A/HRC/10/12 page 10 Following the review, the troika presents a report to be adopted by the UPR Working Group. At the next regular session of the Human Rights Council, up to one hour per State is allocated for the consideration of the outcome of each review. The final outcome of the review is adopted by the entire membership of the Human Rights Council at a plenary session in which member States, Observers, NGOs and other stakeholders can participate. 35. The present report is based on a full analysis of the first two UPR sessions, including the documentation submitted in advance (national reports, compilation of United Nations information and summary of stakeholder information), as well as the discussions in the Working Group, and the contents of the outcome document. 36. Due to the proximity of the cut-off date for submitting the present report, the third session of the UPR could be examined only partially. While the documents forming the basis of the review were thoroughly analysed, the same could not be done with regard to the interactive dialogue in the Working Group and the outcome report. 2. A catalyst for change on the ground 37. The Secretary-General has described the UPR as a mechanism which has “great potential to promote and protect human rights in the darkest corners of the world”.9 The ultimate aim of this new mechanism is to improve the human rights situation on the ground in all States and address human rights violations wherever they occur. As one of the main features of the Council, the UPR is designed to ensure equal treatment for every country in the evaluation of their human rights situation. It provides a forum in which each Member State can be assessed in terms of the actions it has taken to improve its human rights situation, and the challenges it faces with respect to the human rights obligations contained in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights instruments (covenants, conventions and other treaties) to which the State is party, voluntary pledges and commitments made by the State, applicable international humanitarian law and the Declaration on human rights defenders. The UPR reminds States of their responsibility to fully respect, promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It provides an opportunity to enhance the capacity of States to ensure the universal enjoyment of human rights, providing technical assistance to States when necessary. Finally, it provides a way of sharing best practices. 38. Civil society is given a voice in the UPR to discuss issues related to human rights defenders in that States are encouraged to prepare the information they present through a broad consultation process at the national level with all relevant stakeholders. Information submitted by NGOs appearing in the stakeholder report, which allows for NGOs to make joint submissions, can also be referred to by States taking part in the interactive discussion during the review at the Working Group meeting. Moreover, NGOs can attend the UPR Working Group sessions and can make statements at the regular sessions of the Human Rights Council when the outcomes of the State reviews are considered. 9 Video message from the Secretary-General for the opening of the fourth session of the Human Rights Council, 12 March 2007.