A/HRC/23/5 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 fifteenth session from 21 January to 1 February 2013. The review of Romania was held at the 3rd meeting on 22 January 2013. The delegation of Romania was headed by the Secretary of State, Bogdan Aurescu. At its 10th meeting, held on 25 January 2013, the Working Group adopted the report on Romania. 2. On 14 January 2013, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Romania: Czech Republic, Kenya and Qatar. 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 Romania: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/15/ROU/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.6/15/ROU/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/15/ROU/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Romania through the troika. These 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 the delegation presented the national report and highlighted several measures undertaken and achievements made by Romania in the implementation of recommendations put forward during the 2008 universal periodic review. The delegation stated that the national report, which had been prepared based on a broad consultation with various State agencies, the national human rights institution and civil society representatives, provided comprehensive information on main measures taken to implement each of the accepted recommendations of the 2008 review. 6. The delegation stated that the legal system concerning the protection of human rights was complex and encompassed several institutions that complemented each other without overlapping. Thus, the Romanian Institute for Human Rights, the National Council for Combating Discrimination and the Ombudsman had complementary competences that included preventing all forms of discrimination; mediating cases of discrimination; investigating and sanctioning discrimination cases; organizing public opinion polls on various aspects regarding human rights protection; receiving complaints filed by individuals who have been aggrieved by public administration authorities through violations of their civic rights and freedoms and taking decisions on such complaints; providing victims of discrimination with specialized assistance; and notifying the Constitutional Court on the unconstitutionally of laws before their promulgation. 3