Recommendations published to help countries participating in global human rights review

Shortly after it was established in 2006 the Human Rights Council introduced a new process to review the promotion and protection of human rights in all 192 United Nations countries.

The so-called Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which is taking place between 2008 and 2011, will – for the first time ever – explore the human rights situation throughout the world, regardless of a country’s size or wealth.

It comes after the UN Commission on Human Rights, which the Human Rights Council replaced, was discredited because of its perceived politicisation which stunted constructive dialogue on key issues.

While the UPR has been widely welcomed since it was introduced, it is an evolving process and one that has been unfamiliar and confusing to many.

The Commonwealth Secretariat has been working with member countries of the Commonwealth over the past year to help them fully engage in the complex process.

The Secretariat has conducted a series of seminars where participants learn from others who have already successfully been through the review. In October last year, for instance, all 12 Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean learned from Tonga, the United Kingdom and Zambia, all of which have been through the review process.

Senior representatives from the Secretariat have also attended meetings on the UPR process in Geneva (where each country’s review takes place) and participated in non-Commonwealth training seminars, with a view to building an understanding of technical and other elements involved. This knowledge is then passed on to Commonwealth countries as well as national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) involved in the process.

Experience and understanding of the first year of UPR is distilled in ‘Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights: Towards Best Practice’, a new publication edited by Dr Purna Sen, Head of Human Rights at the Secretariat.

“One year into the UPR, this publication compiles experiences, draws together recommendations and considers ways forward that may be able to strengthen the process and bring together the UPR home to the peoples of the Commonwealth,” explains Dr Sen.

The book recommends, for example, following and publishing a timeline for a transparent and inclusive consultative process, and disseminating information to NHRIs and CSOs in order to ensure they better understand the process.

The book also advises countries to forgo a narrative style of reporting and instead focus on evaluating achievements and challenges. It further suggests that developing countries could consider making use of financial assistance from the UN, so they can effectively participate in the review.

“This publication represents an additional contribution to improving understanding and knowledge of the UPR,” says Guiliano Comba, Chief, Universal Periodic Review Section, in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. “The practical experiences and different perspectives [from contributors] on the UPR will help to explain its significance both as a mechanism and process; from the preparation of reports to the review in Geneva and the implementation of the recommendations made to states and their commitments to follow them up.”

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