur to work on the case. The rapporteur, Ibrahima Kane, came, in fact, from one of the NGOs that had supported Kone claim before the U.N. Human Rights Committee. Kone initially refused the amount offered by the government. Eventually, the CSDH was instrumental in working out a compromise acceptable to both the government and Kone. At the time of the CSDH's second annual report at the end of 1988, there were five other cases pending.