The OIF mobilizes within the framework of the 46th session of the Universal Periodic Review

The OIF organized a simulation of the exam for the Comoros delegation in Geneva at the beginning of May, as well as a workshop on the protection of rights defenders. 

At the request of its government, the OIF accompanied the Union of the Comoros for the presentation of its national report as part of the 4th cycle of the UPR. A first phase of support consisted of a technical assistance mission led by the OIF in December 2023, to the authorities and institutions concerned, in this case the “Report Preparation and Monitoring Committee”, in order to to consolidate the drafting of the national report.  

The second phase consisted of the organization of personalized preparation and simulation of the exam itself. This exercise was organized on May 2, 2024, in the premises of the OIF Representation to the United Nations in Geneva and Vienna (RPGV), the day before the transition to the Comoros UPR, by the Representation and the Management of Political Affairs and Democratic Governance (DAPG) of the OIF, in collaboration with the NGO UPR info.  

This simulation allowed the Comoros delegation – led by Mr. Djae Ahamada, Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Civil Service in charge of Human Rights, Transparency and Public Administrations – to:  

– Review the conditions for the conduct of the UPR  

– Discuss questions previously asked by member states of the Human Rights Council 

– Identify best practices, particularly in terms of time management and methodology for responding to questions and recommendations. Emphasis was placed on the best approach to presenting the implementation of the recommendations from the 3rd cycle of the UPR and their impact on the human rights situation in the country.  

In his speech before the UPR working group on May 3, the minister expressed his gratitude to the OIF for the technical assistance and support deployed.  

Protection of rights defenders 
On May 6, 2024, the OIF organized in collaboration with the French-speaking Association of National Human Rights Commissions (AFCNDH) – one of the 16 institutional networks of the OIF –, UPR info and the Center for civil and political rights (CCPR), a workshop on the theme: “Protection of human rights defenders: What challenges? “.  
This workshop was a follow-up to a first workshop organized on March 27, 2024 on the sidelines of the 55th session of the Human Rights Council, on the theme: “Protection of human rights defenders: What avenues for international advocacy effective “.  

The work, organized in the premises of the OIF in Geneva, brought together around thirty representatives of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), around ten State representatives and benefited from the testimony of a defender of human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  

Discussions and exchanges of good practices focused on:  

– The establishment of an adequate legal and institutional framework for the protection of defenders 
– The creation of an early warning mechanism to anticipate possible attacks against defenders 
– Implementation of the Marrakech declaration on the role of NHRIs in the expansion of civic space and the protection of defenders 
– How existing international instruments, in particular the Universal Periodic Review, can be fully exploited and strengthened to ensure effective protection of defenders globally and regionally