THIMPHU: In less than three weeks, Bhutan will present a report on the human rights (HR) situation in the country to the human rights council (HRC) in Geneva, Switzerland. The report is part of the universal periodic review (UPR) mechanism that examines the state of human rights in a country, and what its government has done to fulfill its human rights obligations.

Bhutan’s report is scheduled for December 4, and will be reviewed by a UPR working group consisting of 47 members of the HRC.

The UPR working group will be assisted by a ‘troika’ or a group of three nation states, however, any of the 192 UN member states can also participate and interact on Bhutan’s review. Bhutan’s troika, determined by a drawing of lots, is India, African island state Madagascar, and South America’s Uruguay. Other relevant stakeholders, such as non-governmental organizations, can also attend the review.

Bhutan’s national report has been prepared by the foreign ministry, in consultation with civil society organisations and the media, according to foreign ministry officials. Preparations took over a year.

At the last multi-stakeholder briefing held on November 9, foreign minister Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering said, “The UPR process emphasises the important role of all stakeholders at the national level, including civil society and the media, as partners of governments in strengthening human rights on the ground.” The foreign minister added, “This is entirely consistent with the royal government’s views, and the reason why we wish to ensure that our preparations are as transparent and inclusive as possible.”

The foreign minister also introduced former works and human settlement minister Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji and education minister Lyonpo Thakur Powdyel as co-leaders of the Bhutanese delegation. Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji will be the special envoy of the prime minister Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley. The minister will lead a 12 member delegation comprising representatives from the GNH commission, the attorney general's office, the education ministry,the permanent mission in Geneva and the ministry of foreign affairs

“We have a competent, robust, inter-sectoral delegation, which will travel to Geneva to share with the international community what Bhutan has been doing to secure the full range of HR for the Bhutanese people,” said the foreign minister at the November 9 multi-stakeholder meeting. Adding, “They’ll discuss the tremendous advances we’ve made towards strengthening civil and political rights, as well as our efforts towards the progressive realisation of economic, social and cultural rights of our people, including the right to development.”

Apart from Bhutan’s national report, two other reports will also serve as the basis for the country’s UPR. Two reports compiling information contained in the reports of independent HR expert groups, HR treaty bodies and other UN entities, non-governmental organisations, national HR institutions and other stakeholders will also be presented.

The duration of Bhutan’s 4 December report will be three hours, during which an interactive dialogue will take place between the UPR working group and the Bhutanese delegation. The ‘troika’ will compile questions submitted by other states for Bhutan. An additional half hour will be allocated for the adoption of Bhutan’s report by the UPR working group.

This will be followed by an outcome report of one hour during the next session of HRC to consider the outcome of the review. The final outcome of the review is adopted by the entire membership of the HRC, which is then followed up by the government and other relevant stakeholders in Bhutan. The government and relevant stakeholders will be responsible for implementing recommendations and conclusions of UPR. With the consent of the government, the international community will also be able to assist implementation.

The UPR will then examine outcomes and decide if more follow ups are necessary. Non-cooperation by the state will be addressed by HRC.

The UPR process was created by the UN general assembly in 2006. UN member states are reviewed once every four years. So far, 80 member states have been reviewed. The main objective of the UPR is improving HR situations in all countries.