A/HRC/31/5 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its twenty-third session from 2 to 13 November 2015. The review of Lebanon was held at the 2nd meeting on 2 November 2015. The delegation of Lebanon was headed by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Lebanon in Geneva, Najla Riachi Assaker. At its 10th meeting, held on 6 November 2015, the Working Group adopted the report on Lebanon. 2. On 13 January 2015, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Lebanon: Indonesia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 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 Lebanon: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/23/LBN/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.6/23/LBN/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/23/ LBN /3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Liechtenstein, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States of America was transmitted to Lebanon through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the Working Group. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. Lebanon considered the universal periodic review to be an opportunity to push for increased efforts to promote and protect human rights. Since its first review, Lebanon had taken a host of measures to improve the human rights situation in the country. The serious events unfolding in the region were unexpected and had led to many challenges that had had a negative impact on the country’s human rights plans. 6. The fundamental principles of human rights were enshrined in the Constitution of Lebanon, while the full text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was echoed in the preamble thereto. All Lebanese citizens were equal under the Constitution and their personal freedoms and civil and political rights were guaranteed. Freedoms of speech, faith, religion, opinion, expression and access to property were rights that were exercised by the Lebanese people daily. Laws stemming from the Constitution guaranteed those rights and freedoms. Freedom of expression, for example, was exercised, as reflected by the considerable number of politically diverse media outlets and the freedom of expression they enjoyed. 7. While a few human rights violations had taken place in Lebanon, they did not represent a general tendency and were exceptions to the norm. Civil society organizations and human rights activists sometimes played a positive role in that regard. 3