How the Universal Periodic Review works

All UN Member States will be reviewed every four years. This review is carried out by the UPR Working Group composed of the 47 Human Rights Council members, and chaired by the President of the Human Rights Council.

Each review is also facilitated by a group of three States, known as the ‘troikas’, who are drawn by ballot. The ‘troika’ acts as a rapporteurs to the UPR.

UPR Objectives

The objectives of the review are:

• Improve the human rights situations on the ground
• Encourage state’s to fulfil their human rights obligations and commitments
• Enhance State’s capacity to ensure human rights for all
• Share best practices among States and other stakeholders
• Support cooperation in promotion and protection of human rights

UPR documents

Each UPR is based on three reports.

National report - includes information on achievements, challenges and       constraints

Compilation report - contains information from the reports of Special procedures, human rights treaty bodies and other UN entities. It is compiled by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Summary of stakeholder submissions – 10 page document with information from non-government organisations, national human rights institutions and ‘other stakeholders’.

How the review is conducted

These reports are forwarded to the UPR Working Group. The reports are used to assist with a dialogue between the State under review and the Human Rights Council. The “troikas” may compile questions by other States in advance to share with the State under review.

The review is three hours for each country in the Working Group. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples organisations with ECOSOC Status and who are accredited to the session, may apply to attend the review.

After the review the troika prepares an Outcome document and presents it to the UPR Working Group. The Working Group then adopts it.

The State under review indicates which recommendations it does and does not support.

Adoption of the outcome document

The outcome document is forwarded to next regular session of the Human Rights Council for consideration. One hour is given for this.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples organisations with ECOSOC Status, and who are accredited to the session, may participate in the plenary meetings to consider the UPR review.

The final outcome document is adopted by the entire membership of the Human Rights Council at the plenary session.

Follow-up to the review

The outcome of the review should be implemented by the State concerned. Other stakeholders also have a role to play in the implementation of the outcomes of the UPR. The international community can also assist in implementation through providing capacity-building and technical assistance.

The Human Rights Council, in considering the outcomes of the UPR, will decide if any specific follow-up is required. The Human Rights Council can also address any cases of persistent non-cooperation with the UPR mechanism.