Guidelines for NGO contributions to the Universal Periodic Review

Summary: These are revised guidelines. Note that page 6 of the document outlines more specific technical requirements for the submission (i.e. numbering of paragraphs and numbers). It is to be noted that such guidelines are to be considered as an evolving tool and OHCHR encourage you to provide them with suggestions and feedback in order to further improve them.

These guidelines have been developed by the OHCHR Civil Society Unit, in cooperation with the HRC Secretariat Team, on an interim basis; they are being suggested to assist NGOs in contributing to the UPR mechanism.

They are to be considered as an evolving and indicative tool; NGOs are encouraged to provide suggestions and feedback to the OHCHR Civil Society Unit to further improve such guidelines.

UPR as a process

• The UPR is to be seen as a process, composed of several steps. The participation of all relevant stakeholders, including NGOs, is encouraged throughout all relevant steps of such a process.
• NGOs may wish to ensure that they are included in the broad consultation process at the national level organised by the State for the purpose of the preparation of the information to be submitted to the UPR by the State.
• Other relevant stakeholders, which includes NGOs, may submit additional, credible and reliable information to the universal periodic review. Input received from stakeholders will be summarized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in a summary which shall not exceed 10 pages.
• Other relevant stakeholders, which includes NGOs, may attend the review in the working group
• Before the adoption of the outcome by the plenary of the Council, the State concerned should be offered the opportunity to present replies to questions or issues; Other relevant stakeholders will have the opportunity to make general comments before the adoption of the outcome by the plenary
• The outcome of the UPR, as a cooperative mechanism, should be implemented primarily by the State concerned and, as appropriate, by other relevant stakeholders, which includes NGOs.

Full details on the following is in the attached word document:

• Information on Written submissions, including its format, length, and content
• information about participation in the review process undertaken by the working group

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Deadlines for NGO reports

Session 9:

Submissions in relation to the 16 countries scheduled to be reviewed at the ninth session of the Working Group on the UPR (December 2010) should be sent to the following address: [email protected]

* 12 April 2010 for submissions on Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Mauritania, Lebanon, Maldives, Marshal Islands, Micronesia; and

* 19 April 2010 for submissions on Mongolia, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, United States of America, Andorra, Bulgaria, Croatia.

Session 10:

Submissions in relation to the 16 countries scheduled to be reviewed at the tenth session of the Working Group on the UPR (January 2011) should be sent to [email protected] by:

* 5 July 2010 for submissions on Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Prinicpe, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal; and
* 12 July 2010 for submissions on Oman, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Australia, Austria, Estonia and Georgia.

Session 11:

Submissions in relation to the 16 countries scheduled to be reviewed at the eleventh session of the Working Group on the UPR (May 2011) should be sent to [email protected] by:

* 1 November 2010 for submissions on Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore; and
* 8 November 2010 for submissions on Salomon Islands, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Hungary and Latvia.

Session 12:

Submissions in relation to the 16 countries scheduled to be reviewed at the twelfth session of the Working Group on the UPR (October 2011) should be sent to [email protected] by:

* 14 March 2011 for submissions on Swaziland, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand; and
* 21 March 2011 for submissions on Timor Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Antigua and Barbuda, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania and Moldova.

Further information