A/HRC/31/10 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 Saint Lucia was held at the 7th meeting, on 5 November 2015. The delegation of Saint Lucia was headed by the Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia to the United Nations in New York, Menissa Rambally. At its 14th meeting, held on 10 November 2015, the Working Group adopted the report on Saint Lucia. 2. On 13 January 2015, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Saint Lucia: Brazil, Ethiopia and Ireland. 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 Saint Lucia: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/23/LCA/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/LCA/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/23/LCA/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Kenya, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Saint Lucia 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. The delegation opened by stating that the second review of Saint Lucia had occurred in the context of two significant ongoing democratic processes that had had an impact on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of its citizens: a constitutional reform and the incorporation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into national development plans. 6. The constitutional reform, which had for years been in progress, through successive Governments, sought to bridge the gap between democracy and the fundamental Charter and to bring that document in line with the island’s changing social and political circumstances. Regarding the 2030 Agenda, the delegation noted that the Government believed that the security of the rights and well-being of all its citizens was an important pillar in the country’s development. 7. Since its first review, Saint Lucia had experienced a series of challenges that had affected the Government’s ability to maintain the balance between meeting its international human rights obligations and responding to emerging crises that required the Government to safeguard its citizens from immediate harm. 8. The delegation acknowledged that the Government faced challenges in implementing its obligations and the recommendations previously received. Aside from the 3