Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council...

Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council: Deadline for NGO submissions

The deadline for NGO submissions under the 4th session of the UPR system is 1 September 2008 for submissions on Cameroon, Djibouti, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, Bangladesh, China and Jordan and 8 September 2008 for submissions on Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Russian Federation and Azerbaijan.

Reports should be sent to the following email address: UPRsubmissions@ ohchr.org

NGOs are being strongly encouraged to limit their submission to a 5-page document, to which a more detailed and factual report may be attached for reference. This information will be available on line for others to access. Further information on NGO submissions under the UPR system is to be found at:

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/UPRMain.aspx


The listing of other countries to be considered over the next years 2008-2011 is available on the OHCHR web site at:
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/upr/uprlist.pdf

CARICOM to improve and enhance relations with Cuba

Saint Vincent and Grenadines' Prime Minister and President of CARICOM, Ralph Gonsalves, said this organization of Caribbean states will further encourage its relations with Cuba, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic in 2008 to the benefit of regional development.

Gonsalves also announced that in 2008 CARICOM will continue supporting the creation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) with a defined multilateral relation, trade agreements and important environmental accords.

The intensification of cooperation among Caribbean nations is precisely the bottom line in the agenda of the CARICOM Conference of twenty eight Heads of State and/or Government to take place on July 1-4, reports PL news agency.

During that meeting Barbadian Prime Minister, Owen Arthur, will assume CARICOM presidency. Mr. Arthur is currently in charge of giving a boost to the CSME and is actually responsible of the achievements of the Single Market already functioning in the area.

The summit will also include highly topical subjects such as maritime and air transport, regional security, agriculture, free movement of the people in the area, as well as the establishment of a Fund for Caribbean Development and an Agency for Regional Development.

The opening ceremony will take place at the Parliament headquarters in Bridgetown and the lectures at the Barbados Hilton hotel.

CARICOM is made up of Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Granada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Santa Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Surinam and Trinidad and Tobago.

Source: ACN