Australia’s human rights record under scrutiny through 2025-26 UN Universal Periodic Review
PROJECT | United Nations
Australia’s human rights record will face scrutiny in 2025-26 when the Australian Government appears before the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in Geneva for its major human rights review, known as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
The Human Rights Law Centre alongside Kingsford Legal Centre, Indigenous People’s Organisation-Australia, and Community Legal Centres Australia are leading the NGO Coalition report and are currently seeking endorsements from NGOs and civil society organisations for the draft NGO UPR Coalition report here.
What is the Universal Periodic Review?
The UPR is a mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council which reviews the human rights records of all 193 nations that are members of the United Nations. It is a state-driven peer review mechanism which happens every four and a half years, meaning that countries interact with other countries, non-government organisations (NGO) and national human rights institutions to have their human rights record scrutinised.
The UPR will examine the extent to which Australia is complying with its international human rights obligations under the UN Charter, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international treaties and other commitments. The review is based on information provided by the Australian Government; information from independent UN human rights experts and other UN entities; as well as information from the Australian Human Rights Commission and NGOs.
The UPR is an opportunity for Australian NGOs to encourage and influence the Australian Government to improve its protection and promotion of human rights consistent with its international legal obligations. It is also an opportunity to engage across the sector and set priorities for improving human rights in Australia.
The Human Rights Law Centre is currently co-ordinating Australian civil society organisations to form a UPR NGO Coalition to respond and engage with the Universal Periodic Review in 2025/26, alongside Kingsford Legal Centre; Indigenous People’s Organisation-Australia; and Community Legal Centres Australia.
What is the UPR NGO Coalition?
We are a coalition of non-government organisations, experts and community groups from across Australia. We have been working together since late 2024 to create the civil society report for Australia’s fourth UPR.
The UPR NGO Coalition includes over 40 organisations who contributed to the report lead authors, and working group members who provided expert guidance and contributed to drafting the NGO Coalition Report as lead authors and working group members.
What is the UPR NGO Coalition Report?
As part of the UPR process, additional credible, reliable information provided by other relevant stakeholders, including from national human rights institutions and NGOs, forms the basis of Australia’s human rights scrutiny.
The NGO Coalition Report makes recommendations for steps Australia should take to improve its human rights record. The recommendations cover a broad range of human rights issues, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, refugees and asylum seekers, LGBTQIA+ people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, children and young people, women, people with disabilities, democratic freedoms and rights, justice, climate change, workers rights, and health.
The report was developed through an inclusive process involving consultation and collaboration across the NGO Coalition. It reflects grass roots knowledge about human rights in Australia and provides a point-in-time snapshot of many of the most pressing human rights issues in Australia.
The last NGO Coalition Report was endorsed by over 200 community organisations. You can add your name to endorse the 2025 NGO Coalition Report here.
Timeline for the Universal Periodic Review 2025/2026
- 16 July 2025: NGO Coalition Report submitted
- October 2025: Australia’s National Report due
- TBC: UPR Info to host UPR pre-session on Australia
- January 2026 (TBC): Australia’s UPR review takes place
- TBC: Human Rights Committee adopts UPR Outcomes Report
How you can engage with the NGO UPR Coalition and UPR Review
- Read and endorse the NGO Coalition Report. These are the most urgent and impactful changes to improve human rights in Australia.
- Engage with the NGO Coalition in the lead up to the appearance – an online briefing will be organised and social media collateral for sharing will also be created.
For more information about our Report advocacy process, please contact us at upr@hrlc.org.au.