Universal Periodic Review
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique mechanism of the Human Rights Council that calls for each UN Member State to undergo a peer review of its human rights records every 4.5 years. The UPR provides each State the opportunity to regularly:
- Report on the actions it has taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to overcome challenges to the enjoyment of human rights; and
- Receive recommendations – informed by multi-stakeholder input and pre-session reports – from UN Member States for continuous improvement.
Established in March 2006 by the UN General Assembly in resolution 60/251, the UPR is designed to prompt, support, and expand the promotion and protection of human rights in every country.
Since the first periodic review in 2008, all 193 UN Member States have been reviewed three times. The fourth cycle of review began in November 2022, at the 41st session of the UPR Working Group.
Watch UPR adoptions and reviews on UN Web TV
UPR 4th cycle – Key documents
Calendar of Reviews for the UPR 4th Cycle
UPR 4th Cycle Deadlines for States and Stakeholders
Guidance Note for UPR 4th cycle national reports (English | Français)
Guidance Note on Addenda to UPR WG Reports (English | Français)
Civil society technical guidelines for stakeholders’ submissions for the 4th cycle
(العربية | English | Français | русский | Español)
Technical guidelines for UN entities’ submissions for the 4th cycle
(العربية | 中文 | English | Français | русский | Español)
Upcoming deadlines
47th session (04 - 15 Nov 2024)
- National report: 5 August 2024
50th session
- NGO/NHRI/other stakeholders’ submissions: 7 April 2025 (confirmed)
Countries: Belarus, Liberia, Malawi, Mongolia, Panama, Maldives, Andorra, Bulgaria, Honduras, United States of America, Marshall Islands, Croatia, Jamaica, Libya
Addenda to UPR Working Group Reports
- Addenda to 45th session UPR Working Group Reports: 1st deadline April 2024 / 2nd deadline May 2024 (tentative)
Upcoming reviews
UPR WG 47th session (04 November 2024 - 15 November 2024): Timetable / Troika
47th session of the UPR - List of countries (by date of the review)
Norway, Albania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Portugal, Bhutan, Dominica, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Brunei Darussalam, Costa Rica, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Qatar, Nicaragua
Upcoming adoptions
58th session of the Human Rights Council (February- April 2025, dates tbc)
Item 6 - List of countries
Norway, Albania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Portugal,Bhutan,Dominica,Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Brunei Darussalam, Costa Rica, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Qatar, Nicaragua
In focus
Voluntary Fund video
Delegates from Small Island Developing States speak about the benefits of the UPR Voluntary Fund for Participation.
Watch video
2023 annual reports of UPR Voluntary Funds
The 2023 annual reports of the two UPR Voluntary Funds will be presented to the Human Rights Council during its 56th session, under agenda item 6.
The report on the Voluntary Fund for Participation outlines activities the Fund undertook to foster participation in the UPR process, particularly in support of least developed countries (LDCs) and small islands developing States (SIDS).
In 2023, the Fund covered travel to Geneva for 13 State delegates (9 women and 4 men), including seven delegates from LDCs or SIDS, to participate in the review of their country during the UPR Working Group (UPR WG 42, 43 and 44).
Since its establishment, the Voluntary Fund has already facilitated the participation of delegates from 119 States.
The report on the Voluntary Fund for Implementation highlights projects funded in 2023 in priority areas, including for the implementation of UPR recommendations, the establishment or strengthening of national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, and the strengthening of capacity of stakeholders to engage with the UPR, such as Parliaments and the United Nations Country teams.
These projects, focused on technical support to implement recommendations from the universal periodic review, resulted in tangible improvement in human rights in countries across continents – i.e. in Antigua and Barbuda, the Dominican Republic, Eswatini, the Gambia, Haiti, Lesotho, the Niger, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan.
2024 report on technical cooperation and capacity-building (A/HRC/56/72)
OHCHR report on Enhancing coordination for technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights to implement universal periodic review recommendations for the 56th session of the Human Rights Council session has been now published. The report, submitted pursuant to HRC resolution 54/28, focuses on technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights, to enhance the implementation of UPR recommendations. The report also serves as a basis for the discussion for the annual thematic panel discussion on technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights, scheduled for 9 July 2024.
Read the full report A/HRC/56/72 (advanced edited version)
Annual Panel Discussion on Technical Cooperation at HRC 56
On 9 July 2024, the annual thematic panel discussion on technical cooperation and capacity-building during Human Rights Council session 56, pursuant to Council resolution 54/28 from October 2023. The panel was opened by Director CTMD on behalf of Deputy High Commissioner, and included three panellists: the Ambassador of Norway, UN Women representative in Geneva and the Director of NGO UPR Info. 29 States (including various regional groups) and 8 civil society organizations took the floor during the interactive dialogue, focusing primarily on strengthening technical cooperation and capacity building in the context of the UPR mechanism, as well as the need for sustainable funding and support to the UPR Voluntary Funds.
Panel statements: Annual thematic panel discussion on technical cooperation and capacity-building (2024) - YouTube
UN WEB TV: 32nd Meeting - 56th Regular Session of Human Rights Council | UN Web TV
Summary of the high-level panel discussion on the UPR Funds
The report on the High-level panel discussion on the achievements, good practices and lessons learned by the two UPR voluntary funds, submitted to the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council, takes stock of the impact of the Funds on the UPR mechanism during the 3rd UPR cycle.
The report summarizes the high-level panel discussion held at the Human Rights Council on 1 March 2023, featuring the UN Deputy Secretary-General and the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and representatives from OECD, UPR Info, Member States, United Nations entities and civil society representatives.
Meetings and events
Past meetings and events
High-level panel discussion on the UPR Voluntary Funds Achievements, good practices and lessons learned over the past 15 years and optimized support to States in the implementation of recommendations emanating from the fourth cycle
Where: Palais des Nations, Geneva
When: HRC52, 1 March 2023 16:00-18:00
The UPR as a problem-solving tool – closing the technical cooperation gap
When: 31 January 2023
Where: Palais des Nations, Geneva
Download the concept note and programme
Play recording (2hr 9 mins – Password: 7Cg9n53d)
Side event: Supporting States, Realizing Rights
The 4th cycle of the UPR and 15th Anniversary of the Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance in the implementation of the Universal Periodic Review
Where: New York
When: 3 November 2022
View all recent Meetings and events
Guidance and resources
UN good practices: How the UPR process supports sustainable development
Drawing on more than 60 experiences from across the UN system, this repository captures how the UPR has been able to advance the promotion and protection of human rights, and to ensure greater compliance, in law and in practice, in all regions of the world.
(العربية | 中文 | English | Français | Русский | Español)
Learn more about UPR good practices on sustainable development
Maximizing the use of the UPR at country level - Practical Guidance
Prepared by OHCHR in consultation with the entire UN system, this document provides guidance on how UN entities at the 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.
(العربية | 中文 | English | Français | Русский | Español)
View all guidance and resources
Latest news
View latest press releases related to the UPR
Contact information
For States:
For Stakeholders: