A/HRC/31/16 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 Kitts and Nevis was held at the 15th meeting on 11 November 2015. The delegation of Saint Kitts and Nevis was headed by the Permanent Secretary (Ag) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kaye Bass. At its 18th meeting, held on 13 November 2015, the Working Group adopted the report on Saint Kitts and Nevis. 2. On 13 January 2015, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Saint Kitts and Nevis: Gabon, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. 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 Kitts and Nevis: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/23/KNA/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/KNA/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/23/KNA/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Kenya, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Saint Kitts and Nevis 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 of Saint Kitts and Nevis reiterated its Government’s commitment to the universal periodic review. It emphasized that, although Saint Kitts and Nevis had made deliberate attempts to implement the recommendations shared by the Working Group and accepted during its first review, it was necessary to heighten awareness of the challenges with which it was confronted. These largely attributed to its inability to give wholesale effect to the recommendations, despite its acknowledgement of their value. 6. The small and highly open, middle-income economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis continued to face significant vulnerabilities to the world financial crisis and recession that had led to a reduction in income from remittances to the State and had contributed to the lacklustre conditions for foreign direct investment. Moreover, the economy was experiencing an additional challenge, namely, an exceptionally high public sector debt-togross domestic product ratio of almost 200 per cent by 2013. 7. The delegation asserted that the Government had designed a credible macroeconomic framework and had implemented stringent fiscal measures aimed at reducing debt and creating conditions for sustained economic growth, higher standards of living and poverty alleviation. Nevertheless, the allocations for social protection had not 3