Graz and UNIPD awarded at the 7th Padova Model UPR

The 2024 Padova Model UPR, held in the Human Rights Centre of the University of Padua between November 18^th and 22^nd, offered participants a deep understanding of the mechanisms and dynamics of the Universal Periodic Review.

Students representing the University of Padua, University of Bologna, University of Turin, University of Graz, University of Regensburg and Guangzhou University had the opportunity to actively learn about human rights, international negotiations, democracy and diplomacy in an engaging manner. Throughout the interaction within the UPR Working Group, the sessions of the Human Rights Council and the adoption of the final lists of accepted and noted recommendations, participants gained valuable experience in assessing States’ human rights records (the focus this year was on Spain, the Maldives, Kenya, El Salvador, Armenia, and Türkiye) and in addressing human rights violations.

The success of the 7^th edition of the Model also counted with the support of special guests, including Mr. Guillaume Ngefa, Chief of the Universal Periodic Review Branch of the Human Rights Council, who provided the opening speech via online participation; Mr. Mohamed Kheir, Human Rights Officer of the Universal Periodic Review Branch, who personally attended the days of the simulation and delivered the closing speech; and Ms. Laura Dolci, Senior Human Rights Officer and Deputy of the Universal Periodic Review Branch, who participated online on a fruitful Q&A session with the participants.

Every participant will receive an Open Badge in International Negotiation in recognition of their skills and accomplishments. Moreover, at the end of the simulation five teams were awarded as follows:

• Best State under Review - won by the representatives of the Maldives, Ms. Clara Zausinger and Mr. Sascha Preßnig (University of Graz)
• Best Recommending State - won by the representatives of the Maldives, Mr. Janberk Nak and Mr. Ali İhsan Tanrıöver (University of Graz)
• Best INGO Delegation - won by the representatives of Care International, Ms. Marina Garcia Cunha and Ms. Rafaela Maria Barbara Paiva Francisco S Perugini (University of Padua)
• Best NHRI Delegation - won by the representatives of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Mr. Dakota Zehler and Ms. Natalie Montenegro (University of Graz)
• Best performing team according to participants - won by the representatives of The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, Ms. Maria Chiara De Cristofaro and Ms. Agata Ceciliot (University of Padua)

The Secretariat, responsible for organizing and delivering the PMUPR 2024, believes that the active involvement of participants was crucial to this year’s Model. All of them displayed important skills regarding diplomacy and human rights advocacy and protection that contributed to enriching every step of the simulation.

Finally, Professor Paolo De Stefani, Head Organizer of the PMUPR, expresses his gratitude to the Department of Political Sciences, Law and International Studies for funding the Model and to the Human Rights Centre of the same university for hosting the Model’s meetings and supporting it with its excellent staff, namely Luca Gazzola, Sofia Vanzan, and Sofia Pieretti.

The Model UPR 2024 was made possible by the a Secretariat composed of students of the Master’s degree in Human Rights and Multilevel Governance and of participants in the 2023 Model’s edition, coordinated by Sofia Pieretti. UPR Info and the UPR Branch of the OHCHR are the main partners of the project.