The Human Rights Council: The Impact of the Universal Periodic Review in Africa (Routledge Research in Human Rights Law)

This book examines the engagement of African states with the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism. This human rights mechanism is known for its pacific and non-confrontational approach to monitoring state human rights implementation. Coming at the end of the first three cycles of the UPR, the work offers a detailed analysis of the effectiveness of African states’ engagement and its potential impact. It develops a framework which comprehensively evaluates aspects of states’ UPR engagement, such as the pre-review national consultation process and implementation of UPR recommendations which, until recently, have received little attention. The book considers the potential for acculturation in engagement with the UPR and unpacks the impact of politics, regionalism, cultural relativism, rights ritualism and civil society. The work provides a useful guide for policymakers and international human rights law practitioners, as well as a valuable resource for international legal and international relations academics and researchers. Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Contents 1 The establishment and operation of the Universal Periodic Review Contextual background Background to the HRC and the UPR mechanism The purposes of the HRC Fundamental principles of the UPR The modus operandi of the UPR Is the UPR an effective human rights mechanism? Membership in the UN HRC and compliance 2 Theoretical understanding of the UPR: a case for acculturation? Introduction Theoretical framework Concluding remarks 3 Compliance, implementation and effectiveness: clarifying the basis for assessing state UPR engagement Compliance, implementation and effectiveness 4 Nigeria’s engagement with the HRC’s UPR: potential for acculturation or risk of regression? Introductory background Commitment to the national consultation process and the quality of Nigeria’s UPR delegation Nigeria as a reviewer Nigeria as a state under review Implementation of Nigeria’s UPR recommendations The ‘spiral’ effect of the fight against Boko Haram on Nigeria’s UPR engagement Concluding remarks 5 Kenya and the UPR: the impact of effective NGO engagement Introductory background Commitment to the pre-review process and the quality of Kenya’s UPR delegation Kenya as a reviewer and as a state under review The role of the KNCHR and domestic NGOs in Kenya’s UPR process NGO operational environment in Kenya Kenya’s implementation of UPR recommendations Concluding Remarks 6 NGOs versus state recommendations and the relationship between the UPR and other human rights mechanisms: the case of Kenya Introduction The relationship between NGOs and state recommendations to Kenya Amplification and synergy between the UPR and other national and international mechanisms Concluding remarks 7 The effectiveness of South Africa’s engagement with the UPR: potential for ritualism? Background to South Africa’s UPR Commitment to the national consultation process and the quality of South Africa’s UPR delegation South Africa as a reviewer and as a state under review South Africa’s implementation of UPR recommendations Concluding remarks 8 The Gambia and the UPR: rhetoric, inaction and the effect of regime change Background to The Gambia’s UPR The Gambia’s UPR national consultation and the quality of its UPR delegation The Gambia as a state under review The Gambia’s progress on implementation of UPR recommendations: rhetoric versus action Concluding remarks Index "This book examines the engagement of African states with the United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review Mechanism (UPR). This system is known for its pacific and non-confrontational approach to monitoring state human rights implementation. Coming at the end of the first two cycles of the UPR, the work offers a detailed analysis into the effectiveness of African states' engagement and its potential impact. It develops a framework which comprehensively evaluates aspects of states' UPR engagement such as the pre-review national consultation process and implementation of UPR recommendations which, until recently, have received little attention. The book considers the potential for acculturation in engagement with the UPR and unpacks the impact of regionalism, cultural relativism, rights ritualism and civil society. The work provides a useful guide for policymakers and international human rights law practitioners as well as a valuable resource for international legal and international relations academics and researchers"-- Provided by publisher