A/HRC/18/4
Introduction
1.
The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), established in
accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its eleventh
session from 2 to 13 May 2011. The review of Denmark was held at the 2nd meeting on 2
May 2011. The delegation of Denmark was headed by Claus Grube, Permanent Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At its 6th meeting held on 4 May
2011, the Working Group adopted the report of Denmark.
2.
On 21 June 2010, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of
rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Denmark: Chile, Ghana, Republic of Korea.
3.
In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following
documents were issued for the review of Denmark:
(a)
A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with
paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/11/DNK/1);
(b)
A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b)
(A/HRC/WG.6/11/DNK/2);
(c)
A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c)
(A/HRC/WG.6/11/DNK/3).
4.
A list of questions prepared in advance by the Czech Republic, Estonia, France,
Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Denmark through the troika. These
questions are available on the extranet of the UPR.
I.
Summary of the proceedings of the review process
A.
Presentation by the State under review
5.
The delegation considered the UPR a positive, innovative mechanism with a true
potential to improve human rights on the ground. The preparation of the UPR of Denmark
was a matter of priority for the Danish Government whose ambition was to present a
national report that was reflective of society as a whole.
6.
The delegation stated that public hearings had been arranged in Copenhagen, Århus,
Greenland and the Faroe Islands. A draft report was made publicly available on the UPR
website of the Ministry of Foreign Affair. The delegation welcomed the written
submissions to the OHCHR by 15 stakeholders ahead of the UPR of Denmark.
7.
The delegation of Denmark stressed that the report addresses a broad list of human
rights issues; however, those issues are by no means exhaustive.
8.
The national report includes separate sections on the human rights situation in
Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
9.
The delegation stated that it would have liked to invite the Danish Institute for
Human Rights to address the UPR Working Group. The Institute would have represented
Denmark in the plenary of the Human Rights Council in its independent capacity as Astatus national human rights institution, from the NHRI seat. The Danish Government
deeply regretted that, as informed by the secretariat, this request could not be
accommodated, and sincerely hoped that it would be a possibility at future reviews.
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