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UPR Info wins the 2019 Democracy and Human Rights Prize

We are excited to announce that the 2019 Democracy and Human Rights Prize has just been awarded to UPR Info by the jury of the Federation Wallonia-Brussels Parliament, recognizing UPR Info’s action in favor of democracy.

This prize is awarded to one organization or institution every year selected by the FWB Parliament and a jury composed of the President of the Parliament, the members of the Bureau, and the presidents of the recognized political groups, who choose groups with specific achievements in the francophone world promoting peace, democracy, and human rights.

The prize will be presented at an award ceremony on Wednesday, March 27 in Brussels.

Deadline for the Contributions and Participation of "Other Stakeholders" in the 34th Session of the UPR

The deadline for Civil Society Organisations and National Human Rights Institutions to submit "Other Stakeholders" written contributions for the 34th Session of the UPR is on 28th March 2019.

The 34th Session of the UPR will take place in November 2019. States to be reviewed are Italy, El Salvador, Gambia, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Fiji, San Marino, Kazakhstan, Angola, Islamic Republic of Iran, Madagascar, Iraq, Slovenia, Egypt, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

For additional information on "Other Stakeholders" contributions, please consult: The Civil Society Compendium: A comprehensive guide for Civil Society Organisations engaging in the UPR.

Who we are

UPR Info is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation based in Geneva with a regional office in Nairobi. 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.