V. >> F ramework in Practice - Implementing and Monitoring Rights
>> Using indicators for human rights
aged to set specific national performance benchmarks in relation to the indicators to reinforce their
commitment to implementing their obligations.
Furthermore, during the periodic reporting procedure the Committee is expected to engage in a
process of scoping with the State parties on the
indicators and the benchmarks used in their reports
to it. This process results in performance targets
for the subsequent reporting cycle. These target
indicators could then become benchmarks for
that cycle. In this way, the use of indicators helps
in the process of reporting and following up treaty
recommendations (see chap. I, box 3).
of the treaty bodies, special procedures and other
United Nations entities. The third report contains
information from civil society organizations, national
human rights institutions and other non-governmental stakeholders. The review involves an interactive
and webcast discussion between the State under
review and the Human Rights Council. The review
may address the human rights obligations contained
in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the human rights instruments that the State is a party to, voluntary pledges
and commitments it has made and applicable international humanitarian law.
Universal periodic review
Given the review’s potential scope, the range of
information considered and the nature of its recommendations, the case for using appropriate indicators is compelling. The framework outlined in this
Guide and the steps identified in figure XI can help
in selecting and presenting relevant indicators and
other structured information for use in a State’s UPR.
In addition, some background information and corresponding indicators that go beyond the identified
illustrative indicators for human rights standards
(see chap. IV, sect. A 3) and information related to
the voluntary human rights pledges of the Member
States need to be considered in the UPR context.
The universal periodic review was set up by the
United Nations General Assembly on 15 March
2006 through a resolution establishing the Human
Rights Council.5 It is a unique process to review the
human rights records of all United Nations Member
States once every four and a half years. The review
is a State-driven process under the Human Rights
Council. It provides an opportunity for each State
to showcase the measures it has taken to improve
its human rights situation, to share best practices, to
seek technical assistance, if required, and to improve
its capacity to fulfil its human rights obligations. The
ultimate aim of this new mechanism is to improve
the realization of human rights in all countries and
address violations wherever they occur.
The review of each country is based on three
reports. The State or “national” report sets out the
achievements and best practices, the challenges
and constraints, as well as the key national priorities
in addressing human rights shortcomings. The second report brings together information on the State’s
human rights situation presented in various reports
5. See www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/BasicFacts.aspx (accessed 8 June 2012).
108 Human Rights Indicators
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