New review aims to ensure universal coverage of human rights

The Commonwealth Secretariat has facilitated discussions aimed at helping countries prepare human rights reports for a new review mandated by the United Nations General Assembly.

The Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) will – for the first time – explore the human rights situation in all UN member countries, regardless of size or wealth. The review will allow human rights records of these countries – including all 53 members of the Commonwealth - to be examined regularly.

Twenty-five representatives from governments, national human rights institutions and NGOs from nine Commonwealth member countries attended the two-day meeting, held at Marlborough House in London. Presentations were made by government officials from the UK and Zambia as well as experts from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), who helped countries improve their understanding of the process.

Reports from governments and stakeholders are submitted to the OHCHR and the first batch of Commonwealth countries due to be reviewed in April 2008 in Geneva.

The review - “based on objective and reliable information” - aims to ensure universal and equal coverage of human rights in all countries. Because it is a new, unfamiliar process and may be a challenge for some countries, those present at the meeting shared experiences and knowledge, looking at the best ways for governments and stakeholders to prepare their reports.

“The Secretariat will continue to work with the OHCHR by providing support for Commonwealth countries who are preparing human rights reports for this review. We welcome requests for support from any Commonwealth country,” said Purna Sen, Head of the Human Rights Unit at the Secretariat.

The meeting, organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, took place on 17 and 18 March 2008. It was facilitated by the Human Rights Unit with the support of Guiliano Comba, Head of the UPR Section, and Ibrahim Salama, Chief of the Treaties and Councils Branch, of the OHCHR.

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