A/HRC/15/10 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its eighth session from 3 to 14 May 2010. The review of Guinea-Bissau was held at the 9th meeting, on 7 May 2010. The delegation of Guinea-Bissau was headed by the Minister of Justice, Mamadu Saliu Jalo Pires. At its 13th meeting, held on 11 May 2010, the Working Group adopted the report on GuineaBissau. 2. On 7 September 2009, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Guinea-Bissau: Djibouti, the United States of America and the Republic of Korea. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Guinea-Bissau: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/8/GBN/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.6/8/GBN/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/8/GBN/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Germany, Norway and the Netherlands was transmitted to Guinea-Bissau through the troika. Those questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. At the ninth meeting, held on 7 May 2010, His Excellency Mr. Mamadu Saliu Jalo Pires, Minister of Justice, explained that Guinea-Bissau had gained independence in 1974 following an armed struggle for national liberation during which the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde had formed its own army, which had subsequently become the national armed forces. 6. In the 1990s, the country had started to build a multiparty democracy, the aim being to construct a democratic State governed by the rule of law. To this end, it had revised its Constitution to incorporate the principle of separation of powers, respect for the dignity of the human person, and respect for human rights. 7. The principle of non-discrimination on grounds of sex, religion or economic, social or political status is enshrined in the Constitution. Men and women are equal before the law, and the fundamental rights of all citizens of Guinea-Bissau are safeguarded by the domestic legal order. 8. The delegation explained, however, that the country’s recent history, particularly in the last decade, had been a very difficult period for its people owing to a series of political and military crises that had resulted in serious violence against individual citizens, many of them in prominent political or military positions. GE.10-14446 3