A/HRC/13/11 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 sixth session from 30 November to 11 December 2009. The review of Bhutan was held at the 10th meeting on 4 December 2009. The delegation of Bhutan was headed by H.E. Mr. Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji, Former Prime Minister and Special Envoy of the Prime Minister. At its meeting held on 8 December 2009, the Working Group adopted the present report on Bhutan. 2. On 7 September 2009, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Bhutan: India, Madagascar and Uruguay. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Bhutan: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/BTN/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/BTN/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/BTN/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Argentina, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Nepal, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Bhutan 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. Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji, Former Prime Minister and Special Envoy of the Prime Minister, presented the co-leader of the delegation, H.E. Lyonpo Thakur S. Powdyel, Ministry of Education, and other members of the delegation. 6. The Bhutanese delegation explained that national level preparations were multisectoral and broad-based. The national report was broadly available in Dzongkha, English and Nepali. 7. The delegation stated that Bhutan’s governance since the 17th Century is based on the precepts of justice, equity and compassion, refined and updated by successive monarchs of the Wangchuck dynasty. In culmination of a series of far-reaching political changes initiated by the Fourth King, Bhutan peacefully transitioned into a parliamentary democracy and adopted its first written Constitution in 2008. 8 The delegation informed that the Constitution is the overarching legal framework for the country, based on the principle that every individual possesses fundamental rights and freedom to secure equality and effective protection of their rights and dignity irrespective of ethnic origin, religion, gender or other status. It guarantees and protects human rights including the right to life, liberty and security of person, right to freedom of speech, expression and opinion, and freedom of thought, conscience and religion. 9. Bhutan’s efforts to strengthen human rights have been complemented through constructive engagement with bodies like the Committees on the Rights of the Child and on 3