New Delhi, 11th August, 2016

Justice Shri H.L. Dattu, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission will be inaugurating a two day National Consultation tomorrow on the 12th August, 2016 to assess human rights situation in the country and make a report for the Third Universal Periodic Review to be done by the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, which will take place in 2017.


The programme will start from 10.00 am at Multipurpose Hall, India International Centre, Kamladevi Block, Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi and will conclude by 2.00 p.m. on the second day.


The aim of consultation is to assess the work done by the Government of India on the 67 recommendation it had accepted to act upon after the UPR-II and evolve a brought consensus with all stake holders about the existing human rights situation in the country.

Apart from the NHRC Chairperson, Members, senior officers, Core Group members and Special Rapporteurs, the participants will include representatives from the Union Ministries of External Affairs, Home Affairs, Women & Child Development, Health & Family Welfare, NITI Aayog, NGOs. They will make a presentation on the progress so far.

These will be further discussed in different sessions along with the outcome of the five regional consultations organised by the NHRC to assess human rights situation to make a report for the Third Universal Periodic Review.

Background
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 193 United Nations Member States once every four. The UPR is a significant innovation of the Human Rights Council. It provides an opportunity to each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situation in their country and to fulfill their human rights obligations.


The UPR was initiated when the Human Rights Council was created on 15 March 2006 by the UN General Assembly in resolution 60/251. The review of each Member State is conducted by the UPR Working Group which consists of 47 members of the Council. However, any UN Member State can take part in the discussion/dialogue with the reviewed States.

The documents on which the reviews are based relate to : (i) information provided by the State under review, which can take the form of a "national report"; (ii) information contained in the reports of independent human rights experts and groups, known as the Special Procedures, human rights treaty bodies, and other UN entities; (iii) information from other stakeholders including non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions.

As part of the first four-year cycle (2008-2011) of UPR mechanism, India was reviewed on 10 April 2008. In accordance with paragraph 15 (a) of the Annex to Human Rights Council Resolution 5/1, the Government of India for the review, submitted a national report that was an outcome of a broad consultation process at the national level with all the relevant stakeholders.


The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) at the request of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, played an active role in the entire consultation process as well as in the preparation of the national report that was submitted for review purposes. The Commission also submitted a 'NHRC-India Paper for Universal Periodic Review' to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in January, 2008.


In its paper, the Commission highlighted important human rights concerns and challenges, such as those relating to right to education, health and food; rights of children; rights of persons with disability; corruption; etc. While taking stock of international human rights commitments made by the Government of India, the NHRC emphasized the need to ratify the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the Convention against Torture.


Responding to the country report of Government of India, the UPR Working Group made 18 recommendations, which were grouped under five major heads. These were- civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, rights of women, rights of children and human rights challenges; energizing of existing mechanism. The Government of India responded by way of tendering explanation to some of them only which it accepted and remaining silent on others.


The second cycle of the UPR commenced in 2012. The order of review established for the first cycle was followed for the second cycle of UPR. The Government of India accepted 67 recommendations, wherein again the recommendations have been grouped under five major heads.

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