Join Dr Michael Lane as he launches his latest book at which sheds light on the way United Nations member states assess each other’s human rights records.

Dr Lane, Lecturer in Law at the University of Worcester, will explore the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a unique UN process in which countries’ human rights situations are reviewed not by independent experts or judges, but by other states. Taking place every four-and-a-half years, the review includes all UN member states and is the only global human rights monitoring system with universal participation. Despite this, it has attracted criticism for the political nature of countries evaluating one another.

Following the UK’s 2012 review, one MP remarked: “This is so ridiculous it’s laughable. It’s like being lectured by Atilla the Hun on the peaceful co-existence of nations. All we need now is Syria to criticise us on our human rights record and the joke would be complete.”

At the event, Dr Lane will explain how the system works, and why it matters. It is aimed at anyone with an interest in rights, power and politics.