Cablegate: Nigeria: Un Universal Periodic Review Preparations

VZCZCXRO6609
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #2432 3501551
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151551Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4704
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1571
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0557
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0454
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS ABUJA 002432

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA, IO/RHS - A. OSTERMEIER, DRL/MLGA -
C. SIBILLA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM UNHRC NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: UN UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW PREPARATIONS

REF: A. STATE 130829
B. ABUJA 2200

1. (U) In anticipation of action request (ref A), Post had
already contacted both GON officials and key local NGOs and
reported on their efforts to prepare for the UN Universal
Periodic Review (UPR) scheduled for February 2009 (ref B).
Both the GON and civil society have been proactively engaged
in the process for several months. On November 3, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted an interactive session
which allowed state officials, civil society, and members of
the general public to share their concerns on human rights
issues in Nigeria. NGO contacts participated in the
development of a report for submission to the Office of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) at an August 15
conference sponsored by the National Human Rights Commission
in Nigeria. Both the GON and civil society seemed
knowledgeable about the process and had obtained supplemental
information from the OHCHR website on their own. We will
continue to monitor and report on Nigerian UPR preparations.
Sanders

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