UPR Info

UPR Info is an international non-governmental organization focused on the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the UN Human Rights Council mechanism through which the human-rights records of all UN Member States are reviewed periodically. Established in 2008 by Roland Chauville and Jean-Claude Vignoli, the organization works to make the UPR more accessible and useful to governments, civil-society organizations, national human rights institutions, and other actors involved in the process. Its work combines advocacy support, training, research, documentation, and information management. A central activity is the organization of UPR pre-sessions, meetings held before formal country reviews. These sessions give civil-society organizations and other independent human-rights actors an opportunity to brief diplomatic missions and present evidence concerning human-rights conditions in a country. By helping participants prepare submissions, formulate recommendations, and engage with states, UPR Info seeks to ensure that information from the ground is represented in the UPR process. The organization also develops practical tools and publications for participants in the mechanism. Its resources have addressed the roles of civil society, recommending states, and stakeholders seeking to follow up on recommendations after a review. UPR Info has published analytical work on the UPR's operation and on whether recommendations produce changes in national law, policy, and practice. In 2012, it reported that approximately 40 percent of UPR recommendations had been implemented. Later studies, including Beyond Promises: The Impact of the UPR on the Ground (2014) and The Butterfly Effect: Spreading Good Practices of UPR Implementation (2016), examined the relationship between recommendations and concrete results. These publications were used and discussed by non-governmental organizations, states, institutions, and academic researchers. A major knowledge resource associated with UPR Info is its database of UPR recommendations. The database contains more than 55,000 recommendations according to the cited reference material and has been used by scholars studying the development and effectiveness of the UPR mechanism. Through this combination of data, analysis, and capacity-building, UPR Info occupies a specialist position at the intersection of international human-rights advocacy and UN-process expertise. UPR Info has also participated in broader civil-society initiatives. In 2016, it joined the CCPR Centre, DOCIP, HURIDOCS, and Save the Children in launching We Pay Our Interns, an initiative advocating basic stipends for internships in Geneva. The organization received the Democracy and Human Rights Prize from the Parliament of the Federation of Wallonia-Brussels on 27 March 2019. Since September 2017, its executive director has been Mona M'Bikay. Catherine Mbengue has served as president since 2023, following earlier presidencies held by Bertrand Ramcharan and Miloon Kothari.

UPR Info was founded in 2008 by Roland Chauville and Jean-Claude Vignoli to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review. The UPR is a state-review mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council, and its universal design means that every UN Member State is reviewed periodically. UPR Info developed around the need to connect the formal diplomatic process with information and experiences generated by civil-society organizations and other independent human-rights actors. One of its defining activities is the organization of pre-sessions. These meetings take place before a country's formal UPR and allow civil-society representatives to brief diplomatic missions on human-rights conditions and proposed recommendations. UPR Info has supported organizations in preparing their evidence, presenting concerns, and following up on recommendations. The activity has helped create a structured channel for voices that might otherwise have limited access to state delegations and the Geneva-based human-rights system. The organization has also built a substantial publication and research program. Its early analytical work examined the operation of the UPR during its first years. In 2012, UPR Info reported that about 40 percent of recommendations had been implemented. It subsequently released studies focused on implementation and local effects, including Beyond Promises: The Impact of the UPR on the Ground in 2014 and The Butterfly Effect: Spreading Good Practices of UPR Implementation in 2016. Other publications have addressed links between the first and second UPR cycles, guidance for recommending states, pre-session participation, and practical engagement by civil-society organizations. UPR Info's database of UPR recommendations became another important part of its institutional contribution. The database contains more than 55,000 recommendations according to the reference material and has been used by researchers analyzing the UPR's design, practice, and results. By combining a searchable information resource with training and advocacy assistance, UPR Info has served both operational users and the wider research community. In 2016, UPR Info worked with the CCPR Centre, DOCIP, HURIDOCS, and Save the Children on We Pay Our Interns, a campaign seeking basic stipends for Geneva internships. The initiative reflected the organization's broader concern with access and participation within the international human-rights sector. Leadership has included Bertrand Ramcharan, who was the organization's first elected president from 2011 to 2015, and Miloon Kothari, who held the presidency from 2015 to 2022. Catherine Mbengue became president in 2023. Mona M'Bikay has served as executive director since September 2017. UPR Info received the Democracy and Human Rights Prize from the Parliament of the Federation of Wallonia-Brussels on 27 March 2019. The available reference material does not establish a commercial parent, listed status, or corporate ownership; UPR Info is described as an active non-governmental organization headquartered in Switzerland.

• 2023

  Catherine Mbengue became president

  [1]UPR Infoen.wikipedia.org

  Catherine Mbengue took over the presidency of UPR Info.

• 2019

  Democracy and Human Rights Prize awarded

  [1]UPR Infoen.wikipedia.org

  The Parliament of the Federation of Wallonia-Brussels honored UPR Info with its Democracy and Human Rights Prize.

• 2017

  Mona M'Bikay became executive director

  [1]UPR Infoen.wikipedia.org

  Mona M'Bikay assumed the role of executive director in September 2017.

• 2016

  The Butterfly Effect published

  [1]UPR Infoen.wikipedia.org

  The organization published research on how good practices connected to UPR implementation could spread between contexts.

• 2016

  We Pay Our Interns launched

  [1]UPR Infoen.wikipedia.org

  UPR Info joined partner organizations in an initiative advocating basic stipends for internships in Geneva.

• 2014

  Beyond Promises published

  [1]UPR Infoen.wikipedia.org

  UPR Info released a study examining the effects of UPR recommendations on conditions and practice at national level.

• 2012

  Implementation analysis released

  [1]UPR Infoen.wikipedia.org

  The organization published implementation-focused work and reported that approximately 40 percent of UPR recommendations had been implemented.

• 2010

  Early UPR analytical assessment published

  [1]UPR Infoen.wikipedia.org

  UPR Info published an assessment of the UPR's first years, covering the 2008–2010 period.

• 2008

  UPR Info founded

  [1]UPR Infoen.wikipedia.org

  Roland Chauville and Jean-Claude Vignoli established UPR Info to support stakeholders participating in the UN Universal Periodic Review.

A specialist international human-rights organization that helps stakeholders understand, access, and strengthen the UN Universal Periodic Review process through pre-sessions, practical guidance, research, and structured data.

• Advocacy and participation service

  UPR Info Pre-sessions

  Pre-sessions are meetings organized before formal Universal Periodic Review examinations. They provide civil-society organizations and other human-rights stakeholders with an opportunity to present evidence and proposed recommendations to diplomatic missions. UPR Info supports participants with preparation and engagement, helping translate local documentation into material that can be used in the intergovernmental review process.

• Human-rights information resource

  UPR recommendation database

  UPR Info maintains a database covering more than 55,000 Universal Periodic Review recommendations according to the cited reference material. The resource helps advocates, officials, researchers, and other users track recommendations and examine the development and implementation of the UPR mechanism.

• Guidance publication · 2017

  Civil Society Compendium

  Published in April 2017, this compendium provides practical guidance for civil-society organizations engaging with the Universal Periodic Review. It was made available in English, French, and Spanish and addresses ways for organizations to prepare submissions and participate effectively.

• Research publication · 2014

  Beyond Promises

  This 2014 study examined the impact of Universal Periodic Review recommendations on the ground. It formed part of UPR Info's effort to assess whether commitments made through the mechanism lead to practical change beyond the formal review setting.

• Research publication · 2016

  The Butterfly Effect

  Released in 2016, this study examined the spread of good practices associated with UPR implementation. It contributed to discussion about how experiences in one country or institutional setting can inform implementation elsewhere.

• 2016We Pay Our Interns

  Geneva · International human-rights sector

  UPR Info joined the CCPR Centre, DOCIP, HURIDOCS, and Save the Children in advocating basic stipends for internships in Geneva. The initiative addressed financial barriers that can restrict access to professional experience in international organizations.

  Source

• 2016

  Participation in the We Pay Our Interns initiativeStrategy

  Background

  Unpaid or inadequately supported internships can make participation in Geneva-based international advocacy inaccessible to people without independent financial resources.

  Action taken

  UPR Info joined partner organizations in campaigning for basic stipends for Geneva interns.

  Source

• 2008

  Establishment as a specialist UPR organizationStrategy

  Background

  The Universal Periodic Review created demand for independent expertise, participation support, and accessible information about recommendations and follow-up.

  Action taken

  Roland Chauville and Jean-Claude Vignoli founded UPR Info to provide advocacy support, training, research, and information tools for actors involved in the UPR.

  Aftermath

  The organization developed a continuing program of pre-sessions, publications, and database services for governments, civil society, national human rights institutions, and researchers.

  Source

1. 1UPR Infoen.wikipedia.org
2. 2UPR Info official websiteupr-info.org