47th UPR Working Group: Key Highlights

During its review, Norway, represented by Mr. Even Eriksen, State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, highlighted significant advancements in human rights since the previous dialogue. Key achievements include the ratification of the Domestic Workers Convention in 2021, the implementation of the Transparency Act in 2022 to enhance business sector accountability on human rights, and the government’s commitment to incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into national law by 2025. Norway presented a comprehensive national plan to combat violence and abuse, focusing on prevention, victim support, and effective prosecution, with specific measures addressing violence in Sami communities, developed in collaboration with the Samediggi. Commendations were given for Norway’s commitment to gender equality and inclusivity, while recommendations from several states urged Norway to strengthen measures to address discrimination, racial profiling, and migrant rights, adopt a consent-based legal definition of rape, and ratify key international human rights instruments such as the International Convention on the Protection of All Migrant Workers and Their Families and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Albania shared that during the drafting of the national report, civil society, experts, and nonprofits were involved in the consultation. The delegation also shared current developments underway for human rights, including its intentions to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by 2027 and to amend the Family Code of Albania to recognise same-sex civil partnerships and marriages by 2028. Albania was commended for its implementation of the National Strategy for Development and European Integration 2022-2030 and efforts taken to combat corruption. Recommendations included strengthening measures to combat violence against women and domestic violence, corruption, racism, discrimination, and hate speech, ending forced treatment for those with disabilities, and eliminating exceptions to marriage before the age of 18. 

During its review, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) showcased achievements in strengthening legal and institutional frameworks, with laws enacted to protect human rights defenders, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities. Significant progress was also reported in economic, social, and cultural rights, including free education initiatives and steps toward universal health coverage, contributing to the country’s advancement toward the Sustainable Development Goals. The DRC highlighted its efforts to implement previous Universal Periodic Review recommendations. States commended these efforts while recommending further actions, including eradicating discrimination and violence against women and girls, with strengthened laws addressing gender-based and conflict-related sexual violence. Recommendations also urged the DRC to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to abolish the death penalty, align national legislation with the Maputo Protocol for reproductive rights, and ensure compliance with the Convention Against Torture. Additionally, states emphasized halting child recruitment and labor, restoring the moratorium on the death penalty, and ratifying the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

When discussing its national report, Côte d’Ivoire explained it had submitted a mid-term report for the UPR, signifying a good practice. Throughout the working group session, the delegation highlighted measures it has taken to advance human rights, such as its 2020 Ministry of Justice and Human Rights plan to improve access to justice and the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in May 2024. The delegation also explained it is currently ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child pertaining to the communications procedure, and the ILO Conventions 189 and 190 regarding domestic workers and harassment in the workplace. Recommendations included increasing measures to enhance women’s participation in the public and political spheres, implementing measures to improve prisons, ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and making education more accessible to girls, children from rural areas, and children of marginalised communities. 

Portugal’s delegation, led by Mr. Nuno Sampaio, highlighted key advancements in human rights through its National Human Rights Committee, involving representatives from 20 government sectors. The delegation outlined progress in several areas, including national plans on housing, migration, human trafficking, gender equality, poverty, and gender identity. Additionally, Portugal reported that 82% of mainland electricity now comes from renewable sources, and the unemployment rate has dropped by 6% following the ratification of three ILO instruments. The government emphasized initiatives to protect the rights of older persons, focusing on their independence and social cohesion. Portugal received widespread praise for its efforts in combating poverty, violence against women, racism, and promoting children's and disability rights. Its national anti-poverty strategy and first national plan against racism and discrimination were particularly commended. Recommendations centered on enhancing protections for women and girls against violence, improving access to affordable housing, and strengthening support for persons with disabilities. States urged Portugal to intensify efforts to combat human trafficking and better detect victims from vulnerable groups. The delegation announced the upcoming adoption of its fifth national action plan on human trafficking, currently open for public consultation.

Bhutan’s delegation, led by H.E. Mr. D.N. Dhungyel, highlighted human rights advancements, including decriminalizing homosexuality in 2021 and receiving global recognition for reducing under-five mortality and stillbirth rates. Bhutan reported legal amendments to increase sentences for child rape and align definitions of child molestation and trafficking with international standards. The establishment of 18 child and women protection units by the Royal Bhutan Police has handled over 1,600 domestic violence and 400 sexual exploitation cases since 2019. Recommendations included improving access to education for children in rural areas and ratifying key international instruments, such as the Convention Against Torture (UNCAT), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). There were also calls to extend invitations to UN special procedure mandate-holders and establish an independent national human rights institution.

Brunei Darussalam emphasized the measures taken to achieve universal access to education, healthcare, and clean water, alongside initiatives like the national retirement scheme and centralized welfare system. Climate action featured prominently, with the country aligning national policies to global objectives, establishing a Climate Change Office, and proposing a regional ASEAN center for cooperation. Brunei Darussalam’s COVID-19 response underscored its resilience, providing free vaccinations, robust public communication, and targeted assistance to vulnerable groups. Legislative advancements included protections for persons with disabilities and stronger anti-trafficking measures, alongside policies addressing statelessness and strengthening citizenship pathways. Despite progress, member states urged Brunei Darussalam to further align with international conventions, abolish the death penalty, and enhance protections for freedom of expression and vulnerable groups. 

Dominica reaffirmed its commitment to human rights, emphasizing progress made despite challenges posed by Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Notable achievements include establishing a National Mechanism for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF), acceding to the Convention on Enforced Disappearances, and adopting the Domestic Violence Act in 2023. Dominica highlighted its gender equality strides, with women comprising 38.5% of Parliament and the election of its first female Indigenous president in 2023. Other key initiatives include free healthcare for citizens over 60, expanding access to education with technology integration, and enhancing climate resilience under the Climate Resilience Recovery Plan 2030. Recommendations included abolishing the death penalty, ratifying the Convention Against Torture, adopting comprehensive anti-discrimination laws, and prohibiting corporal punishment in all settings. Dominica expressed openness to dialogue on contentious issues like the death penalty and pledged further action on LGBTQI+ rights, gender-based violence, and establishing an NHRI. The delegation emphasized its commitment to fighting for climate justice as a fundamental human right.

The DPRK emphasized its commitment to prioritizing children’s nutrition, education access, and healthcare. New laws were introduced to protect persons with disabilities, improve judicial processes, and enhance housing availability. Efforts include distributing daily dairy products to children and providing free school uniforms and transportation. The delegation highlighted actions to address natural disasters, foster rural development. Recommendations focused on ending forced labor, political prison camps, and torture, addressing gender-based violence, improving freedoms of expression and movement, and ratifying core international conventions, including those against torture and discrimination. Many nations urged cooperation with UN mechanisms and humanitarian organizations, with calls for transparency regarding abducted and disappeared persons.

Costa Rica highlighted its inclusive approach to drafting its national report, coordinated by its National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-up (NMRIF) and National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) with consultations involving civil society. The delegation showcased progress in human rights, including legalizing same-sex marriage in 2020, criminalizing enforced disappearances and femicide, and introducing constitutional rights to telecommunications and sports. Key measures include laws addressing affirmative action for people of African descent, strategies against hate speech and discrimination, and emergency declarations for asylum and refugee support. Costa Rica also launched a mechanism for indigenous consultations and protocols to combat racism and xenophobia. Recommendations included decriminalizing abortion, enhancing protections for indigenous peoples and migrants, addressing gender-based violence, and ensuring inclusive education. States commended Costa Rica for its multidimensional poverty reduction efforts, judicial engagement with indigenous leaders, and innovative migration assistance model with Panama.

During Equatorial Guinea’s review, the delegation shared Equatorial Guinea has made progress in addressing the right to education, such as taking measures to improve access to education by making education free and accessible and establishing rehabilitation centres so children in conflict with the law can continue their education. Additionally, Equatorial Guinea shared it has abolished the death penalty and is currently undergoing the process to establish a national human rights institution.  States commended Equatorial Guinea for its ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Recommendations included ratifying the International Convention for the Protection of All persons against Enforced Disappearances, ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading treatment or Punishment, and taking measures to enhance gender equality, such as ensuring access to education for pregnant girls and combatting gender stereotypes. 

Ethiopia’s delegation, led by H.E. Mr. Belayihun Yirga Kifle, highlighted that their national report was a collaborative effort involving government agencies, NHRIs, CSOs, parliament, and academia. The delegation outlined key developments, including updated electoral laws to enhance accessibility for women, people with disabilities, and displaced persons. Ethiopia reported progress in transitional justice, adopting a victim-centered policy in April 2024 to address past human rights violations and promote reconciliation. The National Dialogue Commission has made strides toward implementing the Pretoria Agreement for lasting peace. Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, launched in 2019, was commended for increasing forest coverage and engaging millions of volunteers in climate action. Recommendations included establishing a moratorium on the death penalty, ratifying the Rome Statute, and strengthening efforts against gender-based violence. States urged Ethiopia to boost women's representation in decision-making and advance economic empowerment. There were also calls to improve education quality, particularly for children with disabilities, and address housing and sanitation issues for marginalized groups.

Qatar’s delegation, led by H.E. Dr. Hend Abdalrahman Al-Muftah, highlighted the progress Qatar has made in terms of sustainability and shared that Qatar has extended its joint working program with the ILO for four more years to continue its work towards advancing human rights in the labour market. Qatar has also provided financial support for developing countries to improve health and access to education. Qatar was commended during the interactive dialogue by other countries for the steps it has taken to achieve the Qatar National Vision 2030. Recommendations included establishing a moratorium on the death penalty and ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It also received recommendations pertaining to women’s rights, such as removing its reservations to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and taking measures to protect women and girls from violence. Additionally, recommendations were made pertaining to trafficking, LGBTQI+ rights, and the protection of children from all forms of violence. 

During Nicaragua’s Review, the delegation shared that the report prepared by the Interinstitutional Commission, had included participation from all branches of the government and had been validated by various national actors. The delegation outlined key developments achieving better production, boosting trade and markets, developing the family economy, tackling the effects of climate change, deepening gender equality, promoting inclusive and safe cities, and developing the Caribbean coast. Nicaragua’s achievements such as ranking sixth in the 2024 Gender Equity Index prepared by the World Economic Forum and second for the number of women ministers and third in women’s participation in the National Assembly in the 2024 women in politics map developed by UN-Women and the Inter-Parliamentary Union were also highlighted. Recommendations made during the interactive dialogue included countries emphasizing the need to restore civic and political freedoms by reinstating the legal status of NGOs and civil society organizations, ensuring freedom of expression, association, and press, and overturning laws that restrict citizenship and civic space. Several States called for the release of political prisoners, an end to arbitrary detention, and the cessation of persecution against perceived opponents. Recommendations also included resuming cooperation with international human rights mechanisms, combating gender-based violence, and ensuring equal access to education, health, and social services. While some states commended Nicaragua’s efforts in poverty reduction and social programs, many raised concerns over shrinking civic space and human rights violations.