Where are we a year into the universal review of human rights?

A year after the United Nations began its global review of human rights, the Commonwealth Secretariat has launched a publication which compiles experiences from countries, draws together their best practices and lessons learned, and considers ways to increase the usefulness of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in the national context.

This UPR explores the human rights situations in all 192 UN member countries, regardless of size or wealth. It will allow human rights records of these countries - which includes all 53 members of the Commonwealth - to be reviewed every four years.

Since the process began the Secretariat has organised a series of seminars for representatives from governments, human rights institutions and non-governmental organisations who are involved in the review.

“The review is a complex process and consequently a challenge for many countries approaching it for the first time,” said Dr Purna Sen, Head of Human Rights at the Secretariat. “The first year has been a great learning curve for all involved. Because of our work in assisting countries we are now in a strong position to provide advice to all who have yet to undergo the process.”

‘Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights, Towards Best Practice’ was officially launched on 11 May 2009 at the UN Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Maldivian Chargé d’Affaires, Shazra Abdul Sattar, chaired the launch, which featured a panel of speakers including the Deputy Permanent Representatives of Botswana and the UK to the United Nations, Rhee Hetanang and Phillip Tissot respectively, and Guiliano Comba, Chief of the UPR section at the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.