Francophone NHRIs strengthen their UPR practice
From 6 July to 13 August 2026, UPR Info, with the support of the Association of Francophone National Human Rights Commissions (AFCNDH), organised an online training programme for Francophone National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) wishing to strengthen their engagement with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
Delivered through the UPR Info e-Hub, the programme brought together 18 participants from Francophone NHRIs in Togo, Cabo Verde, Algeria, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, the Central African Republic, Haiti and Mali. Designed to be flexible and accessible, the training combined self-paced modules, written and audiovisual resources, practical exercises and interactive sessions facilitated by UPR Info, with the support of AFCNDH.
A practical and flexible format
Over three modules, participants explored the UPR mechanism and identified concrete opportunities for engagement before, during and after the review. Particular attention was given to the role of NHRIs in monitoring human rights developments and contributing to their implementation through national and international advocacy.
The online format allowed participants to progress at their own pace while also creating spaces for exchange. Interactive sessions were conducted in a participatory manner, with participants moderating discussions and sharing national experiences.
Learning from national experiences
A central part of the programme was peer exchange. Participants shared examples of how their institutions engage with the UPR and support implementation at the national level. The good practices highlighted in AFCNDH’s publication, were used as a basis to exchange on practical ways NHRIs can strengthen their engagement throughout the UPR cycle.
During the programme, representatives from Côte d’Ivoire shared practical experience from the National Human Rights Council’s engagement with the UPR. Their presentation highlighted several tools that can help NHRIs strengthen their role throughout the cycle: setting up an internal UPR working group, creating joint advocacy spaces with civil society, organising regional forums to gather information, and holding national Pre-sessions to connect civil society concerns with diplomats, UN agencies and international partners. They also underlined the importance of engaging Parliament, sending targeted follow-up letters to relevant ministries, and sharing implementation challenges with civil society, the diplomatic community and technical and financial partners.
From Cabo Verde, participants presented a matrix used to track the implementation of UPR recommendations and support contributions to national follow-up. Exchanges between participants from Mali and Niger also allowed colleagues to share challenges, practical tips and experiences from their respective institutions.
These exchanges highlighted the practical role that NHRIs can play in making UPR recommendations more visible, accessible and usable. They also showed how NHRIs can act as bridges between State authorities, civil society, parliamentarians, the media, academia and international human rights mechanisms.
“At the end of this training, I will put into practice the knowledge acquired by contributing more effectively to the Universal Periodic Review process within my National Human Rights Institution,” said a participant from Haiti. “In particular, I will strengthen the follow-up of the implementation of recommendations and coordination with relevant stakeholders.”
Another participant highlighted the importance of building stronger relationships with all UPR stakeholders, especially civil society organisations, because of their role in advocacy, documenting human rights violations and monitoring the implementation of recommendations. They also pointed to the value of engaging more closely with academia, the media and public institutions through awareness-raising, training and spaces for dialogue.
What comes next?
At the request of participants, a WhatsApp group was created to help maintain exchanges among the alumni of the 2026 NHRI programme. As one participant from Mali noted, working on human rights is like a “work in progress”, and colleagues need spaces to support one another. The group will help strengthen solidarity among NHRI colleagues facing similar or different challenges, and provide a space to seek advice, share experiences and continue the peer learning started during the programme.
As participants return to their daily work, the next step will be to translate this learning into institutional practice: preparing stronger contributions, tracking recommendations more effectively, engaging a wider range of stakeholders and helping ensure that UPR recommendations lead to concrete improvements in people’s lives.