UPR Report Submissions: Compiled by the International Human Rights Clinic at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and the Human Rights at Home Litigation Clinic at the Saint Louis University School of Law

Authors

• Sarah Dàvila A., University of Illinois Chicago School of LawFollow
• Lauren E. Bartlett, Saint Louis University School of LawFollow

Document Type

White Paper

Publication Date

5-2026

Abstract

This unofficial summary compiles information from reports submitted by civil society and others for the Fourth Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of the United States.

The authors reviewed the submissions, which are reports from civil society and others, and grouped issues thematically, using the 2020 UPR themes and recommendations as the organizing framework. Within each theme, the authors synthesized recurring issues, patterns, and concerns identified across multiple submissions. For each issue, the unofficial summary follows a structured approach that presents international obligations first, followed by United States domestic law, and then facts drawn from the submissions. However, where reports do not reference legal frameworks, the unofficial summary reflects the facts as presented in the reports. Additionally, some issues appear in more than one section of this report. This reflects the intersectional nature of many human rights concerns, which often affect multiple rights simultaneously. As a result, certain facts or findings may be referenced across different thematic sections where they are relevant.

In some sections, when multiple submissions present substantially similar information or findings, some reports are listed under “Reports Informing this Issue” rather than cited individually in footnotes. This approach avoids repetitive citations while still acknowledging the contributions of all relevant submissions.

Regarding citations, most joint submissions are identified by the joint submission number assigned to them on the United Nations website. Submissions made by single organizations can be located under the organization’s name or the acronym by which the organization is commonly known. This citation format is intended to make it more accessible to locate the original reports on the United Nations website.

This document seeks to provide an unofficial summary of the reports submitted. It does not seek to generate new arguments, analysis, or independent findings. The language and framing of this unofficial summary follow the terminology used in the original submissions and in international human rights law to preserve accuracy and reflect contributing stakeholders’ perspectives.

Recommended Citation

Sarah Dávila A., Lauren E. Bartlett. UPR Report Submissions: Compiled by the International Human Rights Clinic at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and the Human Rights at Home Litigation Clinic at the Saint Louis University School of Law. May, 2026.