Morocco recently convened a meeting in Geneva to discuss the future of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a mechanism by which countries examine their human rights situations. The meeting, held on September 24, was attended by representatives from states, international organizations, and civil society. The discussions focused on implementing recommendations and their concrete effects on the ground. This event was organized in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and UPR Info.
The UPR is approaching its fifth cycle, and the Geneva meeting aimed to assess its functioning and explore ways to make its recommendations more effective. Moroccan Ambassador Omar Zniber, the country's permanent representative to Geneva, emphasized the need for recommendations to lead to laws, public policies, and institutional reforms that improve human rights practices. He also stressed the importance of precise and measurable recommendations.
Ambassador Zniber's remarks built on a previous international retreat held in Rabat on June 5-6, which gathered government representatives, international organizations, civil society, and experts to discuss UPR outcomes and potential improvements. Zniber highlighted the need for broad mobilization beyond Geneva delegations, involving ministries, parliaments, local authorities, national human rights institutions, and civil society organizations in monitoring commitments.
The Moroccan ambassador also underscored the utility of national monitoring mechanisms, technical assistance, and international exchanges. He suggested that digital tools could facilitate recommendation tracking, provided their use is transparent and inclusive. The conclusions from the Rabat retreat remain open to discussion, and the Geneva meeting aimed to submit them to a broader dialogue before the UPR's fifth cycle.
The meeting featured interventions from various stakeholders, including the President of the Human Rights Council, Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, representatives from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UPR Info, and several permanent missions. The discussions sought to enhance the impact of UPR recommendations and address challenges in their implementation.
A key aspect of the meeting was the emphasis on strengthening the follow-up to UPR recommendations. Participants recognized the importance of involving various stakeholders, including national human rights institutions and civil society organizations, in monitoring progress. This approach aims to ensure that recommendations lead to tangible improvements in human rights situations.
The Geneva meeting reflects Morocco's commitment to promoting human rights and strengthening the UPR mechanism. As the fifth cycle of the UPR approaches, the country is advocating for more effective recommendations and enhanced collaboration among stakeholders. The outcome of this meeting is expected to contribute to the ongoing discussions on improving the UPR's impact.
Key points
- Morocco hosted a meeting in Geneva to discuss the effectiveness of the Universal Periodic Review ahead of its fifth cycle.
- The meeting aimed to strengthen the impact of UPR recommendations and address challenges in their implementation.
- Morocco emphasized the need for broad mobilization and involvement of various stakeholders in monitoring UPR commitments.
