Conectas participates in training for Paraguayan civil society organizations on UPR

The organization was invited to share its experience on human rights evaluation mechanism by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Regional Office

 

July 18th, 2010

The situation of human rights in Paraguay will be evaluated in February 2011 by the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. However, the preparation phase is already happening.

Conectas was responsible for the training on how to perform advocacy in the UPR to 21 Paraguayan organizations working in different human rights areas last July 7th. The meeting was organized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Regional Office and took place in Asunción, Paraguay.

During the event, Conectas presented the possible actions to be taken by the civil society and the challenges and recommendations based on Brazil’s and other southern countries’ experiences with the UPR. The participants also had the chance to learn about the advocacy methodology for the UPR mechanism developed by Conectas.

“In an UPR, one of the biggest challenges faced by the Global South is the execution of the advocacy in relation to the States, so that they can make good recommendations to the country the review is taking place”, Conectas’ project assistant Camila Asano said. “We hope this activity will be the beginning of a partnership among the Paraguayan civil society organizations concerning the UPR and other coordinated actions within the UN”, Camila added.

Before Conectas’ training, the organizations had already participated in another training for the elaboration of the reports to be submitted to the review mechanism, organized by the High Commissioner.

 

 

About the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva

The Universal Periodic Review is the most innovative mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council. This mechanism requires that all UN member states (192) be periodically submitted to a human rights review, in four year cycles (48 countries per year). According to the General Assembly Resolution 60/251 and the Human Rights Council Resolution 5/1, this review aims to evaluate the States’ conformance to the obligations and commitments assumed in human rights matters.

The UPR has four phases:

 

• Phase 1 – Composition of the three reports to be considered in the review;
• Phase 2 – Interactive Dialogue: three hour session in Geneva, the reports phase 1 are considered the State under review (SuR) presents its report orally, answers questions and receives recommendations by the other States the UN Human Rights Council;
• Phase 3 – Adoption of final report containing recommendations to be implemented by the SuR;
• Phase 4 – Implementation of the recommendations and preparation for the next review.