What you will learn

Master the UPR process and amplify your voice.

  • An overview of the UPR mechanism

    What are the modalities and who can interact with them and how? You will be able to identify the main stages of the UPR and potential opportunities for engagement in a practical way.

  • Optimising your interactions with the mechanism by pulling together resources with other stakeholders involved

    The UPR is state-driven, but who else can interact with it and how?

  • Best practices ensuring the UPR process and its impact has long-lasting effects.

    You will learn that the UPR is not only about recommendations. Being a human rights mechanism, it is important that the full process follows a human rights-based approach.

  • How to ensure that the situation of girls and women are also reflected

    Integrating a gender analysis throughout the full UPR cycle will ensure that all components of society are valued when developing recommendations to the UPR but also in the implementation phase of all recommendations.

  • How to utilise the SDGs and the development agenda to advance the human rights situation of your country.

    Human rights are essential to achieve sustainable development. You will learn how to integrate the HRBA and SDG approach throughout the UPR cycle. The agenda offers critical opportunities to further advance the realization of human rights for all people everywhere, without discrimination.

UPR Basics : the Course curriculum

  • Before you get started

    All the information you need to know about our e-hub, online engagement guidelines, media, and content (a mix of video, activities, and text). And finally how to reach out for technical help, when need it.

  • Getting started

    This section will give you a course overview and objectives. Do you have questions about the course content? Here you will see how we will guide you. And finally how to meet your peers online in our discussion forums.

  • Chapter 01 - What is the UPR?

    In this chapter, you will check your understanding of the UPR, and its mechanism, with a few interactions that include busting some myths about the UPR and checking your general knowledge. This is followed by some reading and then further interactions to reinforce and summarise your learning.

  • Chapter 02- How does the UPR mechanism work?

    This chapter will focus on identifying the main phases of the UPR.

  • Chapter 03 - Who are the main stakeholders

    Many key people are involved in the UPR process. This chapter will give you an overview of the 8 main stakeholders to find out more about the part each play.

  • Chapter 04 - Summary of UPR Process

    You will have here a summary of the main points of the mechanism.

  • Chapters 05,06, and 07: Transversal approaches.

    In these three chapters, you will explore the transversal approaches that should be considered when engaging in the UPR process, throughout all its phases. Thus, through UPR lenses, you will learn how the human rights-based approach (HRBA), and gender-based analysis, are linked with the mechanism. And finally, the important synergies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Besides the interactions and particular features of each approach, you will see the perspective of three different guest experts implementing the approach in their own fieldwork.

Meet your Course facilitators

Find out more about our talented team

Course Instructor

Nicoletta Zappile

With almost ten years of experience working in human rights NGOs, she is passionate about human rights and has been an activist herself for women’s rights. She is responsible for facilitating the engagement of different actors, including CSOs, NHRI, parliamentarians, and media, in the UPR. At work, she likes to organize capacity-building activities for young human rights defenders and students.

Nicoletta comes from Naples, a beautiful city in the South of Italy, and supports the local football team. She loves theatre and in the last five years, she has been performing as an amatorial theatre actress in Geneva.

Course Instructor

Nargiz Arupova

Her high work ethic and passion for human rights led her to work in this field. With eight years of experience working in non-profit organizations, she is responsible for running an operational program in Africa and Asia by building the capacities of national stakeholders on utilizing the UPR as a vehicle to improve the human rights situation in their countries. She specializes in the rule of law, national human rights institutions, parliamentary oversight, and human rights.

She loves to conduct training and exchange with participants.

Nargiz gets her energy from her husband and three-year-old son. In her free time, she enjoys reading, sewing, and playing tennis.

Course Instructor

Tenar Lorente

Her work for seven years in human rights from several stakeholders’ perspectives gives her a sound overview of the mechanism from different angles and thus understanding the complexity of each actor’s role.

Tenar specializes in training and sharing tools and good practices from the UPR with those who want to improve their local situations by operationalizing the mechanism.

A very dynamic person, she likes to interact with people all over through diverse training and tailored capacity-building, in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Originally from Spain, Tenar loves doing sports. She speaks Spanish, English, French and is learning Arabic.

Course Instructor

Laura Sinner

Laura works within the UPR Info In-Country Programme. She specializes in human rights implementation, reporting, and follow-up tools in the framework of the UPR for several stakeholders.

What she loves about training is learning from participants’ experiences in their country concerning the UPR human rights commitments as well as providing stakeholders a space to exchange good practices. As a trainer, she focused on providing learners with the technical tools that they need to achieve their human rights goals.

In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball, reading history books, and coming from the mountains of Switzerland, she enjoys taking long walks in the forest with her husband.

Course Instructor

João Rebelo

With a rich background in different areas of international relations working for the private and public sectors, he works for the UPR Info's Policy and Advocacy programme.

His multicultural life path has led him to work in many different countries, which gives to him the open-mindedness to adapt easily to different situations. His determined personality, his ability to listen to others, and his positive attitude will help you to succeed in your training path.

In his free time, João plays soccer on an amateur team and enjoys hanging out with his friends.

Watch Intro Video

How we deliver training

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Testimonials

See what others had to say

Professional and helpful team!

Mohammad Shamma. Journalists for Human Rights

The workshop was very helpful for me as a journalist and member of several CSO coalitions as it guided how to improve reporting and recommendations to the UPR. As a journalist, I will raise awareness about the UPR among my colleagues and share with them how they can report on it throughout the various stages. The media must also spread the knowledge from the workshop to the public sector who are not members of CSOs.

FAQ

  • How long does the course take to complete?

    On average, it is estimated that the course takes about 4h of e-learning to fully complete. Nonetheless, each trainer will provide you with a more concrete time framework so you can organize your time.

  • Do I have my own individual profile for the course?

    Yes! Each learner can create their own profile on our e-learning platform. This will be useful to count your learning hours and obtain a certificate of completion at the end of each course.

  • What happens if I miss a live session?

    These sessions are developed as a way to address group questions and ensure that participants can engage with each other and the trainers. If you miss a session, you can always send a message to your trainer with your questions if they’re not already resolved in the discussion board, or wait for the next opportunity to meet with them. There will be plenty! Some sessions might be recorded under prior approval from the participants.

  • I have a question about the course and need an answer from the trainer. How long would it take?

    After your trainer has received your question, it would normally answer within 48h max.

  • Does our facilitator mark or grade our assignment or discussion activities?

    No. Our intention is that you can understand and use the information in your daily work. Assignments and discussion boards are guiding tools for your inner thought process, as each answer depends and varies on individual participants’ context, there are no right/wrong answers.

  • Do I earn anything formal for my C.V or professional development, like a certification or accreditation, by doing this course?

    Yes, by the end of this course you will receive an automated certificate of completion that stipulates your number of learning hours.

  • How long do I have access to the course materials after completing the course?

    To be confirmed, please check with your trainer.

  • What happens if I don't have a stable internet connection? Will I still be able to participate in this course? Am I able to download any resources provided in the course?

    Yes! All material has been prepared so that anyone can access it from anywhere and download the lessons. If you still have problems or questions you can consult the section “Before you get started”.