We believe it is essential that local communities are at the core of human rights processes. Because of this, we empower communities to be able to meaningfully contribute to UN Human Rights Monitoring Mechanisms, ensuring their voices and needs are taken into account.

 

For instance in Thailand, during its Second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on 11 May 2016, the Thai Government received 249 recommendations and accepted 187. Following the UPR review, Manushya Foundation developed its UPR implementation project, aiming at ensuring local communities of the Thai CSO Coalition for the UPR would be placed at the centre of the UPR follow-up phase, by being the main agents of change driving the monitoring and implementation of their selected UPR recommendations.

 

For that purpose, Manushya Foundation is supporting 14 local communities and community-based human rights organisations, comprising the Thai CSOs Coalition for the UPR, to implement their very own “UPR action plans” and advance the human rights situation on the ground. Empowered by being at the center of the monitoring and follow-up of UPR recommendations, in line with international obligations emanating from treaty bodies (CEDAW, CRC, Human Rights Committee, CERD, etc) and Special Procedures, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals, local communities are 'agents of change', advancing social justice and finding solutions at the community level.