approaches the UPR process in terms of the composition of the delegation going to Geneva and the approach to follow-up on the UPR recommendations. This in it self can have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the UPR process. When seeking to influence states to take up your priority issues during the UPR review, the key is to identify the states that are most likely to address your priority issue during the review and to ensure that you get the most you can get from every state you engage with. The first step is to analyse the foreign policy priority issues to map out which countries are likely to have a focus on the review of your country and which are interested in your specific thematic priority issues. These priorities can be found in policy documents from the respective ministries of foreign affairs and through analysis of a state’s comments and recommendations in previous UPR sessions. Once you have identified which states are likely to promote your priority issues, you need to establish contact to the relevant state representatives who will be involved in the review of your state. When selecting which states to contact it is important to think about what their relationship is with your government and how likely your government is to respond positively to a recommendation from that state. For example, recommendations from donor countries, political allies and states from the same UN regional group are more likely to be diligently implemented. Furthermore, it is good to seek support for your priority issue from various countries from different regions, in order for your government not to have the feeling that it is a “western agenda” of a “non-aligned movement agenda” - your government needs to feel that it is an issue of global concern. After you have made the initial contact with the states you want to lobby, it is important to arrange meetings. This can be done both at your local embassy and with the missions in Geneva. If resources permit, it is important to meet both the local embassies and the Geneva representatives to ensure that your priority issues are not lost in the process. This is because the initial stages of the process are often carried out in the local embassies while the final implementation and submission of recommendations are made by the Geneva missions. Finally, remember to follow-up with the state representatives. This is important because it is the only way you can express The UPR of Norway was a process in which NGOs were consulted and critical input was welcomed by government. Therefore a fruitful dialogue is possible nationally, even if government does not include fully all recommendations made by NGOs in its UPR report. your appreciation for their support but also because it is a way of keeping continuously engaged with the UPR of your country and the implementation of the recommendations. This means that after the review, you may solicit the support of the same states for implementation of some of the UPR recommendations either through funding, technical assistance or political pressure. A Practical Guide to the UPR: How NGOs can influence the UPR process 11