On November 10, 2025, CCIG and Fastenaktion partnered once again to host an online Universal Periodic Review (UPR) monitoring training for local civil society actors from South Africa and Kenya. About 50 participants, including local NGO representatives and women from rural communities, joined the training to deepen their understanding of how to engage in the follow-up of the UPR of their respective countries. 

This training was led by Maria D’Onofrio, who opened by highlighting the vital role civil society actors play in the follow-up process, including local sensitization and dissemination of the UPR recommendations, contributions to their implementation, and monitoring of government action towards human rights implementation. Accordingly, the training offered technical insights on how to build up a monitoring plan and set up adequate human rights indicators to track the implementation of UPR recommendations more effectively. With the 4th cycle of the UPR of Kenya completed in May 2025 and the UPR of South Africa scheduled for 2027, the timing of this training was particularly relevant, giving civil society actors the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge on  follow-up, but also to better prepare for the next review. 

As a result, this interactive training allowed participants to deepen their understanding of the UPR follow-up and monitoring and also provided a space to exchange experiences, ideas, and inquiries, and to engage in dynamic discussions on the ongoing activities related to the UPR carried out by local partners. 

We are proud of partnering with Fastenaktion to provide this capacity-building training for local civil society actors in South Africa and Kenya. We await the leadership civil society actors will demonstrate in ensuring a stronger implementation of human rights recommendations in their countries.