The UN Human Rights Accountability Mechanisms: The Universal Periodic Review – Webinar Recording

This webinar is the second in a series to introduce participants to the key accountability mechanisms established through the UN to hold states accountable to their human rights commitments. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a way for UN Member States to review the human rights records of all other Member States every four and a half years.

UPR sessions take place in Geneva three times a year. Each government is expected to report on their actions to improve the human rights in their countries and what they are doing to overcome the challenges identified in previous UPRs. While only governments are allowed to make recommendations for improvements, civil society has the opportunity to influence governments to make recommendations to the government under review. The UPR process can unite NGOs working on diverse human rights issues. Australia is scheduled to transmit its report by October this year, to be reviewed at the January 2026 session of the UPR.

The two speakers have wide experience in human rights advocacy. Joshua Cooper has attended numerous UPR sessions and has collaborated with civil society organisations in their UPR advocacy. He outlined the nature of this advocacy and the opportunities provided to hold governments accountable – and unite people for rights. Oliver Ray is coordinating Australia’s UPR shadow report for the Kingsford Legal Centre. He spoke on the process of coordinating the civil society report and highlighted its main concerns.