RCT reports on Denmark to the UN Human Rights Council

The Universal Periodic Review "has great potential to promote and protect human rights in the darkest corners of the world."

- Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a State-driven process under the auspices of the Human Rights Council. It provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations. It is a process taking place every four years.

With the alternative report, a number of recommendations are being passed on to the 11th session of the Working Group under the UN Human Rights Council taking place in May 2011. Recommendations regarding Denmark's compliance with the Convention Against Torture (CAT) and the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) are:

• Torture should be incorporated as a specific offence under national criminal law.
• Denmark should further reduce the use of solitary confinement.
• Diplomatic assurances should not be used as a safeguard against torture or ill-treatment
• Denmark should abstain from cooperating with foreign intelligence services that are known for their practice of torture.
• The National Preventive Mechanism should be allocated the necessary resources for its functioning

Download the joint submission here

About the Universal Periodic Review
The UPR mechanism was created through the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006. It is a cooperative process which, by 2011, will have reviewed the human rights records of every country. Currently, no other universal mechanism of this kind exists. The UPR is one of the key elements of the new Council which reminds States of their responsibility to fully respect and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The ultimate aim of this new mechanism is to improve the human rights situation in all countries and address human rights violations wherever they occur.

The following organizations form the Danish joint submission: Danish Association of Legal Affairs, Danish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Danish-Russian Organization, Danish United Nations Association, Disabled Peoples Organization, Denmark, European Network Against Racism and Documentary and Advisory Centre on Racial Discrimination (Denmark), Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (Denmark), Rule of Law Foundation and Save the Children Denmark.