Andorra's Human Rights Record to Undergo Fourth UN Review in November 2025

Andorra Prepares for Fourth Universal Periodic Review

The Principality of Andorra is set to undergo its fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) by the United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review Working Group. The examination of Andorra's human rights record is scheduled for Thursday, 6 November 2025, from 09:00 to 12:30, as part of the Working Group's 50th session, which will take place in Geneva from 3 to 14 November 2025.

The UPR is a distinctive mechanism of the Human Rights Council, requiring every UN Member State to undergo a peer review of its human rights records approximately every four-and-a-half years. This process offers states an opportunity to report on measures taken to improve human rights situations and to address challenges. It also allows other UN Member States to provide recommendations for continuous improvement.

The UPR Process and Documentation

The review process is comprehensive, relying on three primary documents:

• A national report prepared by the government of Andorra, detailing its human rights efforts and commitments.
• A compilation of information by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), drawing from reports of treaty bodies and special procedures.
• A summary of information from other stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and national human rights institutions.

During the session, an interactive dialogue will take place between the delegation representing Andorra and the UPR Working Group, alongside observer states.

Key Areas of Focus from Previous Reviews

Andorra has previously undergone UPR cycles in November 2010, May 2015, and November 2020. Recurring themes and areas of concern highlighted in past reviews and recent reports include:

• Abortion Laws: The total ban on abortion in Andorra has been a consistent point of discussion, with recommendations for liberalization made in previous UPR sessions.
• Rights of Non-Citizens: Andorra's strict naturalization criteria mean that over 50 percent of its population consists of non-citizens who do not possess voting rights.
• Gender Equality: Persistent issues such as a notable gender pay gap, estimated to be as high as 40 percent in some sectors, and discrimination in the labor market have been identified.
• Freedom of Expression: Concerns persist regarding defamation laws, which include the criminalization of criticism against authorities and state institutions.
• Housing Rights: Recommendations have been made to address affordable housing issues and to review the five-year residency requirement for access to social housing for vulnerable foreigners.
• Minority Rights: The country's small Muslim and Jewish communities reportedly lack dedicated cemeteries, and there is no recognized mosque.

Andorra has also made progress in ratifying several international human rights instruments since 2015, including Protocol No. 16 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. However, it has yet to submit periodic reports for the Convention against Torture and its initial report for the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Anticipated Outcomes

Following the interactive dialogue, a report containing the recommendations received will be adopted on Friday, 14 November 2025. Andorra will then have the primary responsibility to implement these recommendations or to decline those it does not wish to undertake. The review aims to foster continuous improvement in the protection and promotion of human rights within the country.