A/HRC/32/9 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its twenty-fourth session from 18 to 29 January 2016. The review of Paraguay was held at the 5th meeting on 20 January 2016. The delegation of Paraguay was headed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Óscar Cabello. At its 10th meeting, held on 22 January 2016, the Working Group adopted the report on Paraguay. 2. On 12 January 2016, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Paraguay: Algeria, Cuba and Saudi Arabia. 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 Paraguay: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/24/PRY/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.6/24/PRY/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/24/PRY/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Germany, Liechtenstein, Mexico, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Paraguay through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review. Additional questions raised during the dialogue by India, Montenegro and the United Kingdom are summarized in section I.B below. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The head of the delegation noted that Paraguay had come to the second review convinced that dialogue and cooperation at the international level could contribute to improving the promotion and protection of human rights. Paraguay aimed to share its achievements and challenges regarding the implementation of the recommendations from the first review cycle in an open and transparent manner. 6. Paraguay had always sought to cooperate with the United Nations human rights mechanisms and had issued a standing, open invitation to the special procedures of the Council. During the past four years, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, had visited the country. Paraguay was up-to-date with all its reports to the treaty bodies and had recently updated its common core document. 7. Paraguay was currently a member of the Human Rights Council and sought to work in a responsible manner together with other countries. It had supported declarations and 3