Providing solutions and connecting people to possibility
UPR
The Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations is conducted of all member nations every four years. It offers an important opportunity to measure how member nations are meeting human rights obligations, including those related to economic, social and cultural rights. It offers opportunity to pressure the government to meet fully those obligations. The best site watching the United States in this process is USHRnetwork.org – http://www.ushrnetwork.org/our-work/project/upr-universal-periodic-review
The live broadcast of the Universal Periodic Review of the United States of America has just begun in Geneva Switzerland.
This is the second UPR of the United States since the UPR process began in 2006 for each member nation of the United Nations. The troika – or three country delegates assisting the U.S. review – were selected in January 2015 (Botswana, Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia).
USA UPR Adoption – 22nd Session of Universal Periodic Review
Clarifications to the recommendations through the trioka reviewing the UPR of the United States of America on May 15, 2015.
Addressing 346 recommendations. Oral amendments were agreed upon and reviewed. A preliminary response from Ms. Kathleen Hooke, Assistant Legal Adviser for Human Rights and Refugees at the U.S. Department of State. In her statement she indicates due to the number of recommendations and work involved a detailed response will be coming in September 2015. The recommendations will be grouped by topic and worked on by at least 12 federal agencies, and experts outside the government. There will be an outreach to civil society and take into consideration their views.
We welcome the scrutiny of the world — because what you see in America is a country that has steadily worked to address our problems, to make our union more perfect, to bridge the divides that existed at the founding of this nation. America is not the same as it was 100 years ago, or 50 years ago, or even a decade ago. Because we fight for our ideals, and we are willing to criticize ourselves when we fall short. Because we hold our leaders accountable, and insist on a free press and independent judiciary. Because we address our differences in the open space of democracy — with respect for the rule of law; with a place for people of every race and every religion; and with an unyielding belief in the ability of individual men and women to change their communities and their circumstances and their countries for the better.
In 2010 a number of recommendations were offered through the UPR, today a review of the progress the country has made on these and more. While the State Department offers its response to the recommendations, it does not provide the requests which were rejected. The United States Human Rights Network has provided these rejected requests.
United Nations Responses and Requests
Each country’s embassy to the UN has the ability to offer verbal comment today – however due to the number of requests for comment these are limited to one minute five seconds each.
