Padova Model UPR, 5° edition, 22-25 November 2022
21.11.2022
The Padova Model UPR is an annual academic simulation of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a unique United Nations (UN) mechanism which reviews the human rights records of all UN Member States. This unique programme offers participants an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms and dynamics of the UPR procedure held in Geneva through active participation. It provides interested students with an opportunity to learn about this important mechanism outside of the classroom.
The Fifth Annual event will be held entirely on-site from 22-25 November 2022, and there are no fees for participation.
The Padova Model UPR is open to university students who are in the final year of their undergraduate studies, as well as postgraduate students in a relevant field (including law, human rights, and international relations). The operational language of the Padova Model UPR is English.
The Padova Model UPR offers students from around the world a unique opportunity to learn about human rights, democracy and diplomacy in an interactive and engaging manner. It is the original, and most comprehensive, academic simulation of the UPR. By assuming the roles of State delegates, NGOs, and National Human Rights Institutions, participants will gain an understanding of the UPR procedure, which involves assessing States’ human rights records and addressing human rights violations. Professors of the University of Padova and Padova’s Human Rights Centre, along with the student Secretariat, will provide professional guidance and support throughout the event, including delivering a training programme. Participating teams will be assigned different roles, including: serving as representatives of States under Review, the Troika States, Reviewing States, as well as representing Civil Society Organisations. Further, to provide a full realistic experience, participants will also interact within the UPR Working Group and the sessions of the Human Rights Council. During the simulation, participants will review and analyse the human rights performance of the concerned States, participate in the interactive debate, and adopt the final lists of accepted and noted recommendations.
The Padova Model UPR is organised by an international team of students and former delegates, with the coordination of professors from the Human Rights Centre “Antonio Papisca” and the MA Degree Programme in Human Rights and Multi-level Governance (HRG). It is supported by the Department of Political Science, Law and International Studies (SPGI), the Archive "Peace Human Rights" of the University of Padova, and the UN and NGO experts.
Usually held on-site at the university, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 and 2021 editions were conducted entirely online, thereby challenging participants to adapt to the same circumstances many UN Member States, their representatives, INGOs, and UN employees faced over the past year. Amid all the difficulties of a transition to an online programme, the online simulations were a great success and received many compliments from the OHCHR and the UPR Info.
