HRC39: General Debate on UPR Outcomes

Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women and Action Canada for Population and Development made this statement in collaboration with Sexual Rights Initiative and Right Here Right Now.

 

Sexual and reproductive rights are grounded in existing human rights instruments and the UPR has provided an invaluable opportunity to highlight gaps relating to Member States’ obligations to respect, protect and fulfil these rights.

 

National civil society organisations and individual human rights defenders have played a significant role in this process by bringing rights violations to the attention of member states and by demanding accountability for the implementation of the recommendations made during the UPR. Some states have ensured the participation of civil society in this process– unfortunately, the majority have not.

 

In addition, number of gaps have emerged over the past two cycles that warrant attention and remedy[1][2]. Particular themes related to sexual and reproductive rights continue to be underrepresented or ignored in states’ recommendations, despite being addressed in numerous stakeholder reports. For example, comprehensive sexuality education, adolescent sexuality, universal access to modern contraception, safe and legal abortion and sex work. When these issues are raised, they are often not accepted by the states under review on dubious grounds, like incompatibility with national values, which undermine the universality of human rights and the very basis of the UPR.

 

The potential of the UPR cannot be realised unless states ensure meaningful participation of civil society in the assessment of their human rights record, the development of their state reports, and the formulation of follow-up action plans for implementation of recommendations. Finally we call on the UPR Voluntary Fund to increase the support available to member states to engage in the UPR and implement its outcome.

 

Thank you

 

[1]               http://hrbaportal.org/wp-content/files/Final_UNFPA-UPR-ASSESSMENT_270814.pdf

[2]               http://www.cesr.org/sites/default/files/downloads/CESR_ScPo_UPR_FINAL.pdf

 

http://webtv.un.org/search/item6-general-debate-contd-28th-meeting-39th-regular-session-human-rights-council/5839195679001/?term=&lan=english&page=2#player

Vietnam

  • Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP)

Indonesia

  • Aliansi Satu Visi (ASV);
  • CEDAW Working Group;
  • Hollaback! Jakarta;
  • Institut Kapal Perempuan;
  • Kalyanamitra;
  • Komnas Perempuan;
  • Remaja Independen Papua/Independent Youth
    Forum Papua (FRIP/IYFP);
  • Perkumpulan Keluarga Berencana Indonesia (PKBI);
  • Perkumpulan Lintas Feminis Jakarta;
  • Perkumpulan Pamflet Generasi;
  • RUTGERS Indonesia;
  • Sanggar SWARA;
  • Women on Web;
  • Yayasan Kesehatan Perempuan (YKP); 
  • YIFOS Indonesia

Maldives

  • Hope for Women
  • Society for Health Education (SHE)
HRC39: General Debate on UPR Outcomes

Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women and Action Canada for Population and Development made this statement in collaboration with Sexual Rights Initiative and Right Here Right Now.

 

Sexual and reproductive rights are grounded in existing human rights instruments and the UPR has provided an invaluable opportunity to highlight gaps relating to Member States’ obligations to respect, protect and fulfil these rights.

 

National civil society organisations and individual human rights defenders have played a significant role in this process by bringing rights violations to the attention of member states and by demanding accountability for the implementation of the recommendations made during the UPR. Some states have ensured the participation of civil society in this process– unfortunately, the majority have not.

 

In addition, number of gaps have emerged over the past two cycles that warrant attention and remedy[1][2]. Particular themes related to sexual and reproductive rights continue to be underrepresented or ignored in states’ recommendations, despite being addressed in numerous stakeholder reports. For example, comprehensive sexuality education, adolescent sexuality, universal access to modern contraception, safe and legal abortion and sex work. When these issues are raised, they are often not accepted by the states under review on dubious grounds, like incompatibility with national values, which undermine the universality of human rights and the very basis of the UPR.

 

The potential of the UPR cannot be realised unless states ensure meaningful participation of civil society in the assessment of their human rights record, the development of their state reports, and the formulation of follow-up action plans for implementation of recommendations. Finally we call on the UPR Voluntary Fund to increase the support available to member states to engage in the UPR and implement its outcome.

 

Thank you

 

[1]               http://hrbaportal.org/wp-content/files/Final_UNFPA-UPR-ASSESSMENT_270814.pdf

[2]               http://www.cesr.org/sites/default/files/downloads/CESR_ScPo_UPR_FINAL.pdf

 

http://webtv.un.org/search/item6-general-debate-contd-28th-meeting-39th-regular-session-human-rights-council/5839195679001/?term=&lan=english&page=2#player

Morocco

  • Association Marocaine de Planification Familiale (AMPF),
  • Morocco Family Planning Association

India

  • CommonHealth;
  • Love Matters India;
  • Pravah;
  • Rural Women’s Social Education Centre (RUWSEC);
  • SAHAYOG;
  • Sahaj;
  • Sahiyo;
  • SAMA – Resource Group for Women and Health;
  • WeSpeakOut;
  • The YP Foundation (TYPF)

Lao PDR

  • Lao Women’s Union;
  • The Faculty of Postgraduate Studies at the University of Health
    Sciences (UHS)

Sri Lanka

  • Bakamoono;
  • Women and Media Collective (WMC),
  • Youth Advocacy Network – Sri Lanka (YANSL)

Malaysia

  • Federation of Reproductive Health Associations of Malaysia (FRHAM);
  • Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG);
  • Justice for Sisters (JFS);
  • Reproductive Health Association of
    Kelantan (ReHAK);
  • Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM);
  • Sisters in Islam (SIS)

Maldives

  • Hope for Women;
  • Society for Health Education (SHE)

Myanmar

  • Colourful Girls Organization;
  • Green Lotus Myanmar

Nepal

  • Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC);
  • Blind Youth Association of Nepal;
  • Blue Diamond Society (BDS);
  • Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA);
  • Visible Impact;
  • Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC);
  • YPEER Nepal;
  • YUWA

Pakistan

  • Aahung, Centre for Social Policy Development (CSPD);
  • Forum for Dignity Initiative (FDI);
  • Gravity Development Organization; Green Circle Organization;
  • Indus Resources Center (IRC);
  • Idara-e-Taleem-O-Aaghai (ITA);
  • Rehnuma – Family Planning Association Pakistan;
  • Shelter
    Participatory Organisation;
  • Shirkat Gah;
  • The Enlight Lab

Philippines

  • Democratic Socalist Women of the Philippines (DSWP);
  • Galang;
  • Healthcare Without Harm;
  • Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities;
  • Likhaan Centre for Women’s Health;
  • Nisa UI Haqq Fi Bangsamoro;
  • PATH Foundation Inc. (PFPI);
  • Women’s Global Network for
    Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)

Singapore

  • End Female Genital Cutting Singapore
  • Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)

Mongolia

  • MONFEMNET National Network