ransparency of the Universal Periodic Review process of the UN Human Rights Council – Polish practice in the light of international and domestic law

Abstract

he article examines the importance of transparency in the United Nations Universal Periodic Review in the context of international law and Polish practice. It argues that the effectiveness of this human rights evaluation mechanism depends on openness and public access to information. The absence of a national obligation to publish reports and recommendations creates a gap that weakens the process. Unlike the treaty body system, where conventions explicitly require dissemination of documents, the Universal Periodic Review does not impose such a duty. In Poland, limited government communication and an incomplete archive make the process largely invisible to the public. The media address it only occasionally, while civil society organizations have become the main source of information and independent monitoring. The article argues that a lack of transparency weakens social pressure and reduces the potential of review as a tool for holding the state accountable and as a driver of reform.