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The Call for applications for Pre-sessions 38 has been extended for: Estonia, Latvia, Palau, Seychelles, Solomon Islands and Somalia

Representatives from civil society organizations and National Human Rights Institutions are invited to apply to speak at the next Pre-sessions that will take place in March 2021. The Pre-sessions are an opportunity for these stakeholders to provide Recommending States with first-hand information on the human rights situation in the countries that will be reviewed at the UPR Working Group in May 2021. The application deadline has been extended for Estonia, Latvia, Palau, Seychelles, Solomon Islands and Somalia until 23h59 on Monday, 25 January 2021. Please see the concept note for more information.

 37th session of the UPR Working Group Calendar

The 37th session of the UPR Working Group will be held from 18 January – 28 January 2021. The timetable is available here.

You can access statements made by civil society on the human rights situation in the countries that will be reviewed on the previous Pre-sessions section of our website. 

Who we are

UPR Info is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation based in Geneva. It aims to raise awareness of the Universal Periodic Review and to provide capacity-building tools to all stakeholders, such as UN Member States, NHRIs, parliamentarians, civil society, media, and academics.

UPR Info has five focus areas:
 

  • Capacity Building: UPR Info is a centre of excellence for the UPR, and seeks to share its expertise with all UPR stakeholders. In addition to training workshops and publications, UPR Info provides world-wide access to the UPR mechanism through its website. 

  • Awareness-raising: UPR Info works to raise awareness about the UPR and contributes through policy dialogue to strengthen the UPR mechanism.

  • Pre-sessions: UPR Info’s Pre-sessions provide CSOs with a strategic advocacy platform to address the human rights issues affecting their country. This programme ensures all human rights issues, and voices of marginalised groups, are discussed prior to the review in Geneva. The Pre-sessions bring CSOs, NHRIs and Recommending States together to influence the recommendations that will be made at the subsequent UPR Working Group Session.

  • UPR Info’s Database of Recommendations holds all UPR recommendations and provides analysis tools and statistics to enhance the monitoring of implementation.
     
  • In-country Programme: UPR Info works at the national level in selected partner countries to support domestic actors' engagement in the UPR. The programme contributes to creating and enabling UPR frameworks consisting of: robust national human rights follow-up systems; nationwide civil society UPR coalitions; and meaningful partnerships between CSOs, NHRIs and the government. Specifically, the programme is comprised of five interlinked steps, offering a unique opportunity for participants to enhance their knowledge about the UPR, and to create a strategy on the implementation of recommendations issued at the UPR. Each step is carefully designed in close cooperation with national partners to address concrete needs at national level. It fosters a collaborative and inclusive approach between all UPR stakeholders.