WUNRN
UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSAL PERIODIC
REVIEW (UPR) OF COUNTRIES
NGO GUIDELINES + Deadline for
Submissions for First Universal Periodic Review
Deadline for Submissions for First Universal Periodic Review in April 2008:
20 November 2007
First UPR Countries: Bahrain,
UPR NGO Submissions E-Mail: UPRsubmissions@ohchr.org
INFORMATION FOR NGO'S REGARDING THE
UN UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW MECHANISM (as of October 16, 2007)
Via IWRAW AP - http://www.iwraw-ap.org/
International Women's Rights Action
Watch Asia Pacific
Update on NGO engagement with
the Universal Periodic
Review (UPR), in particular for NGOs whose countries will be
reviewed at the First
UPR in April 2008.
[The reporting
countries are:
Deadline:
Submissions should be sent by 20 November 2007 to UPRsubmissions@ohchr.org.
In the title of your email – indicate that this is an NGO submission and indicate the related country (ies) (i.e. Submission by ‘name of NGO’ related to ‘name of country’ for session scheduled ‘indicate month and year’).
_________________________________________________________________________
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/
UN Human Rights Council Website Homepage
The UPR mechanism is a new innovation in the UN human rights system, under which each UN member state will be reviewed periodically - at this stage every 4 years - on its human rights record.
48 countries will be reviewed each year, starting in
2008. The review will be carried out by a working group composed of members of
the HRC that will meet three times per year for two weeks and will be
facilitated by groups of three States members of the HRC which will act as
Rapporteurs (or “troikas”) appointed by the HRC.
There will be three
types of documents on which basis the UPR will be conducted:
(1) WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS FOR THE UPR
Guidelines for the
submission of NGO information (released by the OHCHR) is attached. In summary,
Format:
(a) Ensure your
submission is within 5
pages. A more
detailed and factual report may be attached for reference.
(b) Be sure to
highlight the most
critical issues of concern and express a sense of priority.
Facts and details to support the priority issues, as well as possible
recommendations to be made to the country under review, may be annexed for reference to the
submission;
(c) Language of submission – It is recommended that you submit the
information in English, French or Spanish. The Secretariat may not have the
capacity to read and summarize contributions in other languages;
(d) The
information covered
should be a maximum of
four year-time period.
Content:
You may wish to
provide information on:
(a) The methodology and the
broad consultation process followed nationally for the preparation of
information provided to the UPR by the country under review;
(b) The current normative and institutional framework
of the country under review for the promotion and protection of human rights:
constitution, legislation, policy measures such as national action plans,
national jurisprudence, human rights infrastructure including national human
rights institutions;
(c) The implementation and
efficiency of the normative and institutional framework for the promotion and
protection of human rights described above in (b). This includes information on
the implementation of the country’s human rights obligations and commitments at
the national and the international levels (for example information on the
implementation of commitments made by the country under review at international
conferences and other UN fora; of constitutional and legal reforms aimed at
protecting human rights, of national action plans, of mechanisms and remedies
aimed at improving human rights); on the activities of NHRIs; on human rights
education and public awareness;
(d) Cooperation of the
country under review with human rights mechanisms, and with NHRIs, NGOs, rights
holders, human rights defenders, and other relevant national human rights
stakeholders, both at the national, regional and international levels;
(e) Achievements made by
the country under review, best practices which have emerged, and challenges and
constraints faced by the country under review;
(f) Key national priorities as identified
by NGOs, initiatives and commitments that the State concerned
should undertake, in the view of NGOs, to overcome these challenges and
constraints and improve human rights situations on the ground. This includes,
for example, national strategies, areas where further progress is required,
steps regarding implementation and follow-up to recommendations made by human
rights mechanisms, commitments for future cooperation with OHCHR and human
rights mechanisms and agencies, etc.;
(f) Expectations in terms
of capacity‑building and technical assistance provided and /or
recommended by NGOs through bilateral, regional and international cooperation.
NOTE: If you have recently submitted a shadow report for CEDAW or any
other treaty bodies, we recommend that you make an executive summary your
report (in 5 pages) and attach your report.
Deadline:
Submissions should be sent by 20 November 2007 to UPRsubmissions@ohchr.org
In the title of your email – indicate that this is an NGO submission and
indicate the related country (ies)
(i.e. Submission by ‘name of
NGO’ related to ‘name of
country’ for session scheduled ‘indicate
month and year’).
(2) NGO
PARTICIPATION IN THE UPR REVIEW IN
The UPR review will be conducted in one working group composed of the 47 member States of the HRC.
The UPR mechanism
allows for active participation and engagement from NGOs:
(a) NGOs may attend
the UPR review in the working group;
(b) NGOs will have the opportunity to make general comments before the adoption of the final outcome by the plenary of the Human Rights Council.
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