Suva, Fiji – ‘Sharing Universal Periodic Review (UPR) stories and mapping implementation strategies’ is the theme of a four-day consultation this week (11-14 October) with 30 government representatives from 12 Pacific States.

The consultation is organised by the Pacific Community (SPC) through its Regional Rights Resource Team, at the Novotel Hotel in Nadi, Fiji.

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The UPR is a unique process to review the human rights records of all United Nations Member States. States are reviewed on all human rights areas: political, civil, and social rights including for example, freedom of expression, media freedom, the right to education, the right to health care and the rights of vulnerable groups.

The UPR provides opportunities for States to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries, and to fulfil their human rights commitments and obligations.

In May 2016, Papua New Guinea and Samoa became the last two Pacific countries to appear before the Human Rights Council in Geneva to present their human rights situation under the Universal Periodic Review process, completing all Pacific States engagement with the two cycles of the UPR over the past decade.

With the third cycle taking place from April 2017-2021, this consultation, held with the support of the Australian Government and the Government of the Netherlands, serves as a platform for countries to share experiences from the past two cycles of the UPR and discuss strategies that could be employed to assist them with their preparations to the third review process in Geneva, Switzerland.

MEDIA ACCESS: Media are invited to cover:

  • The opening of the regional consultation on Tuesday 11 Oct (9am-10am) where SPC Deputy Director-General, Dr Audrey Aumua will be delivering keynote address.
  • Session on “Using the Media: Friend or Foe” which will be delivered by PACNEWS on Friday (10.30am-12pm)
  • Session on “Civil Society, UPR & Implementation of Recommendations on Friday (12pm-1pm)

SPC through its Human Rights Programme (RRRT), SPC works to build a culture of human rights and assists nation states to commit to, and observe, international human rights standards. SPC RRRT is funded by the Australian Government.[/restrict]