A/HRC/40/17 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-first session from 5 to 16 November 2018. The review of Malta was held at the 16th meeting, on 14 November 2018. The delegation of Malta was headed by the Minister for European Affairs and Equality, Helena Dalli. At its 18th meeting, held on 16 November 2018, the Working Group adopted the report on Malta. 2. On 10 January 2018, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Malta: Ethiopia, Iraq and Switzerland. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Malta: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/31/MLT/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.6/31/MLT/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/31/MLT/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Brazil, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national implementation, reporting and follow-up, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Malta through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The head of the delegation of Malta emphasized the importance of the universal periodic review in assessing the human rights records of all Member States in order to improve the protection of such rights. She expressed the commitment of Malta towards the promulgation of human rights and equality across all of Maltese society and beyond. 6. The delegation highlighted the efforts of Malta to enhance social dialogue and transparency, inter alia, by setting up minority consultative councils and including civil society representatives in several processes, such as the Open Government Partnership, the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development and the Malta-European Union Steering and Action Committee. 7. Malta was strongly committed to the universal periodic review mechanism. The recommendations from the second review cycle had been built upon, as had been noted in its national report. Malta had made huge strides forward in enacting legislation guaranteeing social and political rights since 2013, for example in the areas of family law, gender recognition, marriage equality, women’s rights, measures against gender-based and domestic violence, access to assisted reproductive technology, minority rights and child protection. 8. Malta had been shocked by the assassination of the journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017. The Government remained committed to elucidating that vile crime. Investigations had started immediately in collaboration with key international institutions. Three persons had been charged within 49 days, and judicial proceedings were under way. The Government had pursued investigations to identify those who had commissioned the murder of the journalist. 2