A/HRC/40/4 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-first session from 5 to 16 November 2018. The review of Saudi Arabia was held at the 1st meeting, on 5 November 2018. The delegation of Saudi Arabia was headed by the President of the Human Rights Commission, Bandar al Aiban. At its 10th meeting, held on 9 November 2018, the Working Group adopted the report on Saudi Arabia. 2. On 10 January 2018, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Saudi Arabia: Belgium, China and Tunisia. 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 Saudi Arabia: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/31/SAU/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.6/31/SAU/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/31/SAU/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on implementation, reporting and follow-up, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay was transmitted to Saudi Arabia 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 head of the Saudi delegation reviewed the most prominent points in its third national report to the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, with a focus on the statutory and institutional human rights framework. Several pieces of legislation had been enacted or amended, such as the Criminal Procedure Act, the Sharia Court Procedure Act and the Board of Grievance Procedure Act. The independence of the Public Prosecution Service had been increased and its work had been granted judicial capacity. 6. The Justice Training Centre had been established to increase the efficiency and level of qualifications of judges and their assistants. Since its establishment, the Centre had organized many training programmes, including activities to raise awareness among judges and their assistants of the provisions of the human rights conventions to which Saudi Arabia was a party. 7. Saudi Arabia had made efforts to address any criminal activities that could hinder the enjoyment of human rights, including extremism, terrorism and corruption. Among those efforts was the establishment of the Global Centre for Combating Extremist Ideology (Etidal), which tracked and analysed extremist activities to confront and prevent extremism, in cooperation with the relevant States and organizations. The National Centre for Performance Measurement (Adaa) had also been established to develop indicators to measure the performance of public bodies. 8. With regard to women’s rights, judicial rulings on personal status matters had been issued, and under Supreme Order No. 33322 of 18 April 2017, women were no longer required to obtain the approval of another person to access government services or conclude 2