18/11/2022

Seminar for UN Member States: Making your recommendations count

UN member states

UPR Info and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will hold a seminar "SMART UPR recommendations for ESCR". This seminar, co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Portugal, coincides with the beginning of the 4th UPR cycle and will be an occasion to inspire diplomats in making action-oriented recommendations to promote economic equality and broader enjoyment of economic, social, and cultural rights. 

More specifically, the objectives of the seminar are:

  1. Share a methodology (SMART) to formulate action-oriented recommendations for the UPR;
  2. Highlight the good practices of Recommending States in the formulation and follow-up of UPR recommendations to promote economic equality and economic, social, and cultural rights.

The recommendations are the main tool through which the UPR can contribute to the improvement of human rights in the State under Review. Often States make general recommendations to the State under Review. If a recommendation is general, it is harder for the State under Review to identify constructive actions to implement them. To avoid the potential of the mechanism to improve human rights being undermined, it is important that the Recommending States formulate recommendations that are precise and action-oriented. In order to ensure a greater balance between civil and political, and economic, social, and cultural rights, we are particularly encouraging Member States to focus on economic, social, and cultural rights, and notably economic equality, an issue of significant urgency in our times.

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State representatives will be invited to share good practices on their engagement with the UPR. To prepare the way, we invite the identified States to frame their interventions/comments around the following guiding questions:

  • Can you highlight one example of good practice put in place by your country in using the UPR effectively to achieve a change on the ground?
  •  What recommendation was received, how was it perceived at the national level, what analysis and planning were developed to implement it, what were some (1-2) key challenges and what has been the impact to date? Please share one key lesson from the experience that you think will be useful for fellow-Member States.
  • What is your country’s experience of highlighting economic, social and cultural rights as a result of the UPR process?

Time and place

The event will take place on Friday, 25 November 2022 from 10:00 to 12:00 am. It will be held in hybrid mode, in Room XXVI of the UONG and, for those unable to attend, online. To register, click here. French interpretation will be available.

Speakers:

1. Gianni Magazzeni, UPR Branch, OHCHR

2. Ambassador Rui Macieira, Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations Office and other international organizations, Coordinator of the ESCR Group of Friends

3.  Alisa Clarke, Human Rights Officer, UPR Branch, OHCHR

4. Lynn Gentile, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Section, OHCHR

5. Nicoletta Zappile, Programme Manager, UPR Info

Open Debate

Chair: Mona M’Bikay Executive Director, UPR Info

For more information, please read the concept note here.