Your chance to comment on the Government’s human rights record

Every four years the UK government is subject to a review of its human rights record by the United Nations (UN). This review is conducted by the UN Human Rights Council and provides an important opportunity to hold the UK Government to account for its domestic human rights record. It is a formal process and voluntary and community sector organisations (VCS) and others are invited to submit evidence to inform the review. The information provided to the UN by independent reliable sources allows for the formulation of smart, relevant and time-bound recommendations for the Government on how they should improve the human rights of everyone in the UK.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has commissioned the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) to raise awareness of the UN’s human rights review process and to encourage organisations from across society to submit their comments to the UN. Organisations can also join the submission BIHR will produce and get involved in the Government’s own consultation. BIHR will hold three events to spread the word about how to report to the UN Human Rights Council about human rights. The three events take place in Cardiff (20 October), Leeds (31 October) and London (2 November).

If you would like more information about BIHR’s submission, including how you can sign up, please contact us on info@bihr.org.uk

The deadline for VCS or any other civil society organisation to submit their views to the UN is very close: reports/comments must be submitted by 21 November.

How the UN human rights reporting system works

The UN has been operating a new system, since 2008, to review every member country’s record on human rights, called the Universal Periodic Review or the UPR. This process ensures that all countries are monitored in their approach to fulfilling their human rights’ obligations. It also provides an opportunity to share human rights best practice around the world and initiate national dialogues on human rights. The UPR system works by asking member countries to report on their own progress towards human rights, identifying where things have gone well and what challenges they face. The UN Human Rights Council oversees the review and it is made up of 47 representative countries, elected by the UN General Assembly.

The UK was part of the first group of countries whose human rights’ record was reviewed as part of the UPR in 2008. Its next review is in May 2012, with a final report from the UN due around September/October 2012. Prior to this process, the UK Government must produce its own report about the human rights situation in the UK and include, as part of this, consultation with the voluntary and community sector to obtain its views on how the Government is progressing human rights. At the same time the UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) gathers the views of the voluntary and community sector directly, as well as those of the EHRC (as a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) with official accreditation at the UN), and collates these comments into a report to be read in conjunction with the Government’s own view of its record. The OHCHR is the UN body responsible for promoting human rights and is also the secretariat for the Human Rights Council.

A vital role for the voluntary sector

The UK Government will submit a detailed report on the progress it has made since the first review. The EHRC will submit an evidence based assessment on how the UK Government is meeting its human rights obligations. It is critical for the UN to also hear the voices of organisations on the frontline, bringing to light daily experiences of human rights in the country.

Every submission from the voluntary and community sector will be collated into a report by the OHCHR, which becomes one of the core components of the review. The reports will help states on the council formulate recommendations for human rights improvements in the UK.

Any organisation representing the voluntary and community sector (which includes any civil society organisation or NGO) can submit their views on the UK’s human rights performance – highlighting both good and bad practice and bringing to the UN’s attention human rights violations or trends that they believe need to be given attention.

BIHR will produce a short submission and some of the views captured in the events may be included in this. Other organisations will be able to sign up to this submission.

Once the review is over the voluntary sector has a vital role in continuing to monitor the Government’s progress in improving the human rights situation in the UK and holding it to account.

Countdown to …. the Universal Periodic Review: Time line

2008: UK – one of the first countries to be reviewed under the UPR

2010: UK submits interim report to the Human Rights Council on implementation of 2008 UPR recommendations. Read it here. The Equality and Human Rights Commission produced an independent assessment of the midterm report. You can read the EHRC’s assessment here.

21 November 2011:

The deadline for voluntary and community sector (VCS) and NGOs to submit comments and reports to the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights. The OHCHR will then compile a summary of the submissions.

October 2011- February 2012: The government compiles its national report for the UPR, and consults with Voluntary Sector Organisations and the National Human Rights Institutions.

May 2012: Oral examination and review of UK reports by a smaller working group of states allocated to review the UK. There is a working group of State Parties on the Human Rights Council allocated to review each country.

June 2012: The working group produces a draft outcome report and the UK has opportunities to make comments.

Between June- September 2012: The working group submits recommendations and a summary to the full Human Rights Council. The UK government may produce a written response to each recommendation known as the Addendum.

September/October 2012: Web cast plenary session of the Human Rights Council including a presentation of the UK’s UPR report, the UK response to the review and statements from the NHRIs and NGOs with UN ECOSOC status. (This status is granted by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and gives consultative status to NGOs. For more information visit: http://csonet.org/index.php?menu=30.) The UPR report is adopted.

From September/October 2012: Following the adoption of the report the Government has a duty to raise awareness of the recommendations, implement them and report on their progress in the next cycle. It is likely that the UK will produce a midterm statement on progress in 2014. The NHRIs and voluntary and community sector organisations are encouraged to devise strategies to monitor and periodically report on the Government’s performance in implementing the recommendations.
 

File attachments: 

UPR information leaflet_ BIHR Final.doc