Human Rights and the UN Universal Periodic Review Mechanism

Damian Etone is Senior Lecturer in International Human Rights Law at the University of Stirling. He is Director for the MSc Programme in Human Rights and Diplomacy run in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).Amna Nazir is Reader in International Human Rights Law and Associate Director of the Centre for Human Rights at Birmingham City University. She also serves as a trustee for the United Nations Association – UK.Alice Storey is Senior Lecturer in Law and Associate Director of the Centre for Human Rights at Birmingham City University, where she also leads the UPR Project at BCU.

• Introduction DAMIAN ETONE, AMNA NAZIR, AND ALICE STOREYPART I: Theoretical and Conceptual Approaches to Understanding the UPR Mechanism 1 The Universal Periodic Review as an Evolving Process: Examining the Path of DevelopmentKATHRYN MCNEILLY2 The Universal Periodic Review as Utopia AMNA NAZIR, ALICE STOREY, AND JON YORKE3 What Is the UPR? Thinking About the UPR as a Source of International Law FREDERICK COWELL4 Putting Down Roots: Analysis of UPR Recommendations in the First Three Cycles EDWARD R. MCMAHON AND TOMEK BOTWICZPART II: The Relationship Between the UPR and Other Human Rights Mechanisms 5 Searching for Recommendation Alignment Across UN Human Rights BodiesELVIRA DOMINGUEZ-REDONDO AND RHONA SMITH6 The Universal Periodic Review and Transitional Justice DAMIAN ETONE7 Universal Periodic Review Prospects for Promoting Support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP) LOUISA ASHLEYPART III: Assessing State and Regional Engagement With the UPR Mechanism 8 Still a ‘Mutual Praise Society’? The African Group at the Universal Periodic Review EDUARD JORDAAN9 The Significance of the UPR in the Absence of a Regional Human Rights System: The Case of the Asia Pacific FIONA MCGAUGHEY, AMY MAGUIRE, NATALIE BAIRD, JAMES GOMEZ, AND ROMULO NAYACALEVU10 Unpacking the Enigma of Reporting Under the Universal Periodic Review: The Case of Three Southeast Asian Countries KAZUO FUKUDA11 Navigating Devolution at the UPR: The Case of the United KingdomMICHAEL LANE

‘The UPR Academic Network’s collection explores the UPR’s evolution over three cycles, its role in strengthening democratic governance, and fostering States’ accountability. A must-read for human rights advocates seeking to use this international mechanism to advance the promotion and protection of human rights for all segments of society domestically’.Mona M’ikay, Executive Director, UPR Info‘This research and academic analysis on the UPR Mechanism’s effectiveness is most welcome, in order to keep improving this particular UN tool, of universal reach and general acceptance or legitimacy, which necessarily complements the national and international efforts by different stakeholders, not only the States, and the work of regional human rights systems, when available. The national integral focus of the UPR is a mobilizing force in itself, that of course needs to be matched with the good faith and political will of States, to be more effective’.Ambassador Laura Dupuy Lasserre, Former President of the UN Human Rights Council (2011–012)