A/HRC/17/17 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), 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 Estonia was held at the 15th meeting on 2 February 2011. The delegation of Estonia was headed by Alar Streimann, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At its 17th meeting held on 4 February 2011, the Working Group adopted the report on Estonia. 2. On 21 June 2010, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Estonia: Belgium, Ecuador, Zambia. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Estonia: (a) A national report/written presentation prepared in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/10/EST/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/EST/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/10/EST/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Estonia through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the UPR site. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The delegation indicated that Estonia has been a committed member of the international community as a founding member of the League of Nations and a member of the United Nations, after restoration of its independence in 1991, as well as through its participation in human rights activities of other international and regional organizations. Estonia had acceded to 11 United Nations human rights instruments even before the entry into force of its Constitution, and had by then acceded to most of the major international and regional human rights agreements. 6. The delegation stated that the Manifest for All the Peoples of Estonia, which declared the independent Republic of Estonia in 1918, included a provision on the protection of the rights of ethnic minorities, which was also recognized after the 1991 independence. It noted that a strong and engaged civil society was an essential part of Estonia’s actions to protect and promote human rights for all, and that freedom of expression was important to achieving that aim. 7. The delegation noted its close cooperation with the United Nations human rights treaty bodies, including through its recognition of the competence of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination to receive individual complaints. Estonia issued a standing invitation to all human rights special procedure mandate holders, and received visits from several special rapporteurs. Estonia has been working towards becoming a member of the Human Rights Council for the first 3