Diplomacy and the UPR for Human Rights Advocates

Abstract:

This course provides an overview of how civil society organisations and human rights advocates can engage actors in the Universal Periodic Review. These actors include in-country and Geneva-based diplomats and other international, regional and local organizations who lobby for recommendations that advance the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, media and other digital rights at the Universal Periodic Review sessions.

About this course:

Diplomatic engagement is vital in ensuring that civil society organisations can influence Member States of the United Nations Human Rights Council and in particular the Human Rights Council Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review to integrate international and regional norms through proposing recommendations that can improve governance, democracy and human rights in the States Under Review (SUR). This course enhances CSOs skills on advocacy and lobbying recommending States, the Working Group and States under Review (SURs) in making and accepting recommendations that promote and protect human rights.

What do I learn:

You will learn about the processes, methods and tools to use in order to effectively lobby for recommendations that advance digital rights with diplomats and UN representatives before, during and after the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). You will also be introduced to Small Media’s UPR tools that will further enhance your advocacy knowledge and skills in engaging with the UPR mechanism. A practical overview of high level advocacy and lobbying and the contemporary challenges that characterise such advocacy will be enunciated.

What do I need to know:

The course is suitable for civil society organisations, human rights advocates, journalists or anyone interested in the United Nations human rights procedures. It is also suitable for anyone interested in engaging embassies, diplomats and UN Representatives with respect to the UPR process. Prior knowledge of engaging with the UPR and other UN human rights procedures would be ideal but not necessary.

Trainers

Cathrine Anite

Catherine Anite is a Human Rights lawyer and freedom of expression expert. She is the Director of Global Programmes at Small Media Foundation, leading UPR engagements and championing digital rights in over thirty countries in Africa, MENA region and Central Asia under the UPROAR project. She is also the Founding Director of the Freedom of Expression Hub, an organisation working to promote and defend the right to freedom of expression in Uganda.