10th anniversary of the Human Rights Council triggers important discussions on how to improve its efficiency
June marks the 32nd Session of the Human Rights Council, and ten year anniversary since its inaugural first session in June 2006. The momentous occasion has sparked reflection and discussion amongst its stakeholders, in particular on how to improve the body’s technical efficiency going forward. UPR Info utilised the 32 nd Session to make suggestions on improving the technical aspects of the UPR in particular, building on broader consultations it had participate in recent months.
Outside of the Geneva process, UPR Info has been active in Niger supporting a workshop with civil society organisations (CSOs) on the development of future activities for UPR implementation. On this occasion, they set up a national UPR coalition. An outcome charter listing the thematic priorities of civil society in UPR implementation was then shared with H.E. Marou Amadou, Minister of Justice. Our organisation will soon facilitate a new meeting in cooperation with the Government of Niger, to discuss collaboration between the latter and CSOs, the national human rights institution (NHRI), and other stakeholders. In Myanmar, our continued engagement with civil society resulted in a three-day workshop to support local and grassroots activists to strategise the implementation of UPR recommendations received by their Government last November.
UPR INFO GENEVA
Registration for the UPR26 Pre-sessions now open
Applications are now open for the next round of UPR Info Pre-sessions (5-7 October 2016) on the following countries: Haiti; Iceland; Lithuania; Republic of Moldova; South Sudan; Syria; Timor-Leste; Togo; Uganda; Venezuela; and Zimbabwe. The UPR Pre-sessions bring together Permanent Missions, NHRIs and CSOs to discuss the human rights situation of States one month prior to their review at the UPR Working Group. The Pre-sessions offer permanent delegations the opportunity to be informed on the status of implementation of recommendations made during the previous review, while providing space for civil society to influence the process by lobbying several delegations at once. Read more here.
Role of parliaments within the UPR discussed at HRC
On 22 June 2016, the “Panel discussion on the contribution of parliaments to the work of the Human Rights Council and its Universal Periodic Review ” was held during the 32nd session of the HRC. The Panel aimed to take stock of the current situation since the adoption of the HRC Resolution 30/14 (October 2015) on identifying ways to further enhance the contribution of the national parliaments. The panellists exchanged ideas, shared good practices and formulated recommendations for the HRC on different ways of further engaging national parliaments in the UPR. Read more here.
Growing civil society space in the UPR
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
- Programmes Coordinator (Human Rights Capacity Building & UPR Follow-up), job description here
- Administration & Finance Officer, job description here
Interested candidates are invited to apply following the instructions provided in the vacancy announcements. For any questions, please contact us at: office-asia@upr-info.org