The UPR is a unique mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), and Norway attaches great importance to the opportunity to engage in dialogue and share recommendations, with the aim to strengthen human rights in the state under review.
While the UPR-session in itself is a peer-review exclusively between states, Norway liaises with civil society in the preparatory phase. In Geneva, the Mission participates in the pre-sessions hosted by UPR info, and Norwegian embassies meet with local civil society representatives in the countries concerned. Norway’s recommendations and advance questions are as such largely the result of extensive consultations. In this regard, we pay particular attention to the National Rapports submitted by the countries to be reviewed, while also actively welcoming the views of civil society organizations and human rights defenders.
The 27th session constitutes the start of the third UPR-cycle. After over 10 years of reviews, this session was an opportunity to reflect both upon steps taken by member states since their last review, as well as looking ahead towards further improvements. Norway recommended member states to, inter alia, ensure the protection of human rights defenders, women´s rights, freedom of expression, freedom of religion and belief, and vulnerable groups. Norway delivered advance questions and recommendations to Algeria, Bahrain, Brazil, Ecuador, Finland, India, Indonesia, Morocco, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa and Tunisia.
All recommendations and advance questions can be read here.