UPR Info in action: Togo, Senegal, and Benin
How can UPR recommendations be transformed into concrete realities?
This is precisely the mission of UPR Info’s In-country programme, which provides technical support to governments, civil society organizations, and national human rights institutions to turn state commitments into tangible actions.
In 2024, numerous initiatives across several African countries illustrate UPR Info's approaches to turning this ambition into a reality.
Benin
Since the adoption of the final report of the 4th UPR cycle in July 2023, UPR Info has supported stakeholders in monitoring and implementing the recommendations. Parliamentarians, in particular, were briefed on their critical role in the process, as 70% of the recommendations require their direct or indirect action.
With UPR Info’s guidance, the government, civil society, and the Benin Human Rights Commission developed action strategies, defined tracking and implementation indicators, and established regular discussions. Resolutions were adopted to outline how these groups could work together more effectively to advance the implementation of the recommendations.
One concrete result was the update of the designation of human rights focal points within sectoral ministries, an essential step for improving oversight and implementation. This initiative also enabled civil society organizations to engage more effectively with the government, paving the way for promising collaborations to improve human rights in the country.
Togo
Two and a half years after the 3rd cycle review in January 2022, UPR Info experts worked with Togo’s national stakeholders to draft mid-term UPR reports. Government officials, civil society representatives, and the Togo Human Rights Commission received training on best practices for such reporting.
The tangible benefits of this technical support are already visible: two mid-term reports were produced by civil society, one focusing on freedoms of assembly and association, and another covering all recommendations accepted by Togo.
Although mid-term reporting is a voluntary practice, it is widely recognized as a best practice that facilitates the national-level monitoring of recommendation implementation, thereby strengthening accountability for human rights commitments.
Senegal
In Senegal, just a few months after the adoption of the final report for the 4th UPR cycle in July 2024, UPR Info supported civil society, the newly established Senegal National Human Rights Commission, and the government. The organization strengthened their ability to monitor and implement the recommendations while encouraging better coordination among stakeholders.
The initiative aimed to maintain strong connections among actors throughout all phases of the UPR process. As one civil society participant shared:
"My organization works on some recommendations that Senegal did not support during this 4th cycle. But realizing that I could still work on these recommendations as well as those that were supported changed my perspective. The way we collaborate on joint action strategies with other organizations makes a big difference for us. In fact, working in groups on these strategies marks the start of enhanced cooperation between CSOs to contribute to the implementation of the recommendations."
This testimony perfectly captures the impact of these workshops: a more united, better-informed, and connected civil society, ready to drive concrete change.