ABSTRACT
The United Nations (‘UN’) Human Rights Council’s (‘HRC’) primary monitoring mechanism, the Universal Periodic Review (‘UPR’) has been heralded as a success by some but subjected to criticism by others. One of strengths of the UPR is its function as an international mechanism that enables a oversight of the human rights situation within UN member States. Although this function is exercised universally, here we argue that it has particular value in parts of the world that lack a regional human rights framework. In this chapter, we present a case study of the Asia Pacific region as one such geographical area – lacking a regional human rights system but experiencing significant human rights challenges. The chapter sets the human rights context in the Asia Pacific and analyses engagement with the UPR. We then present four case studies focused on our respective States – Australia, Thailand, New Zealand and Fiji. We have endeavoured to provide Western and non-Western States, a small Pacific Island State, and an Asian State to represent the diversity of the region. Using a postcolonial theoretical framework and drawing on empirical data, we analyse engagement, performance, and influence. In particular, we draw on Charlesworth and Larking’s “rights ritualism” lens, noting a tendency for all four States to engage in a ritualistic way.
