Pre-sessions for UPR 14th session to be held from 27 to 31 August

UPR Info is organising pre-sessions between States and NGOs on countries to be reviewed at the 14th UPR session: Argentina, Benin, Czech Republic, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Japan, Pakistan, Peru, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Ukraine and Zambia.

The purpose of these pre-sessions is to save time and resources to civil society organisations (CSOs) and to enable them to meet several delegations at once. For delegations, these meetings offer them the opportunity to be briefed by CSOs about the human rights situation in the State under Review (SuR).

The pre-session for each SuR lasts one hour. The National human rights institution and CSOs are given between 5 to 10 minutes each, depending on the number of participants, to share their assessment of the human rights situation in the country since the previous review and the progress accomplished by the SuR to implement the recommendations.

All permanent missions are invited and are given ten minutes at the end to ask questions to CSOs. The State under Review will also be invited.

The pre-sessions for the 14th Working Group session (22 October - 5 November 2012) will take place from 27 to 31 of August in 1 rue de Varembé, Geneva.

Monday 27 August (9am-1pm):
 Czech Republic
 Argentina
 Ghana

Tuesday 28 August (9am-1pm):
 Peru
 Guatemala
 Switzerland

Wednesday 29 August (9am-1pm):
 Benin
 Gabon
 Republic of Korea

Thursday 30 August (9am-1pm):
 Pakistan
 Zambia
 Japan

Friday 31 August (10am-1pm):
 Ukraine
 Sri Lanka

The exact time and order of discussion within each day is subject to change. Please check our website closer to the date for the final timetable.

In order to ensure the smooth organisation of those pre-sessions, Permanent missions are kindly asked to let us know which pre-session they are planning to attend.

CSOs interested in participating and taking the floor need to fill in this form (E, F) and to return it by email by July 20th. The list will be established on a first come first serve basis and national CSOs will be given priority.