States present follow-up on recommendations to the Council
During the general debate held on item 6 (item dedicated to the UPR) at the 11th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), several States reviewed last year presented information about the follow-up on recommendations. Hence, Bahrain, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and Colombia presented updates about implementation of recommendations received during their review.
Bahrain, through the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, updated the HRC about its National Plan of Action (NPA). Government funds have been attributed and the United Nations Development Programme was called upon to manage the NPA. Four principles were adopted: transparency, participation, cooperation and adhering to results. A steering committee was created with all stakeholders concerning human rights: government, registered NGOs, trade unions, etc.
The United Kingdom has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and will shortly begin work in Parliament to ratify its Optional Protocol. They will provide next year a mid term report on their progress to implement all agreed recommendations.
Switzerland implemented the recommendation calling to "continue to consult stakeholders in the follow-up to the Universal Periodic Review outcome" made by the United Kingdom by holding a meeting last May with several stakeholders to reflect on the first year of the UPR follow-up. Switzerland acceded to the Option Protocol on the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women and ratified the Option Protocol on the Convention against Torture. On the recommendation asking to "take necessary steps to prevent the incidence of acts of violence with racist and xenophobic undertones by security agents" made by Nigeria, Switzerland introduced human rights training in several police schools.
The United Arab Emirates informed the HRC that many steps have been taken to improve the conditions of migrants, especially with India and the Philippines. They passed a resolution to start a model law for contractual worker and ILO regional office trained a large number of researchers and competent personnel of relevant authorities and ministries.
Colombia, as announced in March at the 10th HRC session, has embarked on a process of follow-up to the recommendations and voluntary commitments resulting from the review. The Presidential programme for human rights published recently an initial report that will be available on the UPR-info website. Four Special Rapporteurs have been invited: the one on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the one on the situation of human rights defenders, the one on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people and the one on the independence of judges and lawyers. On the issue of human rights defenders, there is a consultation between the State and civil society.