The document provides information about the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process conducted by the United Nations Human Rights Council. It summarizes that the UPR allows the human rights records of all UN member states to be reviewed. States have the opportunity to report on improvements and address human rights challenges. Non-governmental organizations can submit reports to be considered in a country's review. The review process occurs over three sessions per year, with multiple countries examined at each session.

1. “All victims of human rights abuses should
be able to look to the Human Rights Council
as a forum and a springboard for action.”
Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, 12 March 2007

2. A unique process that
 reviews the human rights records of
all 193 UN Member States
 gives all States an opportunity to
declare how they have improved their
human rights situations
 gives the UN a chance to address
human rights violations, and to help
States deal with human rights
challenges.

3. The HRC has the responsibility to
remind States to respect and implement
all human rights and freedoms. In 2006
it established the UPR as a tool to help
it ensure that they do. Copy/ paste this
HRC Website into your browser:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/P
ages/HRCIndex.aspx

4.  They are an entry point for UNANIMA
membership into the UN review of our
countries
 They give us a chance for positive
action in the area of human rights
 They give us a way to hold our
country accountable for promises

5.  All UN Member States were reviewed
in the “first cycle” from 2007-2011. A
second cycle started in May 2012; 42
States will be reviewed each year.
 The reviews take place in Geneva
during the sessions of the UPR
Working Group (see next slide) which
meets three times a year.

6.  The reviews are conducted by the 47
members of the HRC, but any UN
Member State can take part in the
discussion.
 The State under review is assisted by
three States (a “troika”) drawn by lot.
The troika supports / challenges the
state under review, and ensures that
the session proceeds in an orderly
way.

7.  During the 3 ½ hour session, any UN
Member State can ask questions, or
make comments / recommendations
to the State under review.
 The reviews are based on information
provided by: 1) the State itself (its
national report); 2) independent
human rights experts or UN entities;
3) outside groups like NGOs or
national human rights groups.

8.  NGO information can be used by any
of the States taking part in the
discussion.
 NGOs can attend the UPR Working
Group sessions and make statements
to the HRC when the outcome of the
State reviews are considered.
Guidelines are here: “Technical guidelines for
the submission of stakeholders”

9.  An Outcome Report is prepared by the
troika (with input from the State). It
includes a summary,
recommendations, and any response
by the State.
 The report is adopted at a regular
session of the Human Rights Council.
The State can respond.
 Other States and NGOs also have an
opportunity to make comments.

10. To see the documents on which the
reviews are based go to the following
link. (Note that only the countries are
listed for which documents have already
been prepared.)
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/Document
ation.aspx
(Click on the link, or copy/ paste URL to your
browser, scroll down, and select the country)

11. The slides that follow give
a brief introduction
to a number of web pages
that can assist in understanding
the UPR process and preparing
information for a
Non-Government Organization
(NGO) submission to a UPR.

12. This web page presents an
introduction to the Universal
Periodic Review. It has a short
video and text in Spanish,
French and English
http://www.upr-info.org/-UPR-
Process-.html
(click on link or copy/ paste URL to your
browser)

13. This web page informs us about the
Universal Periodic Review:
• basic facts,
• how it came about,
• how is it done,
• what NGOs can do,
• how human rights are
addressed,
• follow- up to a UPR
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/Ba
sicFacts.aspx

14. This page gives a short video (in
English, French or Spanish) that
explains what NGOs can do in the
UPR process; it suggests that you
consult widely before you write a
submission or submit information on
human rights situations.
http://www.upr-info.org/-NGOs-.html

15. Submissions are made* through a new On-line
UPR system https://uprdoc.ohchr.org
(*You can create an account if you are
speaking for another organization, but for
UNANIMA you must go through our office.)
If you encounter technical problems please
contact the UPR Submissions Helpdesk
through this e-mail
address: uprsubmissions@ohchr.org.

16. This page gives practical information on
what to include in a submission.
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/UPR/Technic
alGuideEN.pdf
The key points are:
 Promotion and protection of human rights on
the ground (at the “grassroots” level)
 Identification of achievements / challenges, and
human rights situations in the State
 The FORMAT of the submission
 When to submit it (late ones are not accepted!)
 How to submit it

17.  UNANIMA cooperated with other NGOs to
make a statement in the 2007-2011 UPR
cycle, and is doing so in this current cycle.
 You can find the national reports, reports by
NGOs, and recommendations by Session
and Country here:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/Docum
entation.aspx

18. Second cycle of sessions NGO Report Deadline Countries
18th session (Jan-Feb 2014) 17 June 2013 Chile
18th session (Jan-Feb 2014) 17 June 2013 New Zealand
18th session (Jan-Feb 2014) 24 June 2013 Slovakia
19th session (Apr-May 2014) 1 September 2013 Dominica
19th session (Apr-May 2014) 1 September 2013 Nicaragua
20th session (Oct-Nov 2014) 1 February 2014 Bolivia
22nd session (Apr-May 2015) 1 September 2014 USA
23rd session (Oct-Nov 2015) 1 February 2015 Australia
25th session (Apr-May) 2016) 1 September 2015 Antigua
25th session (Apr-May) 2016) 1 September 2015 Ireland
25th session (Apr-May) 2016) 1 September 2015 Papua/New Guinea
25th session (Apr-May) 2016) 1 September 2015 Thailand
26th session (Oct-Nov 2016) 1 February 2016 Zimbabwe

19. At this link you will find a list of all
countries, with the dates of their review
in the second cycle. From the previous
slide, note that your input has to be
given about eight months earlier. Find
your country!
http:/www.upr-info.org/+Official-calendar-for-the-upr-
2nd+html

20. With gratitude to
 Celia Martin NDS for research
 Morgan Jue & Tori Larson for proofreading
 The International Presentation Association
for some content and format