A/HRC/28/12 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its twentieth session from 27 October to 7 November 2014. The review of the Islamic Republic of Iran was held at the 9th meeting on 31 October 2014. The delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran was headed by Mohammad Javad Ardeshir Larijani, Secretary of the High Council for Human Rights and advisor to the Chief of the Judiciary on International Affairs. At its 14th meeting, held on 4 November 2014, the Working Group adopted the report on the Islamic Republic of Iran. 2. On 15 January 2014, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the Islamic Republic of Iran: Argentina, Romania and the Philippines. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of the Islamic Republic of Iran: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/20/IRN/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.6/20/IRN/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/20/IRN/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America was transmitted to the Islamic Republic of Iran through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review (UPR). I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The head of the delegation stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran highly appreciated the UPR as a cooperative mechanism that considered human rights situations in all United Nations Member States on an equal footing, avoiding selectivity. It was essential to respect different values, traditions and cultures and to refrain from imposing specific lifestyles on others. He reiterated his country’s solid commitment to the principles of multicultural universality in the domain of human rights. 6. Several ministries, relevant commissions of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the judiciary had been actively involved in preparing the national report. Representatives of civil society had also been thoroughly consulted, and their comments had received due consideration. 7. The Islamic Republic of Iran had worked constantly, since the first cycle of the UPR, to further promote and protect human rights, inter alia, through cultural universalism. It had promulgated major policies, adopted new laws and regulations and set up new mechanisms. Human rights courses had been incorporated in public education programmes, and courses on 3