Jargon Buster
Capacity Building
Capacity building involves increasing knowledge, enhancing skills and providing opportunities for people and organisations to share their experiences, and increase their awareness and confidence to enable them to participate more fully in the UPR process.
Civil Society
The term Civil Society is used to describe groups that are not part of the Government including voluntary and community organisations, religious groups, student groups, trade unions etc.
European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) rules on Human Rights applications from individuals or states alleging violations of the rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
ECOSOC Status
ECOSOC status is given to NGOs when they are recognised by the United Nations Economic and Social Council. This means that they may attend United Nations (UN) meetings and make statements and/or submissions to UN bodies. NGOs with ECOSOC status have consultative status and are able to speak at the UPR Plenary Session.
Human Rights Council
The Human Rights Council (HRC) is an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 States. It is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. It is a body of the UN General Assembly and sits in Geneva.
Human Rights Council Resolution
A decision agreed by the Human Rights Council on a particular human rights issue.
Interactive Dialogue
This is the term used for the three hour session at the Human Rights Council where the report submitted by the country under review is discussed and UN Member States provide comments, questions and recommendations. Following this, the country under review is allowed to respond.
Member State
In the context of the UPR, a 'Member State' is a country which is a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The term 'Member State' is also used to describe countries that are part of the United Nations as a whole (192 countries).
National Human Rights Instiutions (NHRIs)
NHRIs are autonomous state-based institutions (such as commissions and ombudsmen) responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights in a country. Their functions include the provision of human rights education, monitoring, documentation, investigation and acting as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in cases with human rights implications. They operate under the UN Paris Principles, which are the accepted international standard on how NHRIs should be established and maintained in order to protect their independence and effectiveness. NHRIs are peer-reviewed for their compliance with the Paris Principles by the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs (ICC).
Observer Countries
In the UPR context, Observer Countries are all the members of the UN that have not been elected to the Human Rights Council but can still participate in the UPR sessions.
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
The OHCHR is the principal United Nations office for mandated to promote and protect human rights for all, lead global human rights efforts and speak out
objectively in the face of human rights violations worldwide. It provides a forum for identifying, highlighting and developing responses to today's human rights challenges, and acts as the principal focal point of human rights research, education, public information, and advocacy activities in the United Nations system.
Optional Protocol
The term 'Protocol' is used for an additional legal instrument that complements and adds to a treaty. A protocol is 'optional' because it is not automatically binding to States that have ratified the original treaty; States must independently ratify or accede to a protocol.
Outcome Document
The Outcome Document is produced following the UPR Working Group Session. It summarises the questions, recommendations and voluntary commitments made during the Review. The country under review addresses any outstanding issues and considers recommendations. The Outcome Document is then formally adopted by the HRC at the Plenary Session.
Peer Review
This is the process by which a country is examined by other countries (its 'peers'), in the case of the UPR the examination is carried out by other members of the United Nations through the interactive dialogue, proposals and recommendations.
Plenary Session
This is a session which all UN Member States attend. It is held at the end of the Review to announce the outcome of the Review.
Provision
The term 'Provision' is often used when referring to the content of particular articles within a law.
Ratify/Ratification
The process by which a state gives an agreement to be legally bound by the terms of a particular convention or treaty.
Shadow Report
A Shadow Report is a report submitted to an international human rights body (such as the human rights committee) by any organisation other than the Government. The purpose of a shadow report is to supplement, or "shadow" a Government's report by outlining the observations, claims and concerns of the organisation, such as the National Human Rights Institution or other groups which are independent of Government such as NGOs.
Side Event
A side event is a meeting organised by a National Human Rights Institution, NGO and/or a particular government to highlight human rights issues. Side events take place at the United Nations in Geneva.
Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council
The Special procedures are either an individual (called "Special Rapporteur", "Special Representative of the Secretary-General" or "Independent Expert") or a Working Group usually composed of five members (one from each region). "Special Procedures" are mechanisms under the Human Rights Council which to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in member countries.
State Party/Party to
A 'State Party' or to be 'party to' a convention/treaty is the term used for a country that has ratified a particular treaty and is legally bound by its provisions.
Technical Assistance
This refers to states exchanging expertise and best practice examples with other states in order to promote overall development in a specific country or region. The UN also provides technical assistance to states.
Treaty Body
Each of the eight core UN Treaties has an individual Committee committee of independent experts who monitor implementation of the treaty by States party and recommend further action.
Trioka
The troika within the UPR is a group of three Ambassadors of member states that are assigned to facilitate the review process of the Universal Periodic Review. Troika members are selected randomly and represent countries which are part of the HRC. Countries under review have the right to veto one of the troika members.
UN Treaties
There are nine core UN Treaties which establish international standards for the protection and promotion of human rights.
UPR Working Group
The UPR Working Group hosts the sessions of the UPR and is essentially the same body as the Human Rights Council. It consists of all 47 countries of the Human Rights Council. The UPR Working Group generally meets three times a year from February to March, April to May, and November to December. Each session meets for approximately ten days.
Voluntary Commitments
These are commitments made by the Government in advance of the Review which address particular human rights issues.