The Human Rights Council and the Universal Periodic Review

The most emblematic activity on the theme of promoting and defending human rights and, above all, the rights of children at FMSI (Marist International Solidarity Foundation Onlus) has been the preparation and reporting of the Universal Periodic Review process.

This process, which is carried out by the Human Rights Council (HRC), consists of the periodic review of the fulfillment of human rights in each of the member states of the United Nations. This process consists of the following phases:

• Preparation and number of reports: The State presents the report on the situation of human rights in the country; The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights prepares two reports, one containing the concluding observations of the Committees of the Treaty Bodies; And one that summarizes the reports provided by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the National Human Rights Institutes (NHRIs).
• Exam and Interactive Dialogue: During this phase, the State that is under review comments on the report that it has previously submitted to the HRC. This is followed by an interactive dialogue between the State under review and the States party to the CHR and the observer States. This is followed by an interactive dialogue between the State under review and the States party to the CHR and the observer States. During the dialogue, States indicate a series of recommendations to the State to improve the human rights situation. Reporting NGOs participate in this phase by submitting their report and recommendations to lobbying activities.
• Adoption of the HRC report: at a meeting of the HRC, the final report is adopted, containing essentially the recommendations that States have submitted to the State under review, commenting on the recommendations it has accepted or noted (not accepted), explaining why. At this stage, the NGOs can address the State and members of the HRC orally.
• The last phase involves both the State and NGOs and National Human Rights Institutes interested in implementing the recommendations.

This process constitutes a cycle that as a whole lasts four and a half years, so when this period ends the State is again examined by those who make up the HRC.

FMSI has participated in the elaboration of 37 reports, in coalition with other NGOs or alone, with a total of 448 recommendations.

FMSI (Marist International Solidarity Foundation Onlus) is the foundation created by the Institute to promote and protect the rights of children.   FMSI carries on its mission through the activity of advocacy and lobbying and with projects in the countries in which the Marists are present. 

FMSI was constituted in 2007 in Italy as a non-profit organization of social usefulness (ONLUS).

From 2011 it has the special consultative status before the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. 

FMSI is member of: Bureau International Catholique de l’Enfance (BICE), Centre Catholique International de Genève (CCIG), Child Rights Connect, Movimiento Mundial por la Infancia de Latinoamérica y El Caribe, FOCSIV (Federazione degli Organismi Cristiani Servizio Internazionale Volontario), Observatorio Niñez y Adolescencia (ONA), Santiago de Chile.