8 April 2015

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Presidency of the Human Rights Council, let me welcome you all to the 10th UPR pre-session. I am honored to be with you this morning and grateful to UPR Info for organizing these important and useful pre-sessions.

The pre-sessions have become an institution in Geneva, upon which States and civil society are firmly relying upon. I was told with regard to this morning's pre-session on the UPR of the United States of America that over 30 NGOs applied to come to Geneva; so let me congratulate the lucky 6!.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Presidency of the Human Rights Council attaches the greatest importance to the Universal Periodic Review. Under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, the UPR, created in 2006, is a truly innovative, distinguished and unique mechanism at the international level. It involves a review of the human rights records of ALL UN Member States on the basis of universality and equal treatment. The importance of these two elements – namely all countries under the same conditions - should not be understated.

The UPR, as part of the international human rights machinery, is not an end itself but a process. It can contribute to change on the ground by translating commitments made during the review into laws, policies and actions.

Why it the UPR so important?

The Secretary-General once said about the Universal Periodic Review that it “has great potential to promote and protect human rights in the darkest corners of the world.” Indeed, the UPR’s ultimate aim is to improve the human rights situation in all countries and to address violations, wherever they occur.

While the UPR is a State-driven process, that depends on the willingness of countries to be open to genuine scrutiny, it is every 4.5 years that States have to declare publicly what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfill their human rights obligations. And it is States that have to decide at the end of each review here in Geneva which recommendations they will take back home until the next cycle’s review.

In 2012, the mechanism entered into its second cycle, and with this cycle coming to an end soon, we can already draw some preliminary conclusions on its overall impact.

The UPR increasingly serves as a yardstick for progress on human rights and it allows us all to evaluate this progress, correct deficiencies and devise remedial actions. This, in turn, helps to develop specific approaches and strategies to support States in the implementation of human rights. Furthermore, trends within political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights may also serve as early- warning indicators, thus contributing to the prevention of human rights abuses and violations.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In the UPR process, we all have an important role to play. I believe that much of the UPR’s “potential” – to use the words of the Secretary-General - is sitting at every pre-session because a major driver of the UPR’s influence and impact is and will always be civil society.

The UPR has proven to be a constructive and cooperative mechanism where civil society plays an important role, helping to hold States to account for progress or failures in implementing the recommendations. Although the State has the primary responsibility to implement the recommendations stemming from the review, domestic civil society, media and human rights defenders are often key in following up on these recommendations. They raise awareness at home by advocating for policy change and can therefore help to trigger positive and concrete policies at home. Civil society engagement is therefore crucial.

In this context, let me underline that the Presidency is particularly worried about cases of reprisals and intimidation against those engaged in the UPR process or against those having cooperated with the UPR Working Group of the Human Rights Council. We have to do our utmost to protect civil society. Civil society is an invaluable resource to the global human rights machinery, which we must protect and support at all times.

Let me close by underling the important role and impact that the UPR is having within the United Nations system itself. It helps to create synergies between levels and themes. Not only does the UPR help to develop country-specific solutions on the ground, target technical cooperation and focus capacity-building, where needed. It also allows "other actors" – namely, development, peace and security, and regional actors - to draw upon the work of the Human Rights Council.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish you all a successful UPR Pre-Session. We are looking forward to the 22nd session of the Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review, in which 14 countries will be reviewed from 4 to 15 May.

I thank you all for your attention.