Rwanda will engage with the international community this week in its fourth review under the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, showcasing progress and ongoing efforts to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights.
The review will take place on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 09:00 to 12:30 (GMT+1) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and will be webcast live. Rwanda is among the 13 countries scheduled for examination during the UPR Working Group’s session, which runs from January 19 to 30, 2026.
This will be Rwanda’s fourth appearance before the UPR, following previous reviews in January 2010, November 2015, and January 2021. The process allows UN Member States to assess one another’s human rights records, share best practices, and make recommendations aimed at strengthening the protection and promotion of human rights.
The UPR Working Group is composed of the 47 Member States of the Human Rights Council, though all UN Member and Observer States may take part in the interactive dialogue. The review of Rwanda will be based on three key documents: a national report submitted by the Government of Rwanda; a compilation of information from UN human rights mechanisms, including special rapporteurs and treaty bodies; and a summary of submissions from other stakeholders such as national human rights institutions, regional organisations, and civil society.
Rwanda’s delegation to the review will be led by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Emmanuel Ujirashebuja. The three countries serving as rapporteurs, known as the “troika,” for Rwanda’s review are China, Ecuador, and Malawi.
The UPR is a unique peer-review process that covers all 193 UN Member States. Since its establishment in 2008, every country has been reviewed three times. In the ongoing fourth cycle, States are expected to report on steps taken to implement recommendations accepted during previous reviews and to highlight recent developments and remaining challenges.
Following the interactive dialogue on January 21, the UPR Working Group is scheduled to adopt the recommendations made to Rwanda on Friday, January 30, 2026, between 14:30 and 18:00 (GMT+1). Rwanda will then have the opportunity to indicate which recommendations it supports and how it plans to implement them.
The review session will be held in the Assembly Hall of the Palais des Nations, and the live webcast will be available on UN Web TV.
