The UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 [A/RES/60/251] established the Universal Periodic Review to serve the Human Rights Council, which replaces the Commission on Human Rights. The Universal Periodic Review is a self review mechanism that each UN Member State undertakes every four years to assess the fulfillment of its human rights obligations and commitments. The process ensures universality of coverage and equal treatment with respect to all States. The Assembly Resolution 60/251 also maintained that the universal periodic review - based on objective and reliable information- will be a cooperative mechanism, based on an interactive dialogue, with the full involvement of the country concerned and with consideration given to its capacity-building needs. The Resolution specified that such a mechanism shall complement and not duplicate the work of treaty bodies. This page provides access to the three tiered documentation of the process and modalities of the review:

• UPR reports submitted by the Arab countries in accordance with paragraph 15(a) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 that stipulates:
  "Information prepared by the State concerned, which can take the form of a national report, on the basis of general guidelines to be adopted by the Council at its sixth session (first session of the second cycle), and any other information considered relevant by the State concerned, which could be presented either orally or in writing, provided that the written presentation summarizing the information will not exceed 20 pages, to guarantee equal treatment to all States and not to overburden the mechanism. States are encouraged to prepare the information through a broad consultation process at the national level with all relevant stakeholders."
• Compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in accordance with paragraph 15(b) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 that stipulates:
  "Additionally a compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the information contained in the reports of treaty bodies, special procedures, including observations and comments by the State concerned, and other relevant official United Nations documents, which shall not exceed 10 pages."
• Summary of additional, credible and reliable information prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in accordance with paragraph 15(c) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 that stipulates:
  "Additional, credible and reliable information provided by other relevant stakeholders to the universal periodic review which should also be taken into consideration by the Council in the review. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will prepare a summary of such information which shall not exceed 10 pages."