First Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

General Assembly Resolution 60/251, which created the Human Rights Council, decided that the Council shall

 “undertake a universal periodic review, based on objective and reliable information, of the fulfilment by each State of its human rights obligations and commitments in a manner which ensures universality of coverage and equal treatment with respect to all States;  the review shall be a cooperative mechanism, based on an interactive dialogue, with the full involvement of the country concerned and with consideration given to its capacity-building needs; such a mechanism shall complement and not duplicate the work of treaty bodies (…)”. (article 5 (e))

The Objectives of the UPR

The objectives of the review are:

(a) The improvement of the human rights situation on the ground;

(b) The fulfilment of the State's human rights obligations and commitments and assessment of positive developments and challenges faced by the State;

(c) The enhancement of the State's capacity and of technical assistance, in consultation with, and with the consent of, the State concerned;

(d) The sharing of best practice among States and other stakeholders;

(e) Support for cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights;

(f) The encouragement of full cooperation and engagement with the Council, other human rights bodies and OHCHR.

Process

The UPR review will be conducted in one working group composed of the 47 member States of the HRC, the outcome of which will be a report consisting of a summary of the proceedings, conclusions and/or recommendations, and the voluntary commitments of the State Concerned.

Kindly note that, according to Resolution 5/1:

•  States are encouraged to prepare the information they submit “through a broad consultation process at the national level with all relevant stakeholders” (para. 15(a));
•  “Additional, credible and reliable information provided by other relevant stakeholders to the universal periodic review” will be summarized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in a summary which shall not exceed 10 pages (para. 15(c ));
•  Other relevant stakeholders may attend the review in the working group (para. 18 (c ));
•  Before the adoption of the outcome by the plenary of the Council, the State concerned should be offered the opportunity to present replies to questions or issues; Other relevant stakeholders will have the opportunity to make general comments before the adoption of the outcome by the plenary (para. 29 and 31)
•  The outcome of the universal periodic review, as a cooperative mechanism, should be implemented primarily by the State concerned and, as appropriate, by other relevant stakeholders (para. 33).

NGO Participation

NGOs, wishing to submit information for consideration and possible inclusion by OHCHR in the summary of stakeholders' information, may send their contribution and the countries under review in April 2008 are:  Bahrain, Ecuador, Tunisia, Morocco, Indonesia, Finland, the United Kingdom, India, Brazil, the Philippines, Algeria, Poland, the Netherlands, South Africa, the Czech Republic and Argentina.  

Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform identified 3 key areas from its draft CEDAW report and submitted a report.