Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade RGOB
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process that takes place under the auspices of the UN Human Rights Council. It involves a review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States once every four years. The UPR is a State-driven process and provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfill their human rights obligations. As one of the main features of the Council, the UPR is designed to ensure equal treatment for every country when their human rights situations are assessed.
The UPR was created through the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 by resolution 60/251, which established the Human Rights Council itself. It is a cooperative process which, by October 2011, has reviewed the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. Currently, no other universal mechanism of this kind exists. The UPR is one of the key elements of the Council which reminds States of their responsibility to fully respect and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The ultimate aim of this mechanism is to improve the human rights situation in all countries and address human rights violations wherever they occur.
Bhutan presented its first report for the UPR in December 2009 and will present its second report during the 19th UPR Working Group Session in April 2014. As the focal point for Bhutans preparations for the UPR, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with all the relevant stakeholders in the country is presently preparing Bhutans second report. Once the report is ready, it will be made available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.