Part II: Preventing torture: NHRIs in action 2.2. Universal Periodic Review 2.2.1. The UPR procedure The UPR is a new mechanism, in operation since 2008, which examines the human rights records of all United Nations Member States once every four years. The review is based on three types of information: • a report submitted by the State, in writing and oral presentation • a compilation of all United Nations and treaty body documents, comments and recommendations regarding the State, which is prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) • a summary of credible and reliable information provided by national stakeholders such as NHRIs, NGOs, civil society groups and academic institutions, which is also prepared by OHCHR. Each State is reviewed during a session of a working group of the Human Rights Council, consisting of all 47 Member States of the Council. The review takes the form of an interactive dialogue between the State delegation and the members of the Council, as well as any other State. The review addresses a broad range of human rights topics and can include discussion of the State’s laws, policies and practices in relation to torture and other forms of ill-treatment. A report is then prepared by a troika of three Member States of the Council and discussed in a half-hour session of the working group. The report of the working group is then adopted by the Human Rights Council during its next session, following a one-hour discussion in a plenary meeting of the Council. 2.2.2. The role of NHRIs in the UPR NHRIs have been recognized with a specific role in the UPR procedure. They provide an important source of independent information on the country’s human rights situation, including the situation regarding torture and ill-treatment of persons deprived of their liberty. It is therefore very important that NHRIs make use of their opportunity to contribute to the UPR process. Preparation for the review Given their mandate, NHRIs are able to collect and compile independent, reliable and well-documented information on the human rights situation in their country. This information can form the basis of their report to the UPR. The Human Rights Council has issued detailed guidelines regarding the structure and length of reports, along with deadlines for their submission.112 NHRIs can, at the least, submit their latest annual report or relevant thematic reports. The documents submitted by NHRIs and other national stakeholders are available in full on the website of the Human Rights Council and are summarized in a compiled format prepared by OHCHR. The report can also be publicly presented at the national level in preparation of the review. As reported by the UN Secretary-General, between September 2018 and July 2019, 13 national human rights institutions submitted information for the Universal Periodic Review.113 In addition, NHRIs can propose questions and issues that Member States might raise during the review of the State, as well as suggest concrete recommendations that the UPR procedure could make to the State. 112 See: www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/NgosNhris.aspx 113 See UN Doc. A/74/226, para. 65. 99