A/HRC/39/13 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirtieth session from 7 to 18 May 2018. The review of the Russian Federation was held at the 12th meeting, on 14 May 2018. The delegation of the Russian Federation was headed by the Minister of Justice, Alexander Konovalov. At its 17th meeting, held on 17th May 2018, the Working Group adopted the report on the Russian Federation. 2. On 10 January 2018, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the Russian Federation: Cuba, Ethiopia and Philippines. 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 the Russian Federation: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/30/RUS/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.6/30/RUS/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/30/RUS/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and Ukraine was transmitted to the Russian Federation through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The Russian Federation stated that the main achievements and impediments to the realization of human rights, since the second universal periodic review, were described in detail in the national report, which had been prepared in cooperation with civil society. 6. The Russian Federation continued to make efforts to strengthen the international and national institutional frameworks for the protection of human rights. The Constitution gave precedence to universally recognized principles and norms of international law over the provisions of national legislation. Among the international conventions ratified during the period under review were the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse and the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. In addition, delegations of the Russian Federation traditionally took an active part in the work of the Third Committee of the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the Human Dimension Implementation Meetings and other human rights forums, and interacted with treaty bodies and the special procedures of the Council. The Russian Federation also participated in the activities of regional human rights organizations. 7. At the national level, the Constitutional Court actively pursued its efforts to protect the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens. Based on its decisions, changes were made in the legislation aimed at strengthening the normative framework for the protection of human rights. 8. In order to improve the quality of national human rights mechanisms, regional commissioners were appointed in various areas of protection of the rights of citizens. Thus, 2