Universal Periodic Review 

Mr. President,

I am speaking on behalf of the European Union and the acceding states Bulgaria and Romania. 

The EU attaches great importance to advance our work for the establishment of a system for a Universal Periodic Review. The review constitutes one of the innovative instruments at the disposal of the Council.

The creation of a UPR mechanism includes several questions which require in-depth reflexion and preparation. The EU is looking forward to hearing ideas and proposals from other stakeholders, and would like to offer some preliminary ideas. 

The process should aim at establishing an efficient, transparent and meaningful system focusing on implemenation and follow-up. 

The mechanism should follow a relatively light procedure. 

No additional reporting obligations should be created for states; instead, countries undergoing the review could present, for example, a brief statement of its record of fulfilling human rights obligations and the challenges it faces in doing so.

An effective diagnosis of a state's human rights challenges will be crucial for the success of the UPR. It would be useful if the OHCHR compiled available information, such as reports and conclusions from Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures, reports from other UN organs, national institutions and NGOs. 

An effective system of UPR should support inter alia  the implementation of the recommendations, conclusions and decisions of independent human rights bodies, in particular the Treaty Bodies and the Special Procedures. Or, in the event of non-compliance with the Treaty Monitoring Bodies or Special Procedures, the UPR should focus on engagement and compliance.

It is important to ensure that the UPR does not duplicate the efforts of Treaty Bodies or Special Procedures, neither shall it assume functions that can only be conducted by independent human rights expert bodies. 

NGOs, in particular local NGOs as well as National Human Rights Institutions, should be involved in and substantively contribute in the UPR mechanism. 

As stated in the resolution establishing the Council, the universal periodic review will be based on interactive dialogue and cooperation, with the full involvement of the country concerned and with consideration given to its capacity-building needs.  The universal periodic review could also serve as a useful forum for exchanging best practices and identifying specific options for technical cooperation.

The universal periodic review should not, and cannot, replace other mechanisms or tools of the Human Rights Council to prevent and address situations of human rights violations. Synergy between the various mechanisms should, however, be ensured, for instance by closely involving Special Rapporteurs in the UPR process. It is also important to think of ways to provide for a good and regular system for flow of information between the Treaty Bodies, the UPR and the Special Rapporteurs.

To ensure that the Council would not be overburdened by the review mechanism a separate inter-sessional working group or sub-committee responsible for undertaking the review could be established. The final outcome of the universal periodic review process should be dealt with in the plenary to ensure oversight and follow up as necessary.

Thank you, Mr. President.