Algeria’s human rights record to be reviewed by Universal Periodic Review
03 May 2017
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GENEVA (3 May 2017) – Algeria’s human rights record will be examined by the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group for the third time on Monday, 8 May 2017 in a meeting that will be webcast live.
Algeria is one of the 14 States to be reviewed by the UPR Working Group during its upcoming session taking place from 1 to 12 May, which also marks the commencement of the third UPR cycle. Algeria’s first and second UPR reviews took place in April 2008 and May 2012, respectively.
The documents on which the reviews are based are: 1) national report - information provided by the State under review; 2) information contained in the reports of independent human rights experts and groups, known as the Special Procedures, human rights treaty bodies, and other UN entities; 3) information provided by other stakeholders including national human rights institutions, regional organizations and civil society groups.
Among the issues raised in the above-mentioned documents are: the harmonization of national legislation with international obligations, in particular regarding freedoms of expression, assembly and association; state cooperation with UN experts and mechanisms; the protection of peaceful protesters, journalists and human rights defenders against intimidation, persecution, surveillance and excessive use of force; impunity, in particular regarding enforced disappearances and issues concerning the right to truth, justice and social security for victims of enforced disappearances; combatting discrimination based on religion, gender, national or ethnic origin and sexual orientation; the strengthening of the rights of women including with regard to marriage, abortion, inheritance and employment; the promotion and protection of the Amazigh language and culture; and eradicating regional disparities in development, education, housing and health.
Location: Room 20, Palais des Nations, Geneva Time and date: 14.30 – 18.00, Monday, 8 May (Geneva time, GMT +1 hour)
The UPR is a unique process which involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. Since its first meeting was held in April 2008, all 193 UN member States have been reviewed twice within the first and second UPR cycles. During the third UPR cycle, States are again expected to spell out steps they have taken to implement recommendations posed during their previous reviews which they committed to follow-up on, as well as to highlight recent human rights developments in the country.
The delegation of Algeria will be headed by Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The three country representatives serving as rapporteurs (“troika”) for the review of Algeria are: Togo, China and Slovenia.
The UPR Working Group is scheduled to adopt the recommendations made to Algeria at 17.00 on 11 May. The State under review may wish to express its positions on recommendations posed to it during their review. The recommendations will be shared with the media on this day in advance.E