A/HRC/15/9 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its eighth session from 3 to 14 May 2010. The review of Armenia was held at the 8th meeting, on 6 May 2010. The delegation was headed by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Arman Kirakossian. At its 12th meeting, held on 10 May 2010, the Working Group adopted the report on Armenia. 2. On 7 September 2009, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Armenia: Slovakia, France and Bahrain. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Armenia: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/8/ARM/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/8/ARM/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/8/ARM/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Argentina, Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Armenia through the troika. Those questions and written answers provided by Armenia are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. In his introductory statement, the head of delegation indicated that the national report had been discussed in a round table with non-governmental organizations. Armenia had completed its reporting obligations towards United Nations treaty bodies, submitting all overdue reports at the end of 2009 and early in 2010, in the form of joint periodic reports. Since becoming a member of the United Nations in 1992, Armenia has actively cooperated with various United Nations bodies and agencies with the purpose of protecting and promoting human rights. In April 2006, Armenia extended a standing invitation to all special procedures. 6. Armenia has acceded to more than 50 human rights international treaties and has signed the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which are currently in various stages of the ratification process. 7. The law on human rights defenders was adopted in 2003. In addition, the Ombudsman is recognized as the national preventive mechanism, pursuant to OPCAT. The amendment of the Constitution on 27 November 2005 had introduced substantial improvements in, inter alia, the provisions concerning fundamental rights and freedoms, 3