GENEVA - The human rights record of 13 States is scheduled to be examined during the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group to be held in Geneva from 19 to 30 January 2026.
The UPR is a unique mechanism of the Human Rights Council that calls for each UN Member State to undergo a human rights peer review every four-and-a-half years. The UPR Working Group comprises the entire membership of the 47-member Human Rights Council and other UN Member or Observer States wishing to take part.
The States scheduled to be reviewed by the UPR Working Group during this 51st session are, in order of scheduled review: the Federated States of Micronesia, Lebanon, Mauritania, Nauru, Rwanda, Nepal, Saint Lucia, Oman, Austria, Australia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Georgia and Sao Tome and Principe. This will be the fourth time these 13 States are scheduled to undergo a UPR review.
Delegations representing the 13 countries are expected to present the efforts they have made to fulfil their human rights obligations and commitments, particularly since their most recent UPR, assessing positive developments and identifying challenges.
During the session, an interactive dialogue between the country under review and the UPR Working Group and observer States is scheduled, for which a maximum of three-and-a-half hours is allotted. The adoptions of the report of all countries, containing the recommendations received during their respective interactive dialogue, will take place on Friday 30 January 2025, starting at 14:30.
The documents on which these reviews are based are:
- National Report: information prepared by the State concerned, which can also be presented orally during the review
- UN Compilation: information contained in the reports of relevant UN mechanisms and entities to be compiled in a report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
- Summary of Stakeholders: information provided by other relevant stakeholders including non-governmental organizations, national human rights institutions, human rights defenders, academic institutions, research institutes, and regional organizations, and summarized in a report by the OHCHR
The review for each State is facilitated by groups of three Human Rights Council States members from different regional groups, called troikas, which act as rapporteurs. The troikas were selected through a drawing of lots on 8 January 2026 during an organizational meeting of the Human Rights Council.
The final review outcomes of the 51st session of the UPR Working Group will be adopted by the plenary of the Human Rights Council at its 62nd regular session taking place in June-July 2026 when, in addition to the State reviewed and other States, UN resident coordinators, country directors of UN entities, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations, take the floor.
Objectives of the Universal Periodic Review
As stipulated in Council resolution 5/1, the objectives of the Universal Periodic Review are the improvement of the human rights situation on the ground; the fulfilment of the State's human rights obligations and commitments and assessment of positive developments and challenges faced by the State; the enhancement of technical assistance, in consultation with, and with the consent of, the State concerned; the sharing of best practices among States and other stakeholders; support for cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights; and the encouragement of full cooperation and engagement with the Human Rights Council, other human rights bodies and OHCHR.
The implementation of UPR recommendations aims to strengthen national human rights protection systems. In addressing the root causes of human rights violations, the implementation of recommendations can have a preventive effect.
OHCHR supports States in the follow-up and implementation of UPR outcomes. Additional information on the UPR mechanism can be found here.
Timetable
Meetings of the 51st session of the UPR Working Group are scheduled to take place in the Assembly Hall (A Building, third floor) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and will be webcast live in the six official languages of the UN (English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish).
Monday, 19 January 2026
- 09:00 - 12:30 - Review of Micronesia (Federated States of)
- 14:30 - 18:00 - Review of Lebanon
Tuesday, 20 January 2026
- 09:00 - 12:30 - Review of Mauritania
- 14:30 - 18:00 - Review of Nauru
Wednesday, 21 January 2026
- 09:00 - 12:30 - Review of Rwanda
- 14:30 - 18:00 - Review of Nepal
Thursday, 22 January 2026
- 09:00 - 12:30 - Review of Saint Lucia
- 14:30 - 18:00 - Review of Oman
Friday, 23 January 2026
- 09:00 - 12:30 - Review of Austria
Monday, 26 January 2026
- 09:00 - 12:30 - Review of Australia
- 14:30 - 18:00 - Review of Georgia
Tuesday, 27 January 2026
- 09:00 - 12:30 - Review of Saint Kitts and Nevis
- 14:30 - 18:00 - Review of Sao Tome and Principe
- 14:30 - 18:00 - Adoption of the reports on the Federated States of Micronesia, Lebanon, Mauritania, Nauru, Rwanda, Nepal, Saint Lucia, Oman, Austria, Australia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Georgia and Sao Tome and Principe
