29/10/2020

Virtual Pre-sessions 36 

Virtual Pre-sessions 36 


UPR Info hosted Pre-Sessions 36 from 12 to 13 October 2020 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The meeting took place one month before the UPR Working Group, and provided the opportunity for National Human Rights Institutions and civil society organizations to report on the human rights situation in 13 of the 14 States under Review: Andorra; Belarus; Bulgaria; Croatia; Honduras; Jamaica; Liberia; Libya; Malawi; Maldives; Mongolia; Panama; United States.

This marked the first time that the Pre-sessions have been held in a virtual format, adapted to ensure the participation of civil society in the UPR process despite the current health crisis. The pandemic has exacerbated existing human rights issues, making the Pre-sessions a critical opportunity for those most affected by violations to provide States with first-hand, current information to develop effective recommendations.

During each Pre-session, pre-recorded statements made by NHRIs and civil society were screened for representatives from Permanent Missions. This was followed by a live question and answer period, providing an opportunity for an interactive exchange between stakeholders. Statements have been uploaded to UPR Info’s website with the consent of participants and can be found under the country pages of each State under Review.