Implementation of UPR recommendations at the national level

32nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Item 6 of the Agenda: General Debate

Geneva – June 24, 2016

 

Thank you Mister President,

CCIG, on behalf of a coalition of 17 NGOs, welcomes the commitment of States to the UPR process in compliance with relevant core documents of GA resolution 60/251 (2006) and HRC resolution 5/1 (2007).

2016 marks the tenth anniversary of the Human Rights Council and the last session of the second cycle of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). While we recognize the progress made by States in ensuring the effective functioning of this mechanism, we express our concern with regard to the implementation of recommendations made in the framework of the UPR and we stress the need for a more systematic evaluation of the status of implementation of such recommendations by the States concerned.

We recognise the full implementation of UPR recommendations as a major challenge and the primary goal of the 3rd UPR cycle. 

As HRC resolution 30/25 states, “the effectiveness of the universal periodic review, as a cooperative mechanism, depends on the progress achieved by the State concerned […] in the implementation of accepted recommendations”¹.

UPR recommendations point to actions that are most needed in order to improve the human rights situation in States under review. Subsequently, the concerned State should effectively undertake the process to implement the relevant recommendations.

Following the best practices demonstrated by many States, this NGO coalition calls upon Member States to institutionalize a mechanism to follow up, vis-à-vis relevant ministries, on the implementation of UPR recommendations at the national level.

While it could assume different institutional forms, we recommend that two basic requirements be satisfied for this national coordinating body, namely: its permanent nature and consultative capacity to engage with Civil Society and National Human Rights Institutions.

Mr. President, this NGO coalition is convinced that the establishment of national coordinating bodies for the follow up of UPR recommendations would constitute a key step ahead in the implementation process and a major achievement for the 3rd UPR cycle.

 

Thank you, Mister President.

 

 

Joint Oral Statement Submitted by

CCIG – Centre Catholique International de Genève

 

and co-signed by

Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII

Compagnie des Filles de la Charité de St Vincent de Pau

Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd

Dominicans for Justice and Peace (Order of Preachers)

Edmund Rice International

Fédération internationale de l’Action des chrétiens pour l’abolition de la torture

Fondation Apprentis d’Auteuil

Fracarita International

Franciscans International

International Volunteerism Organization for Women, Education, Development

Istituto Internazionale Maria Ausiliatrice

Marist International Solidarity Foundation

Mouvement International d’Apostolat des Milieux Sociaux Indépendants

New Humanity

Pax Romana

Vie Montante Internationale

 

 

 

¹ HRC Res. 30/25.

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