scholarly journals Overview of Nigeria’s 2nd Universal Periodic Review National Report

2021 ◽  
Vol 04 (06) ◽  
Author(s):  
Uchenna Emelonye ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Periodic Review ◽  
Consultative Committee ◽  
Human Rights Council ◽  
National Report ◽  
Protection Of Human Rights ◽  
Consultative Process ◽  
The Government ◽  
Rights Issue ◽  
Fourth Session

With the creation of the Human Rights Council Universal Period Review, its Working Group established in accordance with Human Rights Council Resolution 5/1 of 18th June, 2007 held its fourth session from 2nd to 13th of February, 2009 to review the human rights record of countries including Nigeria.2 In preparation for the review, the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had constituted a broad-based UPR National Consultative Committee tasked with the responsibility of compiling its first national report on the steps taken as well as the challenges faced in the fulfilment of its treaty obligations. The Committee which comprised representatives from diverse stakeholders working for the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria subsequently convened the National Consultative Forum (NCF) and after series of meetings, produced the country’s first UPR national report, through a consultative process that climaxed in a national validation conference. During the deliberation of the forum, every human rights issue was openly discussed and participants were able to express their views freely. The outcome of the NCF is faithfully reflected in the national report.

scholarly journals Implementation of International Human Rights Obligations in Nigeria: Civil Society Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 330-344
Author(s):  
Uchenna Emelonye
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Periodic Review ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
Universal Periodic Review ◽  
Human Rights Council ◽  
Protection Of Human Rights ◽  
International Human ◽  
The Government

Civil society organizations are key actors in the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria and have participated in all the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) circles of the Government of Nigeria.  The UPR is a first of its kind innovation adopted in 2006 by the Human Rights Council to complement the works of treaty bodies and involves the review on a periodic basis, the human rights records of all Member States of the United Nations. As a peer review process comprising three distinct stages and involving three major sources of information, this article exclusively ex-rays the UPR civil society report on the implementation of Nigeria’s international human rights obligations. As one of the three sources of information relied upon by the Human Rights Council in the Universal Periodic Review of the human rights record of the Government of Nigeria, this article, while focusing on the civil society information submitted to the Human Rights Council pursuant to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/251 concludes that despite advances in the promotion and protection of human rights claimed in its national report to be made in the implementation of international human rights obligations, there are still, from civil society lens, plethora of issues and gaps in the implementation of Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

scholarly journals Advocating for Change in Nepal’s Adult Entertainment Sector

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare Gorman ◽  
Lucy Halton ◽  
Kushum Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Child Labour ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Periodic Review ◽  
Member States ◽  
Universal Periodic Review ◽  
Human Rights Council ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
The Government

The United Nations Human Rights Council has a powerful role to play in addressing the worst forms of child labour. Accountability mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) – which work to support Member States to improve their human rights situation – are therefore widely seen as important opportunities to advocate for change. Ahead of Nepal’s third UPR cycle in 2021, the CLARISSA programme met with eight UN Permanent Missions to present recommendations addressing the exploitation of children within Nepal’s adult entertainment sector. This spotlight story shares the programme’s experience in advocacting within this process. It also highlights their approach of providing decision makers with recommendations to the Government of Nepal that were underpinned by the importance of integrating a participatory, adaptive and child-centred approach.

An International Relations Perspective on the Reform Needs of the Human Rights Council

2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-80
Author(s):  
Wolfgang S. Heinz
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Relations ◽  
International Law ◽  
Structure And Dynamics ◽  
Human Rights Council ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
Protection Of Human Rights ◽  
The Subject

Abstract: This article approaches the matter of institutional reform of the United Nations Human Rights Council from an international relations perspective. A well-known tension exists between State representatives acting for their governments in international organisations, but whose decisions are presented as UN policies. The latter should be guided primarily by the UN Charter and public international law. However, in reality, different worldviews and foreign policy considerations play a more significant role. In a comprehensive stock-take, the article looks at four major dimensions of the Council, starting with structure and dynamics and major trends, followed by its country and thematic activities, and the role of key actors. Council reform proposals from both States and civil society are explored. Whilst the intergovernmental body remains the most important authority responsible for the protection of human rights in the international sphere, it has also been the subject of considerable criticism. Although it has made considerable progress towards enlarging its coverage and taking on more challenging human rights crises, among some of its major weaknesses are the election of human rights-unfriendly countries into its ranks, the failure to apply stronger sanctions on large, politically influential countries in the South and North, and lack of influence on human rights crises and chronic human rights problems in certain countries. Whilst various reform proposals have emerged from States and NGOs, other more far reaching propositions are under sometimes difficult negotiations. In the mid- to long-term, the UN human rights machinery can only have a stronger and more lasting impact if support from national/local actors and coalitions in politics and society can be strengthened.

Part V Institutions and Actors, Ch.25 From Commission to the Council: Evolution of UN Charter Bodies

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kothari Miloon
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Peer Review ◽  
Periodic Review ◽  
Universal Periodic Review ◽  
Human Rights Council ◽  
The World ◽  
State Actors ◽  
The United Nations

This article examines the evolution of the United Nations� (UN) human rights agency from the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) into the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). It explains that UNHRC was created in March 2006 to replace the UNCHR and become the world�s premier human rights body. It evaluates the effectiveness of the UNHRC�s peer-review human rights mechanism called the Universal Periodic Review. This article also offers some suggestions on how to improve the performance of the UNHRC including changes in size and distribution of membership, membership criteria, voting patterns and participation of non-state actors.

It Takes a Village to Implement a Judgment: Creating a Forum for Multi-Stakeholder Involvement in the Czech Republic

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-198
Author(s):  
Vít Alexander Schorm
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
European Court ◽  
National Implementation ◽  
Protection Of Human Rights ◽  
The Government ◽  
Multi Stakeholder

Abstract In this practice note, the Government Agent of the Czech Republic before the European Court of Human Rights and other international bodies for the protection of human rights reflects on national implementation, with the help of selected examples.

scholarly journals Gender, Gays and Gain: The Sexualised Politics of Donor Aid in Malawi

2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmie Chanika ◽  
John L. Lwanda ◽  
Adamson S. Muula
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Civil Rights ◽  
Gay Rights ◽  
Cultural Discourses ◽  
Binary Approach ◽  
The Government ◽  
Rights Issue ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Secular State

Many Malawian politicians have exploited religious and cultural discourses, encouraging the discourse of the “God-fearing Malawi nation” while also acknowledging the country as a secular state. This discourse -which most recently underwent further development in the early 1980s when Christians and Muslims, funded by donor money, accelerated their evangelical drives in the context of a one-party Malawi – resonates with a patriarchal, conservative political dispensation. This paper traces the evolution of the “God-fearing nation” discourse in Malawian politics. It posits that the government used the “gay rights issue” as a strategy to disorient human rights activists and donors. Gay rights were de-linked from other civil rights, forcing a binary approach toward gay rights, which were seen by government supporters as “anti-Christian”, “anti-Malawian” concepts. The debate with donors enabled the government to claim “sovereign autonomy” and galvanise the population into an anti-aid mentality (better no aid than aid that supports homosexuality).

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