A/HRC/17/7 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its tenth session from 24 January to 4 February 2011. The review of Oman was held at the fifth meeting on 26 January 2011. The delegation of Oman was headed by the Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Yusef bin Alawi bin Abdulla. At its ninth meeting held on 28 January 2011, the Working Group adopted the report on Oman. 2. On 21 June 2010, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Oman: Burkina Faso, Jordan and Spain. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Oman: (a) A national report submitted and a written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/10/OMN/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.6/10/OMN/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/10/OMN/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom was transmitted to Oman through the troika. These questions are available on the UPR extranet. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. Oman expressed its gratitude and appreciation to OHCHR, the members of the Working Group and the troika for the efficient work they had undertaken in preparing the review session. 6. Oman noted that it had accorded priority to human welfare ever since the country’s great renaissance in 1970 under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. 7. The Council of Ministers of Oman had set up a ministerial committee to oversee the drafting of the national report. The committee was expected to continue its work in the future, monitoring the outcome of the review and following up on it within the Sultanate’s human rights system. Oman reaffirmed at workshops held with civil society the importance of their involvement in the review process by submitting direct reports to OHCHR, providing input for the national report and, in the longer term, playing a role in monitoring the review’s recommendations at the national level. 8. The Oman Basic Law promulgated in 1996 laid down the basic principles and criteria of human dignity and freedom, equal rights and equality of opportunity for all without discrimination. 9. The preparation of the report for the review coincided with the celebrations for the fortieth anniversary of modern Oman. This occasion was a motivating factor to work hard to produce an objective account of achievements in terms of legislation, institutions and 3