The UPR Adoptions at the 61st Session of the HRC: key highlights

Andorra announced that it had accepted 108 of the 150 recommendations. It has continuously consulted with ministries to ensure its commitments can also match its ongoing reforms and capacities. Currently, the State is working on a bill on children’s rights regarding the digital sphere and is planning on acceding to international human rights treaties. Andorra has noted 41 recommendations for further consideration in respect to constitutional sensitivities; it has stressed that it is a careful approach to issues that require more consideration. Moving forward, the country hopes to implement a national mechanism that will better allow for more effective and efficient implementation of recommendations, while noting that coordinated efforts are essential for ongoing human rights progress. 

During the 50th Working Group, Belarus received a total of 332 recommendations, while accepting 166 and noting another 166. Several recommendations have been categorized as “accepted” because their provisions have already been implemented, are currently being implemented, or are at an advanced stage.

Croatia accepted 176 of the 216 recommendations, and noted 40, following the examination of the recommendations by an interministerial working group, which confirmed that many of these recommendations were either already implemented or in the process of being implemented. During their review, Croatia reaffirmed its commitment to international humanitarian law and addressed unresolved cases from the 1990s that included missing persons. The accepted recommendations included promoting gender equality and women’s rights, protecting children’s rights through community-based services and inclusive education, combating hate crimes, and implementing a 2027 national plan for the promotion and protection of human rights. 

The Honduran delegation received 243 recommendations during its review, of which 216 recommendations were accepted, and 16 were noted. The new government of Honduras has committed to creating opportunities for employment, protecting human rights, and strengthening its institutions. Following these commitments, the state of emergency in Honduras was lifted, and interventions, in accordance with the 2026-2030 plan, focused on the cities with the highest levels of violence. Key initiatives from these recommendations include improving sustainable development, crime prevention, improving child welfare and education, strengthening prevention of gender-based violence, and creating a national program of food meals with support of the World Food Programme (WFP) and Family Assistance Programme (FAP). 

Hurricane Melissa tested a lot of Jamaica’s institutions, infrastructure, and communities, which prompted the Jamaican government to assess the extent of the damages made by the storm and rebuild the communities affected. However, the government established the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority to coordinate post-disaster recovery through private-public partnerships. Of the 237 recommendations, Jamaica accepted 124 recommendations and noted 113, with a primary focus on guiding efforts to protect and promote human rights, the rights of vulnerable groups, and environmental development. Some of the recommendations include criminalizing marital rape, ensuring equal access to education, improving detention conditions, and strengthening indigenous peoples’ rights. These actions align with the 2030 SDG agenda, which is supported by a national development plan with clear evaluation and monitoring mechanisms.

Liberia accepted a total of 230 of 245 recommendations, noted 15 recommendations, and asked for clarification of one. These recommendations cover a range of areas such as advancing gender equality, strengthening human rights institutions and other accountability mechanisms, protecting the rights of children and people of vulnerable groups, and strengthening democratic governance and the rule of law. Liberia shared a couple of concrete measures to strengthen its legislative and institutional human rights framework, such as the draft bill to abolish the death penalty, the advancements on the National Human Rights Defenders Protection Policy, and the establishment of a Witness Protection Agency under the Ministry of Justice.

In adopting its report at the 61st Session of the HRC, Malawi received a total of 294 recommendations, accepting 228 recommendations, noting 65 recommendations, and splitting its position on one.  Malawi highlighted the progress it has made by emphasizing its key reforms in mental health, prison reform, data protection, disability protection, and strengthening governance institutions (NHRI A status renewal). Although certain key concerns mentioned in the noted recommendations, such as marital rape, abortion, and the death penalty, were not accepted, Malawi made it a point to emphasize that this did not indicate a final position on these issues. Moving forward, Malawi aims to develop a UPR implementation with the NMIRF for additional technical and financial support to ensure measurable improvements in human rights. 

As a Pacific Island developing state, the Marshall Islands started off its report by stating that it relied a lot on international cooperation and partnerships to ensure that they have the necessary resources and capacity needed to advance human rights. They accepted around 95% of the recommendations they received, 213 out of the total 223 recommendations they received. Strengthening institutions remains one of their top priorities, including establishing a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) and integrating the Paris Principles, along with implementing new accountability mechanisms such as the 2025 Ombudsman Office Act. Additionally, the Marshall Islands have committed to increasing gender equality and anti-discrimination measures to improve representation, along with combating gender-based violence and human trafficking, implementing prison and justice reform, improving women’s and children’s rights, and improving the inclusion of people with disabilities. They also stressed the consequences of nuclear testing on human rights and the severity of the risks climate change has posed to coastal communities. 

The Mongolian delegation received a total of 223 recommendations, and of those recommendations, Mongolia accepted 192 and partially noted down one. Many of these recommendations acknowledged Mongolia's progress in freedom of speech, strengthening women’s rights obligations and gender equality, combating domestic violence, and assuming international obligations. With these recommendations, Mongolia adopted a comprehensive action plan to implement the recommendations of the 4th cycle, established an NHR, adopted a law on data protection and the protection of human rights defenders, and a draft law on family affairs with more integrated family policies. However, the Delegation stressed the challenges due to insufficient budget allocations and the absence of a dedicated budget (and policy) for victim assistance and support services.

During the 50th working group, Panama reiterated its commitment to the full observance of human rights and its progress in gender equality, anti-discrimination, and the protection of women, children, migrants, and indigenous peoples. Out of the 263 recommendations Panama received, it accepted 189 recommendations that aimed to advance access to justice, increase healthcare, anti-corruption initiatives in reproductive and sexual health, and judicial independence.