A/HRC/21/13 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its thirteenth session from 21 May to 4 June 2012. The review of Algeria was held at the 12th meeting on 29 May 2012. The delegation of Algeria was headed by Mourad Medelci, Minister for Foreign Affairs. At its 17th meeting, held on 1 June 2012, the Working Group adopted the report on Algeria. 2. On 3 May 2012, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Algeria: Costa Rica, Nigeria, the Philippines. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Algeria: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/13/DZA/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.6/13/DZA/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/13/DZA/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden was transmitted to Algeria through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the UPR. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Algeria, in introducing the national report, recalled that Algeria was especially interested in the universal periodic review mechanism since it was a particularly useful universal tool for assessing and improving the human rights situation in the world. 6. Since the submission of the country’s first report on 14 April 2008, Algeria had made considerable progress in expanding freedoms and increasing respect for human rights. 7. He emphasized that the report had been the fruit of an intense interministerial consultation process, which had been extended to include other consultative bodies and representatives of civil society. A summary was then given of the implementation of recommendations accepted during the first review. 8. The fight against terrorism had made it necessary to take exceptional measures in the 1990s to protect people and property. Nonetheless, the State had always respected the law, human dignity and basic freedoms. 9. Over and above the lifting of the state of emergency in February 2011, terrorism cases were now tried in the ordinary courts. 10. The moratorium on the death penalty, initiated in Algeria in 1993, was still observed. GE.12-14978 3