How Universal is the United Nations' Universal Periodic Review? An Examination of the Discussions Held on Female Genital Mutilation in the First Cycle of Review

Authors

Gayatri Patrel, Aston Law School

First Page

187

Abstract

Hailed as the most innovative and unique human rights monitoring mechanism at the United Nations, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process promises to promote and protect the universality of all human rights issues and concerns in an objective, universal, and transparent manner. With the interactive dialogue session being at the heart of the review, coupled with the possibility of peer States potentially raising any international human rights norm to hold States accountable, there is a possible challenge to the universality of human rights norms, vocalized by State representatives when certain contentious issues are raised during State reviews. This paper explores the issue of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and the extent of the normative claim of universality of international human rights, challenging State reviews in the first cycle of the UPR process.

Recommended Citation

Gayatri Patrel, How Universal is the United Nations' Universal Periodic Review? An Examination of the Discussions Held on Female Genital Mutilation in the First Cycle of Review, 12 Intercultural Hum. Rts. L. Rev. 187 (2017).
Available at: https://scholarship.stu.edu/ihrlr/vol12/iss1/6