The workshop provided practical guidance for Humanists International’s Member and Associate organizations wishing to engage in the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process in the coming year.
During the UPR, UN Member States are subject to a review process, and receive specific recommendations, on how to improve their human rights record. NGOs are able to participate in the UPR through written statements and oral submissions.
The workshop was split over two sessions, to accommodate the broad range of timezones in which Humanists International’s Member and Associates reside. They were attended by 10 individuals from 16 different Member and Associate organizations of Humanists International, including organizations based in Brazil, Finland, Hungary, India, Ireland, Lithuania, Malaysia, Netherlands, and the Philippines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom. During the workshop, participants learned about the role of civil society organizations during the UPR, and discussed, amongst other things, best practices for effective engagement and how to draft a high-quality written submission.
Leon Langdon, Advocacy Officer at Humanists International, delivering the training session
Humanists International first began actively working with members to make written submissions to the UPR in 2020. Since 2020, 13 Member and Associate organizations have made written submissions as part of the UPR Process: UAAR (on Italy); Humanists Barbados (on Barbados); Humanists UK (on the UK); SOCH Nepal (on Nepal); Humanist Union of Greece (on Greece); Danish Humanist Society (on Denmark, twice); Demens.nu twice (on Belgium, twice); Freethought Lebanon (on Lebanon); Humanist Association of Finland and Union of Freethinkers of Finland (on Finland); the Hungarian Atheist Association (on Hungary); Humanist Association of Ottawa (on Canada); and Humanists Malta (on Malta).
In addition to written UPR submissions by members, Humanists International has facilitated joint oral interventions at the UN Human Rights Council as part of the UPR. To date, there have been over 40 UPR oral statements made at the Council with members. Since 2020, over 80 individuals from across Humanists International’s wide membership have attended these trainings.