Which of these is not a question that might be useful in a periodic review of the ir plan?

Latest press releases related to the UPR

6th OIF - OHCHR Seminar on the UPR
6-7 September 2022

  Programme - PDF: Français

  Opening statements by:

• HRC President – Ambassador Federico Villegas - PDF: Français;
• President of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors in Geneva – Ambassador Makaila Ahmad of Chad - PDF: Français;
• ASG UNDP, Director of the Crisis Bureau Ms. Asako Okai - PDF: English;
• DCO LAC Director Mr. Roberto Valent - PDF: English;
• OHCHR, UPR Chief Mr. Gianni Magazzeni - PDF: Français.

Main recommendations of the Seminar - PDF: Français

15th Anniversary of the UPR Voluntary Fund on Implementation

This year marks the 15th anniversary of resolution 6/17, which established the Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance in the implementation of the universal periodic review. The fund supports countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, to implement recommendations emanating from the universal periodic review in consultation with, and with the consent of, the country concerned. Since its establishment, the Fund has supported activities in 76 countries and allowing the organization of 8 regional workshops to promote the sharing of good practices. For a more detailed overview about the Voluntary Fund, please click here.

Repository of UN good practices on how the UPR supports sustainable development

“As the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review process draws to a close – maintaining 100% participation by States in the reviews, with the involvement of all branches of the Government at the highest level - we see great merit in launching this Repository of UN good practices on how the Universal Periodic Review process supports sustainable development. As a living document, the Repository captures how the UPR has been able to advance the promotion and protection of human rights and to secure greater compliance, in law and in practice, with international human rights norms or with commitments made by States in UN and regional human rights mechanisms, in all regions of the world.

Captured from over 60 experiences shared from across the UN system, key findings show that UNCTs and UN entities in all regions are supporting governments to engage throughout the UPR process and integrating the UPR into UN programming and planning in line with their specific mandates. UPR recommendations are increasingly integrated and aligned in UN efforts at achieving the Agenda 2030 for sustainable development and the UPR has been essential to support dialogues and advocacy efforts by UNCTs and UN entities, as a practical problem-solving tool to address sensitive and priority development challenges, leading to concrete results.

The predictability of the UPR, with the calendar set well in advance, over a period of 4.5 years,  the sovereign decisions made by States in front of their peers, the information provided by the UN and other stakeholders for the reviews and the tools developed as a result of the Secretary-General’s Call to Action for Human Rights – especially the UPR Practical Guidance, [العربية | 中文 | English | Français | Русский | Español]  have encouraged greater coordination, implementation and follow-up action within the structures of the State. They have also increasingly engendered the pro-active participation of local and regional governments, national human rights institutions and civil society, before, during, and after the reviews.

With the fourth cycle of the UPR commencing in November 2022, and with a focus on enhanced implementation of recommendations received and accepted by the State, the role of Resident Coordinators and the entire UN System becomes even more relevant in maximizing the use of this human rights mechanism as an entry point for national policies and action on human rights. We encourage colleagues across the UN system to take inspiration from this initial set of concrete, positive, national experiences”. (Foreword signed by OHCHR, UNDP and DCO)

Human Rights Council President on end of UPR 3rd cycle

“With today’s adoption, we are concluding the last session under the 3rd cycle. The 100 % participation of the States under review throughout the 3rd cycle, their high-level and diverse attendance, including members of governments, parliaments, and judiciary, demonstrated once again the interest that the Universal Periodic Review generates in the international community, and the importance of this process at the national level.

The consultation and participation of other stakeholders in the UPR process has been fundamental during this cycle too, and I would like to highlight in particular the contribution of: National Human Rights Institutions, NGOs, Regional Human Rights Mechanisms, Special Procedure Mandate-Holders, Human Rights Treaty Bodies, Fact Finding Missions/Commissions of Inquiry, UN country teams, and OHCHR Field Presences.

As the 3rd cycle concludes, it is essential that States and all other stakeholders analyse the implementation of UPR recommendations under the three cycles and their impact on the ground.

The 4th cycle will be an opportunity to take stock of the developments during the previous reviews, and to renew efforts towards enhanced implementation of recommendations.

The Secretary-General’s Call to Action for Human Rights and Our Common Agenda of 2021 refer to the UPR mechanism as key to advance the SDGs with human rights at their core.

A UPR Practical Guidance developed by OHCHR for Heads of UN Missions worldwide will be able to maximize the use of this HRC mechanism for engagement on human rights at country level.

This allows OHCHR and the UN system to better support States in their efforts to implement human rights recommendations, while strengthening national human rights protection systems and conformity of laws and practices with international standards.

Doing so systematically – especially as we move towards the 4th cycle - will go a long way to advance prevention and the success and sustainability of the Agenda 2030 and the SDGs.”