HRW Identifies Key Points to Create an Effective UPR System

In May 2006, Human Rights Watch released its initial paper on the functions of the new Human Rights Council (HRC), focusing on universal periodic review (UPR), country situations, and the review of special procedures. In the ensuing months, numerous member states, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and leading scholars have offered proposals for how the UPR should be conducted. This discussion paper revisits the Human Rights Watch paper, taking account of the many proposals that have been made, in an attempt to identify the key points necessary to creating an effective system for UPR.