Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process established by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in 2006. It involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. The UPR aims to improve human rights situations in every country and address violations wherever they occur. The process is based on equal treatment for every country and encourages states to share best practices and make recommendations to each other.

Background and Establishment

The UPR was created as part of the UNHRC’s founding resolution in 2006, with the goal of strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights globally. It is the first international human rights mechanism to address all countries and all human rights issues in a single, cooperative framework.

Principles and Objectives

The UPR is guided by several key principles, including the universality, interdependence, indivisibility, and interrelatedness of all human rights. The process is designed to be cooperative, objective, transparent, and non-confrontational. It ensures equal treatment of all States and encourages the full involvement of the country under review. The UPR aims to complement, not duplicate, other human rights mechanisms, and it provides added value by involving a wide range of stakeholders, including NGOs and national human rights institutions.

Review Cycle

The UPR operates in cycles, with each UN member state reviewed every 4.5 years. During each session, 14 states are reviewed, and the order of review is determined by a pre-established schedule. The process involves three main phases: before the review, during the interactive dialogue, and after the review, which focuses on the implementation of recommendations.

Basis and Documentation

Each country review is based on three main documents:

• A national report prepared by the state under review (maximum 20 pages)
• A compilation of UN information prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (maximum 10 pages)
• A summary of information from stakeholders, such as NGOs and national human rights institutions, also prepared by OHCHR (maximum 10 pages).

Review Process

The review is conducted by the UPR Working Group, which is composed of the 47 member states of the Human Rights Council and is chaired by the HRC President. The actual review takes place in an interactive dialogue, where the state presents its report, answers questions, and receives recommendations from other states. A group of three states, known as the “troika,” acts as rapporteurs for each review..

Outcomes and Follow-up

Following the interactive dialogue, an outcome document is prepared, containing the recommendations made to the state under review. The state can choose to support or note each recommendation. The implementation of accepted recommendations is assessed in subsequent cycles, and the process encourages states to report on progress and challenges in fulfilling their human rights obligations.

Impact and Criticism

The UPR has been widely recognized for its universality and its inclusive, peer-review approach. It has contributed to increased dialogue and cooperation on human rights issues globally. However, some critics argue that the process can be influenced by political considerations and that the follow-up on recommendations is sometimes insufficient. Despite these challenges, the UPR remains a central mechanism within the international human rights system..

References

[[Category:Human rights]]