Universal Periodic Review

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR)a mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council which monitors and seeks to improve the human rights record of all 193 UN member States. Every member State is reviewed and receives recommendations to improve its human rights situation every five years. More is a unique and comprehensive human rights mechanism.

It is universal – all 193 member States of the UN are subject to it. It is periodic: each State is reviewed every 4 – 5 years. And it is a peer review, where States see their human rights record analysed by other member States.

Started in 2006 and currently in its third cycle, the Universal Periodic Review is an opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their obligations.

NGOs get to contribute at each stage of the process, and especially:

• • by submitting a report that will inform the dialogue and will be included in the OHCHR report

• • by making an oral statement when the government under review accepts or takes note of recommendations from other governments.

How ILGA engages in the Universal Periodic Review

ILGA acts as liaison between grassroots human rights organisations and the United Nationsan international organisation comprising 193 member States. It has the mission of maintaining peace and security, protecting human rights, providing humanitarian aid and ensuring economic and social development across the globe. It is a network of many different bodies and agencies, each of which has a particular role and responsibility. More, and facilitates their work within the UPR of their country. We are there for human rights defenders in each stage of the process.

Before the session

• providing personalised technical guidance on NGO’s submissions/reports
• doing assessments on in-country advocacy with embassies in the specific countries
• organising SOGIESCabbreviation standing for sexual orientation and gender identity & expression, and sex characteristics. More UPR Advocacy Weeks in Geneva.
  On such occasions, our staff assists human rights defenders in the preparation of advocacy papers, supports them as they draft oral statements to be delivered during the UPR-Info pre-sessions, facilitates meetings with diplomatic missions, and trains defenders on how to strategically conduct advocacy in Geneva.

During the UPR Working Groupthe body that conducts the Universal Periodic Review and consists of all 193 member States of the United Nations meeting together. All States can engage in the interactive dialogue and make recommendations. The Working Group convenes three times per year in Geneva, Switzerland in what is called a Working Group session. Fourteen (14) member States are reviewed during each Working Group session. More Session

• monitoring each session, but also highlighting and sharing the relevant SOGIESC content with defenders

During the Human Rights Council adoption of the UPR Working Group Report and Addendum

• assisting on drafting oral statements for the adoption of the UPR outcome (Item 6)

After the adoption of the report

• advising on advising on how to implement the UPR recommendations and exchanging good practices with NGOs
• supporting the drafting of mid-term reports by NGOs.

But that is not all: ILGA also organises trainings on the Universal Periodic Review. On these occasions, we provide general information on the UPR, and offer advice about how to write submissions, make in-country and Geneva advocacy, and implement recommendations.

This is how LGBTI human rights defenders describe their work with ILGA during the UPR process