The Human Rights Council The Impact of the Universal Periodic Review in Africa Routledge Research in Human Rights Law Series

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.

1 The establishment and operation of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

2 Theoretical understanding of the UPR: a case for acculturation?

3 Compliance, implementation and effectiveness: clarifying the basis for assessing state UPR engagement

4 Nigeria’s engagement with the HRC’s UPR: potential for acculturation or risk of regression?

5 Kenya and the UPR: the impact of effective NGO engagement

6 NGOs versus state recommendations and the relationship between the UPR and other human rights mechanisms: the case of Kenya

7 The effectiveness of South Africa’s engagement with the UPR: potential for ritualism

8 The Gambia and the UPR: rhetoric, inaction and the effect of regime change

Damian Etone is a Lecturer at the Division of Law and Philosophy, University of Stirling, United Kingdom.