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Fri, 12 Mar 2010
LONDON, UK ---- The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is an important national and international process about progressing, promoting and protecting human rights on the ground, said Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba.
She stressed that submissions to the UPR at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva is a exercise in honest, self-critical assessment, offering an opportunity for governments to assess and renew their commitments on human rights to bring about fundamental and meaningful change. The Deputy Secretary-General noted that Commonwealth members account for a fifth of the seats on the Human Rights Council and added that the Commonwealth Secretariat is keen to see the number grow. She noted that of the 112 countries that have undergone the UPR, 27 of them are from the Commonwealth.
“We continue to support this process of dialogue and consultation on human rights, and offer help to countries yet to undergo the UPR process. The Commonwealth Secretariat supports governments in implementing commitments arising out of the UPR to ensure that citizens are aware of their rights and that these rights are respected,” said the Deputy Secretary-General.
Ms Masire-Mwamba made these points at the opening of a two-day Commonwealth Mid-Term Review of the UPR at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, United Kingdom on 11 March 2010. The meeting brought together 12 Commonwealth countries: The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Barbados, Ghana, The Gambia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Nigeria, Tonga and the UK.
The Deputy Secretary-General stated that the Commonwealth’s approach in promoting a three-way partnership among governments, national human rights institutions and civil society serves as a vital vehicle for cross-country dialogue and collaboration. She stated that the aim is also to facilitate the sharing of experiences among Commonwealth countries and to further entrench the values of human rights in our lives.
“The genuine and credible engagement by Commonwealth members attests to their commitment to the universality of human rights,” said Ms Masire-Mwamba.
Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Switzerland, who is also the newly appointed Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry, was also present at the London meeting. Dr Uhomoibhi is the former President of the Human Rights Council.
Representatives from six national human rights commissions and eight civil society organisations also took part in the meeting to share their perspectives on issues and challenges faced in advancing human rights. The outcome of the meeting will feed into the forthcoming review of the Human Rights Council.
A Commonwealth publication titled the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights –Towards Best Practice was also issued at the meeting.
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