Cycles of the Universal Periodic Review

What is a UPR cycle?

A UPR cycle lasts four-and-half years (HRC resolution 16/21).

During a cycle, all UN Member states’ human rights records are expected to be reviewed.

Reviews take place during three annual sessions of the UPR Working Group at the following pace:

• 14 countries reviewed per session;
• 42 countries reviewed per year; and
• 193 countries—the entire UN membership—reviewed by the end of a UPR cycle.

Success rate of first three cycles

From 2008 to July 2022, the UPR successfully completed its first three cycles, with 100 percent participation by States in each cycle.

Start of the 4th cycle in 2022

The 4th cycle started in November 2022 with the 41st Working Group session.

View all calendars, guidelines and materials related to the 4th cycle

Resources

UPR cycles timeline: View key dates starting with its establishment in 2006 to the end of the 4th cycle in 2027.

UPR Review process: Access a cycle diagram showing the stages of the review process, from pre-session preparation to follow-up of implementation.

UPR pre- and post-review session documentation : See descriptions of the documents needed before the review—including the Stakeholders Report, the National Report and the UN Compilation. Find also descriptions of post-review documents such as the HRC Report, the Mid-term Report, the UPR Working Group Report and the Addendum.

In line with the mandate of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN General Assembly resolution 48/141, especially operative paragraph 4 a, d, f, g, h, and i), the High Commissioner is addressing letters to each Minister of Foreign Affairs once the State's UPR Outcome is adopted by the Human Rights Council. The High Commissioner letters are available in the working languages of the UN and, only when possible, in other official UN languages. The matrix is only available in English.