UPR Project
Government-Civil Society UPR Consultations occurred across the country. Click here for more information.
Share your human rights story through the Testify! Project and be heard at the United Nations.
View UPR Reports from USHR Network Members and Allies
The U.N.’s first Universal Periodic Review of the U.S., scheduled to take place December 2010, offers an important opportunity both to measure how the U.S. is meeting its human rights obligations and to continue pressuring the government to live up to those obligations.
Every four years, the UPR assesses each country's adherence to its human rights obligations under the U.N. Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), human rights treaties ratified by the country, its voluntary commitments, and applicable international law. Reviews are conducted by the UPR Working Group, which consists of 47 members of the U.N. Human Rights Council.
During the review, in addition to the “national report” provided by the country under review and the reports of U.N. bodies, the Working Group considers reports from other “stakeholders” such as civil society, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and national human rights institutions. The US Human Rights Network coordinated a joint submission of 24 reports, including one attempting to provide an overview of human rights in the United States. These reports were submitted to the UN in mid-April 2010 and will also be available on the UN website.
As this is the first UPR review of the U.S., it is crucial civil society become engaged in the process, providing its perspective on how the U.S. is meeting its human rights obligations.
The USHRN UPR Project seeks to coordinate and facilitate U.S. civil society efforts to inform and influence the review process. A Planning Committee has been established to help guide and coordinate this initiative. The web page will be updated periodically with information about upcoming UPR education, training, and action opportunities, as well as key dates and events.
The Department of State has created a website in connection with the United States’ participation in the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. This new website features an inbox, allowing you to send ideas, comments, and analysis on issues relating to human rights in the United States. The United States Government also committed to utilizing the UPR process to increase dialogue between the State Department and domestic groups concerning the human rights situation within the United States. An inter-agency U.S. government team will travel to select cities across the United States from January through April to engage directly with civil society including grassroots organizations, not-for-profits, and citizens groups. The email address and travel/consultation schedule will be listed on the State Department website.
Access USHRN information on the government-civil society UPR consultations here.
April 19, 2010 All Civil Society reports submitted to the United Nations before 6 AM EST to uprsubmissions@ohchr.org.
August 2010 - US Government Report due to United Nations.
September 2010 - US Civil Society hosts a side event in Geneva during the Human Rights Council session, informing country delegates on human rights in the United States.
November 2010 U.S. Government faces UPR Review in Geneva.
Spring 2011 - Adoption of US UPR Report at the Human Rights Council Session in Geneva.
UJC Human Rights Project UPR Fact Sheet (PDF)
Easy-to-access information on UPR via UPR-Info
The UN's Technical Guide for UPR Submissions
View live and archived video of UPR Sessions.
UPR Submission Template developed by the Advocates for Human Rights
UPR Toolkit developed by the Urban Justice Center
If you are interested to learn more about the UPR Project or join the UPR listserv please email lbaum@ushrnetwork.org