STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS Geneva, 12-13 November 2012
	Seminar organized organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth Secretariat

	The Seminar, organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth Secretariat, was held on 12 and 13 November 2012. It provided parliamentarians from 21 countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, the Pacific and South America with valuable insights on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and its workings. Through the rich and varied discussions, MPs examined different possibilities for parliaments to seriously consider the problem of human rights. More specifically, concrete recommendations were drawn up on how parliaments could play an active role in the three phases of the UPR process: development and presentation of the country report and implementation of recommendations made. It was felt that such involvement should be part and parcel of a close collaboration with the other parties involved. The Geneva seminar was designed to inspire parliaments to get involved in the UPR and its recommendations will allow MPs whose country reports will be examined in 2013 and 2014 to make a meaningful input.

DOCUMENTS AND LINKS
	Conclusions	[ English ] [ French ]
	Invitation letter	[ English ] [ French ] [ Spanish ]
	Agenda (version 08/11/12)	[ English ] [ French ] [ Spanish ]
	United Nations Human Rights Council	[ English ] [ French ] [ Spanish ]
	Promoting and defending human rights (IPU website)	[ English ] [ French ]
	List of participants	[ English ] [ French ]
	Commonwealth Secretariat	[ English ]
SPEECHES AND PRESENTATIONS These files are only available in their original language
Opening session
	Welcome and opening (Peter Reading) (English)
	Kenyote address (Owen Bonnici) (English)
	Kenyote address (Margret Kiener Nellen) (French)
Session 2: The Universal Periodic Review as a United Nations human rights mechanism
	Relationship between UPR and UN Treaty Bodies: the example of the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Zeïna Hilal) (French)
Session 3: The Role of Parliament and other stakeholders in the UPR process
	Role of NHRIs (Med S.K. Kaggwa) (English)
	Role of Civil Society (Roland Chauville) (English)
Session 4: Country experiences in the 1st and 2nd UPR cycles Case Study 1: United Kingdom
	Role of civil society (Sanchita Hosali) (English)
	Role of NHRI (Duncan Wilson) (English)
Session 5: Country experiences in the 1st and 2nd UPR cycles Case Study 2: Costa Rica
	Role of Parliament (Victor Emilio Granados Calvo): [Power Point presentation] and [Speech] (Both in Spanish)
	Role of Government (Christian Guillermet) (Spanish)
Session 6: The particular challenges faced by Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the UPR Case Study 3: The Maldives
	Role of Government (Iruthisham Adam) (English)
	Role of NHRIs (Maryam Azra Ahmed) (English)
Case Study 4: Senegal
	Role of Parliament (Cheick Diop Dionne) (French)
	Role of Government and NHRIs (Mamadou Lamine Fofana) (French)
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