The State Great Hural’s Standing Committee on Justice, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the Secretariat of the State Great Hural jointly organized a virtual discussion on the human rights review process on March 20, 2025, as part of the "Strengthening Parliamentary Institutions" project.

The discussion began with a session on "Understanding the UPR Mechanism" and continued with "Mongolia and the UPR Process," during which MP and Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights S. Erdenebold delivered a presentation.

He provided an overview of Mongolia’s participation in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a process where the country reports on its human rights commitments and obligations before the international community. Mongolia first engaged in the UPR in 2010, receiving 129 recommendations from the UN Human Rights Council, of which the government committed to implementing 126. In its second review in 2015, the country received 190 recommendations and pledged to act on 150. The third review in 2020 resulted in 190 recommendations, with 170 commitments undertaken by the government. The next review, Mongolia’s fourth UPR, is scheduled for November 4, 2025, with preparations currently underway.

Ahead of this, the State Great Hural and the IPU are engaging in discussions to assess Mongolia’s human rights situation, a crucial step in preparing for the review. MP S. Erdenebold detailed the UPR reporting cycle, the process of drafting the national human rights assessment, and how parliamentary oversight is integrated into the implementation of recommendations. He emphasized the State Great Hural’s role in ensuring that UPR recommendations are incorporated into national legislation and that policy decisions align with human rights principles. He also highlighted parliamentary efforts to monitor and enforce human rights protections, referencing seven resolutions by the State Great Hural and ten by the Standing Committee on Justice aimed at strengthening accountability.

The Mongolian parliament actively collaborates with civil society organizations, holding regular discussions, consultations, and parliamentary hearings on human rights issues. The Subcommittee on Human Rights meets monthly with a coalition of 57 NGOs, regardless of parliamentary session schedules, to assess the country’s human rights situation and the implementation of UPR commitments.

Following the presentation by MP S. Erdenebold, discussion participants exchanged views, raised questions, and received clarifications from experts.

The session continued with a focus on "The Role of Parliaments in the UPR Process," led by MP O. Nominchimeg, Vice President of the IPU’s Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians. She noted that in 2020, during its 36th session, the UPR Working Group reviewed Mongolia’s report, and during the 50th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Mongolia received 190 recommendations, pledging to implement 170. She emphasized that thorough preparations are being made for the upcoming 2025 review, and the joint discussion with the IPU played a key role in strengthening parliamentary oversight over human rights.

Director of the Legal Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, J. Soyolmaa, delivered a presentation on "Mongolia’s UPR Report: Key Findings and Government Commitments." She provided an overview of the country’s human rights priorities, noting that the 2025 UPR report will be submitted in August and reviewed in November. She also highlighted praise received from former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet regarding Mongolia’s progress in establishing a national preventive mechanism against torture and adopting legislation on the status of human rights defenders. However, she also noted that six key areas for improvement had been identified.

Following this, Sophie Kiladze, former Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Human Rights Committee and Vice Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, shared insights on the role of parliaments in monitoring and implementing UPR recommendations, emphasizing how national legislatures can align domestic laws with international human rights obligations and ensure government accountability. She also provided examples of best practices from other countries.

Participants then engaged in a discussion, posing questions to speakers and exchanging views on the next steps for strengthening parliamentary oversight of human rights in Mongolia.

The virtual discussion concluded with remarks from Rogier Huizenga, Manager of the IPU’s Human Rights Programme, who commended the State Great Hural for its proactive role in the UPR process. He stressed that implementing recommendations should not stop at reporting but should lead to tangible improvements in the human rights situation on the ground.

MP O. Nominchimeg, Vice President of the IPU’s Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, delivered closing remarks, reaffirming Mongolia’s strong commitment to human rights protection. She noted that efforts are underway to legally mandate human rights impact assessments for all draft laws and resolutions submitted to parliament. This, she explained, would ensure that legislation is people-centered and human rights-sensitive. She also emphasized the importance of continued collaboration with civil society and ensuring that the State Great Hural remains actively engaged in the country’s human rights review process.

The discussion marked a significant step in Mongolia’s preparations for its fourth UPR report and underscored the State Great Hural’s dedication to human rights protection and parliamentary oversight.