Pre-sessions: CSOs, NHRIs and Recommending States meet ahead of UPR 28
Overview
UPR Info successfully organised the most recent series of Pre-sessions for the 28th session of the UPR on 10-13 October 2017. The international human rights conference gave national human rights defenders from: Argentina, Benin, Czechia, Ghana, Guatemala, Japan, Pakistan, Peru, Sri Lanka, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Ukraine and Zambia the opportunity to present their concerns and recommendations ahead of their countries’ reviews in the UPR Working Group 6-17 November 2017. Held in the Palais des Nations, the Pre-sessions provided Permanent Missions with specific and action-oriented UPR recommendations drafted by civil society, which reflect the needs of the rights-holders.
UPR Info successfully organised the most recent series of Pre-sessions for the 28th session of the UPR on 10-13 October 2017. The international human rights conference gave national human rights defenders from: Argentina, Benin, Czechia, Ghana, Guatemala, Japan, Pakistan, Peru, Sri Lanka, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Ukraine and Zambia the opportunity to present their concerns and recommendations ahead of their countries’ reviews in the UPR Working Group 6-17 November 2017. Held in the Palais des Nations, the Pre-sessions provided Permanent Missions with specific and action-oriented UPR recommendations drafted by civil society, which reflect the needs of the rights-holders.
States and UPR Info share best practices for specific action oriented recommendations
On Thursday 5 October 2017, UPR Info, in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of the Netherlands, the Permanent Mission of Haiti, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), delivered a seminar on the Role of Recommending States at the UPR. The seminar gathered together approximately 30 Representatives of Permanent Missions, as well as some NGOs, and featured a variety of presentations on the UPR from the perspective of Recommending States (RS).
Czechia stakeholders prepare for their 3rd UPR in November
October 3 – 4 saw UPR Info travel to Prague to train civil society organisations (CSOs) and the State ahead of the third UPR of Czechia on 6 November 2017.
The first day saw UPR Info provide an introductory training to CSOs on the UPR ahead of many of them speaking at the UPR Info Pre-sessions in Geneva from 10 – 13 October. Following the training a round-table took place to discuss how CSO and State preparations had been progressing since the previous UPR and UPR Info, at this stage, offered the CSOs a variety of best practices, many found in “The CSO Compendium” and “The Butterfly Effect”, on how to sustain their engagement in the UPR beyond the review in November.
The first day saw UPR Info provide an introductory training to CSOs on the UPR ahead of many of them speaking at the UPR Info Pre-sessions in Geneva from 10 – 13 October. Following the training a round-table took place to discuss how CSO and State preparations had been progressing since the previous UPR and UPR Info, at this stage, offered the CSOs a variety of best practices, many found in “The CSO Compendium” and “The Butterfly Effect”, on how to sustain their engagement in the UPR beyond the review in November.
Sweden's UPR performance discussed in Stockholm
On 28th September, UPR Info had the pleasure of visiting the Swedish capital Stockholm to conduct two UPR seminars; the first focused on Sweden as a Recommending State and the second looked at Sweden from the perspective of a State under review. The day was held on the back of the successful result of a similar orientation day in Stockholm organised in 2016. This time, the second seminar proved a much appreciated addition.
António Guterres raises the issue of intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders
In his annual report published in September, entitled “Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights”, the United Nations Secretary General (SG) António Guterres expresses his concerns about intimidation and reprisals against those seeking to cooperate or having cooperated with the UN on human rights. He stresses that “addressing reprisals and intimidation is a priority and a core responsibility of the organisation in a whole”.