To help Palau prepare for its human rights report due on Feb. 2011, South Pacific Communities started yesterday a one-week government and non-governmental forum and training on upcoming review.
Part of the forum was also to solicit comments from stakeholders, advocacy groups and other non-governmental organizations on the human rights record of Palau.
The stakeholders comprising of government agencies, civil society groups, media among others are participating in the forum being conducted by SPC officials.
Filipo Masaurua, Human Rights Adviser, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat said the forum is an opportunity to tell the stakeholders stories on the human rights situation of the country.
Seema Naidu, Human Rights Officer, SPC/Regional Rights Resource Team said that the forum will also determine through the stakeholders’ inputs what rights are under threats and the issue of certain group or marginalized groups pertaining to human rights situation.
Masaurua said Palau can also include a section in its report of the human rights situation of the foreign workers in the country.
At least 35 percent of the country’s population comprises of foreign workers.
Palau will be reviewed at the 11th session of the UPR Working Group to take place at the UN Office in Geneva in May 2011.
The UPR National report meanwhile is due on Feb. 1, 2011.
UPR is a relatively new procedure that seeks to review the human rights record of all 192 United Nations member states once every four years.
