A/HRC/42/14 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-third session from 6 to 17 May 2019. The review of Ethiopia was held at the 13th meeting, on 14 May 2019. The delegation of Ethiopia was headed by the Deputy Attorney General of Ethiopia, Gedion Timothewos Hassebon. At its 17th meeting, held on 16 May 2019, the Working Group adopted the report on Ethiopia. 2. On 15 January 2019, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Ethiopia: Angola, Nepal and Hungary. 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 Ethiopia: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/33/ETH/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.6/33/ETH/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/33/ETH/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Germany, Portugal on behalf of the Group of Friends on national implementation, reporting and follow-up, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America was transmitted to Ethiopia 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 delegation stated that the universal periodic review offered a great opportunity to Ethiopia, particularly as the country was undergoing a process of profound political reform aimed at revitalizing the enjoyment of human rights. 6. The national report had been prepared in consultation with all relevant government agencies. In addition, consultative forums had been held with, inter alia, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, civil society organizations and academics. The general public had also been consulted. 7. Following the previous review of Ethiopia, a national monitoring, implementation, reporting and follow-up mechanism had been established, and served as a hub of the Government’s efforts to coordinate the implementation of treaty obligations and supported recommendations from the previous review. Those recommendations had been incorporated into the second national human rights action plan. A national coordinating committee composed of nine relevant ministries and the head of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission had been established and entrusted with supervising the implementation of the plan. 8. The period under review had seen challenging and turbulent times for Ethiopia. The country experienced protests and demonstrations, and two states of emergency had been declared. These events triggered a process of political reform and transformation that was still unfolding. 9. Significant political, administrative and legislative measures had been taken, such as the granting of pardons and amnesties for thousands of citizens, especially those charged and convicted under the Proclamation on Anti-Terrorism, including journalists, bloggers, 2