Every after 5 years, The United Nations Human Rights Council conducts a Universal Periodic Review (UPR) for UN Member states. The UPR is a systematic process which was established when the Human Rights Council was created on 15 March 2006 by the UN General Assembly in resolution 60/251. This resolution mandated the Council to undertake a universal periodic review, based on objective and reliable information, of the fulfilment by each UN Member State of its human rights obligations and commitments in a manner which ensures universality of coverage and equal treatment with respect to all States.

Currently, no other universal human rights mechanism of this kind exists. The UPR is one of the key elements of the Council which reminds States of their responsibility to fully respect and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The ultimate aim of this mechanism is to improve the human rights situation in all countries and address human rights violations wherever they occur. The UPR also includes a sharing of best human rights practices around the globe.

Last conducted in 2016, the government of Uganda is in the process of preparing the state report on Uganda’s Human rights situation over the past five years and we are excited to announce that GRA is steering the extractives cluster in preparing the UPR shadow report that reflects the human rights situation in the extractives sector for the period 2016 to-date. Over the past five years, there have been several developments in the sector and the UPR will serve as a gauge for all stakeholders and the country at large to establish how far the state has gone in implementing recommendations from the second UPR cycle (2011-2016) and most importantly government commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. We shall be sharing the sector shadow report in due course.

PHOTO CREDIT: THE DGF