UPR: Driving transformative change through technical cooperation
During the 56th session of the Human Rights Council UPR Info proudly participated in the annual thematic panel discussion on technical cooperation and capacity-building.
This year’s focus was on enhancing technical cooperation and capacity-building in the implementation of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations. The panel discussion provided a platform to reflect on activities, good practices, challenges, and lessons learned of cooperation among states, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN agencies, and other stakeholders, such as UPR Info, to support States’ efforts to implement UPR recommendations.
“Since its inception, the UPR has evolved and matured into a robust mechanism working in complementarity with other United Nations human rights mechanisms, as increasingly highlighted during reviews and documented good practices,” said Mr. Mahamane Cissé-Gouro, Director of the Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanism Division.
UPR recommendations alone are not enough. As highlighted by Mr. Mahamane Cissé-Gouro in his opening remarks, they become meaningful when they translate into tangible actions and improvements on the ground, providing States with a framework that is accessible, tailored and reinforcing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From the abolition of the death penalty in Sierra Leone and Ghana to the adoption of a domestic violence prevention bill in Malta, or constitutional amendments in Tuvalu to prohibit discrimination, these are just a few examples of how UPR recommendations have concretely improved human rights on the ground.
To ensure transformative changes at the national level, Mona M’Bikay, Executive Director of UPR Info, identified three critical factors: sustainable financing, capacity-building, and partnerships. She highlighted the crucial role of sustainable financing in human rights, noting that only a small fraction of Official Development Assistance (ODA) is specifically allocated in this sector. Mona M’Bikay cited examples where financial support has led to tangible human rights improvements: in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Canadian support helped end child marriage; and in Côte d'Ivoire, a project supported by UPR Info advanced disability rights through significant legislative changes and increased political participation.
UPR Info's Director also emphasised the importance of capacity building, knowledge sharing, and partnerships in implementing UPR recommendations. In Morocco, the National Mechanism for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up (NMIRF) trained local government representatives on the UPR process, enhancing their ability to integrate and act on UPR recommendations. The effectiveness of dialogue and cooperation was illustrated through several good practices developed by member states: efforts by Belgium in the DRC, where a human rights group of embassies facilitated consultations among the government, parliamentarians, the NHRI, and CSOs, leading to a roadmap for implementing UPR recommendations; and France incorporating a human rights-based approach into its development strategy.
To fully harness the potential of the UPR in its fourth cycle and enhance human rights, it is essential to increase funding for human rights at international and national levels, strengthen the capacity of national actors and state branches to prevent violations, and foster dialogue and cooperation among the State under Review, Recommending States, and national actors to create more inclusive societies that respect human rights.
How are UN Agencies supporting the implementation of UPR recommendations?
Adriana Quinones, representing UN Women, emphasised the role of the UPR in advancing gender equality and the agency’s role in supporting national processes by encouraging the participation of civil society in the UPR and supporting governments in this field. In Ukraine, UN Women worked with the government and parliament to address intersectional discrimination against Roma women and girls. By leveraging the recommendations from the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and the UPR, they identified actions to improve educational access, employment prospects, and decision-making participation for Roma women, contributing to SDG 5. In Colombia, UN Women monitored legislative developments and analysed parliamentary initiatives to encourage the adoption or amendment of legislation in line with UPR recommendations. They produced a bulletin of legislative alerts on initiatives impacting women's rights, supporting the implementation of these recommendations.
Watch UPR Info's intervention under Item 10:
“Let's capitalise on the strengths of the UPR, a comprehensive mechanism that addresses a wide variety of human rights issues. The UPR has the potential to prevent and respond to human rights violations, build inclusive societies based on the rule of law, and strengthen national human rights protection systems” , Mona M’Bikay concluded.