A/HRC/27/15 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 nineteenth session from 28 April to 9 May 2014. The review of Qatar was held at the 15th meeting, on 7 May 2014. The delegation of Qatar was headed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation. At its 18th meeting, held on 9 May 2014, the Working Group adopted the report on Qatar. 2. On 15 January 2014, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Qatar: Cuba, India and Italy. 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 Qatar: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/19/QAT/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.6/19/QAT/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/19/QAT/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Liechtenstein, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Qatar through the troika. Those questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review (UPR). I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The head of delegation said that it was a pleasure to meet the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review. Qatar appreciated the important role played by the Working Group in helping States to better fulfil their obligations under international human rights law. The periodic review process represented a valuable opportunity for Qatar to make a critical and proper analysis of the situation, in order to improve and develop its internal practices. 6. By a decision of 2010, the Council of Ministers had requested the committee that prepared the initial report to continue its work and had entrusted it with the preparation of subsequent reports and with following up the recommendations of the Working Group. That committee was chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and its 10 other members were drawn from various ministries and councils. The consultation process was broad, involving coordination and cooperation with related stakeholders. 7. For Qatar, the promotion and protection of human rights was a strategic choice that constituted the backbone of the comprehensive development policy enshrined in the Qatar National Vision 2030, which involved constitutional, economic, social and cultural reforms. That policy included important topics related to key human rights issues in the areas of education, health, the environment, expatriate workers’ rights, women’s empowerment and 3