Abstract
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, one of the most significant innovations of the new Human Rights Council, promises to improve the scrutiny of human rights and raise their position within the United Nation's system. This article analyses the current and potential impact of the UPR on the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights. It considers the practice of the first five UPR working group sessions and makes recommendations to increase the impact of the mechanism on UN member State behaviour in the future. With the implementation of these recommendations it is hoped the UPR can make a real impact on the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights and human rights more generally.