Every four years the UK’s overall human rights record is considered by the other countries which are members of the United Nations Human Rights Council in a process called Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

UPR is based on the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all UN human rights conventions to which the UK is party. The UK was last reviewed in 2008 and reports from this review can be found on the United Nations website. The government (State) is required to submit a full report and other interested stakeholders are invited to submit their own submissions.

When is the UK next reviewed and how can I contribute?

The next review of the state of human rights across the UK will take place in 2012. If you wish to submit information to be considered in the next 'stakeholder report' alongside the UK government’s report for Universal Periodic Review in 2012, the deadline for submission is currently set at 7 November 2011. The Commission was informed of the deadline only very recently and is in communication with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to express concern at the very limited time this will permit to engage civil society. However, at present it should be assumed this will be the submission deadline.

If you or your organisation wants to submit an individual ‘stakeholder submission’, these should be sent to uprsubmissions@ohchr.org

What does this mean for human rights in Scotland?

The Commission aims to publish a draft of its submission for comment on 10 October 2011, for comments to be submitted by 28 October 2011. In preparing our own submission, the Commission will draw from the emerging findings of our mapping research.

The submission deadline for the State report is later (anticipated to be February 2012) and the Commission, together with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, is in contact with the UK and devolved administrations to encourage as broad a consultation and involvement in the preparation of the State report as possible. More information on this process will be posted on this website as it becomes available.

Based on the findings from its mapping research, and other sources, the Commission aims to stimulate a participatory process to develop Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights (SNAP). SNAP will be a road map for the realisation of human rights, based on the evidence collected in the mapping of the gaps which need to be addressed, and the good practices which should be replicated. During 2012 the Commission will host a series of interactions involving all of those who have a stake in shaping SNAP – rights holders, civil society, Government, local and public authorities – to agree who will do what, and by when, to realise rights. Further details of the different ways in which you can get involved with this will be made available on this website.

How can I find out more?

To find out more about the UPR process in general you might want to take a look at the United Nations website on UPR or at the extensive materials (including templates for civil society submissions) prepared by the Irish Human Rights Commission when Ireland underwent the same review process recently.

To help build the capacity of civil society in Scotland to take part in the UPR process within tight deadlines, the Commission is facilitating an information session on UPR for voluntary sector organisations.  This will take place in September -please contact the Commission if you would like to receive details about this event.

If you have any questions on these opportunities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at hello@scottishhumanrights.com