The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, in a delegation of ten ministries, presented this Wednesday, 30 April, in Geneva, Spain's national report on the human rights situation corresponding to the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which covers the period from 2020 to 2025.
The UPR is the mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council that allows all Member States to undergo, every five years, a review of their commitments, achievements and challenges on human rights. This process creates a space for dialogue in which countries are held accountable and receive recommendations on how to strengthen compliance with their international obligations and responsibilities.
The Spanish delegation, headed by the State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs, Diego Martínez Belío, and composed of representatives from ten ministries, presented the regulatory and institutional progress made by Spain in the last five years, detailing the specific measures adopted in areas such as children, gender equality, migration, health, housing and education.
The session was attended by 122 States, which highlighted the numerous advances made by Spain since 2020, including the approval of the Second National Human Rights Plan, support for the international human rights system, the fight against racism and xenophobia with the creation of Oberaxe (Spanish Observatory against racism and xenophobia), the fight against gender violence and the promotion of the rights of LGBTI people and people with disabilities. Spain was also congratulated for the approval of the Law on the Right to Housing, as well as for the adoption of measures to promote the supply of adequate and accessible housing.
The State Secretary underscored Spain's firm commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, which guide the design and execution of public policies in our country and are the backbone of our foreign policy.
In this context, the UPR, the only universal human rights dialogue exercise, is a unique opportunity. As a member of the Human Rights Council, Spain will continue to play an active role in this process, reaffirming its commitment and responsibility and promoting the guarantee of the exercise of human rights and accountability throughout the world.
Spain's presentation of this report reflects our firm commitment to the promotion and defence of human rights as a fundamental pillar of public policy and our role as a reliable and consistent partner in the multilateral system, based on principles and values.
You can consult the UPR session of Spain in the following
link.