Niger's Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Alio Daouda, led a delegation to Geneva from September 22 to 27, 2026, for the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The UPR is a mechanism where each UN member state reports on its human rights commitments. Despite facing security challenges, Niger aims to assume its responsibilities before the international community, prioritizing the well-being of its population.
Minister Alio Daouda emphasized the link between peace, security, and human rights in his intervention before the Human Rights Council. He highlighted the August 28 and 29, 2026, events in Niamey as a destabilization attempt, noting that conflict and insecurity directly affect civilian populations through loss of life, forced displacement, and exile.
The Minister stressed that without peace, discussing human rights would be illusory. He also mentioned Niger's cooperation with Burkina Faso and Mali within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), based on sovereignty and self-determination. Niger chooses its partners freely and defines its policies according to its needs and population interests.
The Nigerien delegation presented its national report on May 4, 2026, during the 38th session of the UPR Working Group. The report led to 265 recommendations from 97 states. After examination, Niger accepted 254 recommendations and noted 11. The noted recommendations concern sensitive issues related to Nigerien cultural and religious values, which may evolve through inclusive consultations.
The Minister explained that the 11 noted recommendations require careful consideration and dialogue with stakeholders to achieve consensus on national interest issues. Niger adopted its final document for the fourth UPR cycle, expressing gratitude to the Human Rights Council, member states, and observers for their contributions.
Niger reaffirmed its commitment to cooperating constructively with international human rights mechanisms. To implement accepted recommendations, a National Operational Plan will be submitted to the government, facilitating monitoring, evaluation, and implementation. The plan will be disseminated among stakeholders to encourage ownership, with a mid-term evaluation scheduled for 2028.
Minister Alio Daouda called for the genuine universal application of human rights, questioning the scope of their universality, integrity, and inalienability. He asked whether human rights apply equally to all nations, peoples, and civilizations or are exclusive to certain groups. The Minister also urged consistency in the international community's actions and avoiding double standards in human rights.
Key points
- Niger accepted 254 out of 265 recommendations from the Universal Periodic Review.
- A National Operational Plan will be implemented to monitor and evaluate the accepted recommendations.
- Niger calls for the universal application of human rights, free from double standards.
