Universal Periodic Review

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The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations. 

As one of the main features of the Council, the UPR is designed to ensure equal treatment for every country when their human rights situations are assessed. The ultimate aim of this mechanism is to improve the human rights situation in all countries and address human rights violations wherever they occur. Currently, no other universal mechanism of this kind exists.

Latest news

Latest press releases related to the UPR

UPR Practical Guidance
In launching the Call to Action for Human Rights, on 24 February 2020, at the opening of the 43th session of the Human Rights Council, the UN Secretary-General stated that “new practical guidance to every UN country leader around the world to strengthen our platforms of cooperation to address human rights challenges utilizing the power and potential of the Universal Periodic Review” would soon be issued.  A UPR Practical Guidance, [العربية | 中文 | English | Français | Русский | Español] prepared by OHCHR, in consultation with the entire UN system, was finalised on 18 August 2020 and aims at providing advice on how UN entities at country level can engage in the UPR process to support progress by Member States on human rights and the SDGs, as well as on the prevention and sustaining peace agendas.

UPR - Tips for engagement at country level for NHRIs and NGOs
(Español)

UPR - UPR Tips for Members of Parliament
(Français | Español)

Engaging parliaments on the promotion of human rights including on the work of the UN Human Rights Council and its Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

Virtual workshop for parliamentarians in charge of human rights of parliaments of countries in the Asia-Pacific region, all Members of the Commonwealth, organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Commonwealth Secretariat (ComSec) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (17-18 November 2020)

Virtual workshop for committees in charge of human rights of the Parliaments of the Caribbean and Canada, Africa and Europe, Members of the Commonwealth, organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Commonwealth Secretariat (ComSec) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, (13-14 July 2020)

Statements by:

Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General

Michelle Bachelet, High Commissioner for Human Rights

Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger, HRC President

Patricia Scotland, SG of the Commonwealth Secretariat

Background information available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish 

Informal briefing for delegations:

Some UPR Good practices (videos):


Meetings and events

UPR Webcast


38th session
03 May 2021 - 14 May 2021 / Timetable / List of Troikas
39th session
01 November 2021 - 12 November 2021 / Timetable / List of Troikas

Highlights

Third UPR cycle

3rd cycle

The third UPR cycle started on 1 May 2017.

See relevant third cycle documents, including:

  • the calendar of reviews;
  • country-related reports;
  • letters by the High Commissioner for Human Rights to Foreign Ministers; and
  • webcast videos.

UPR infographics

​UPR Timeline
​UPR Pre-session documentation
​UPR Review Process
​UPR Timeline
​UPR Review Process
​UPR Pre- and Post-Review Session Documentation

Contact information

Further information may be sought at the following address:

For States:

For Stakeholders:

For UPR Secretariat:

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