The United Nations Human Rights Council is set to evaluate Kiribati’s human rights record for the fourth time through its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Monday, April 28, 2025. This important meeting will take place in Geneva and will be available for public viewing via live webcast.
During the upcoming session, which runs from April 28 to May 9, 2025, Kiribati will be one of 14 countries reviewed. The previous UPR reviews of Kiribati occurred in May 2010, January 2015, and January 2020, showcasing a history of engagement with the UPR process.
The UPR is a comprehensive peer review mechanism involving all 193 UN Member States but is primarily conducted by the 47 member countries of the Human Rights Council. For this review, Kiribati’s delegation will be led by Kaaro Neeti, the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, bringing governmental insights to the discussion.
The review is based on several documents: the national report from Kiribati, the input from independent human rights experts, and reports from various stakeholders, including national human rights institutions and civil society organizations. This systematic approach aims to provide a comprehensive view of the human rights environment in Kiribati, allowing the country to highlight its progress and address any ongoing issues.
Following the review, the UPR Working Group is scheduled to adopt recommendations directed at Kiribati on Friday, May 2, 2025, giving the nation an opportunity to express its responses to these suggestions.
The engagement at the UPR represents a vital opportunity for Kiribati to showcase the steps it has taken in human rights advancement and to collaborate with the international community to enhance its human rights practices. Given the review structure, there is an encouraging prospect for Kiribati to proactively address past recommendations and improve its human rights record moving forward.
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