The submission deadline of NGOs’ reports for the first Universal Periodic Review has been extended to 20 November 2007.   Unfortunately, this extension does not allow enough time for NGOs to submit meaningful reports.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) now have only about a month left to prepare reports for the first Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) announced on 16 October 2007 that the deadline for the submissions of the NGOs’ reports has been extended to 20 November 2007. FORUM-ASIA and other NGOs requested the OHCHR to extend the deadline to 31 December 2007. Originally, the deadline was 30 October. The request for extension was to allow the NGOs more time to prepare thorough and meaningful reports.

In a letter addressed to the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, on 12 October, NGOs argued that for their participation in the UPR process to be meaningful, the report must be “inclusive, coordinated, focused, and timely.”

The letter was drafted by Human Rights Watch, the International Service for Human Rights, the International Federation of Human Rights and Amnesty International.  It is uncertain whether the OHCHR will review a new deadline for submission of the NGO reports.

Information note for NGOs regarding the Universal Periodic Review mechanism (as of 16 October 2007) (in .pdf) 

FORUM-ASIA Joins NGOs Worldwide in Calling for the Extension of Deadline for the UPR Reports
Friday, 12 October 2007