A/HRC/41/13 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-second session from 21 January to 1 February 2019. The review of Slovakia was held at the 11th meeting, on 28 January 2019. The delegation of Slovakia was headed by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, František Ružička. At its 17th meeting, held on 31 January 2019, the Working Group adopted the report on Slovakia. 2. On 15 January 2019, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Slovakia: Afghanistan, Cameroon and Chile. 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 Slovakia: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/32/SVK/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.6/32/SVK/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/32/SVK/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belarus, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national implementation, reporting and follow-up, Slovenia, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America was transmitted to Slovakia 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 head of the delegation stated that Slovakia remained committed to the universal periodic review mechanism and the implementation of the recommendations put forward during the review. The Government had been taking measures to ensure full implementation of all human rights obligations nationwide. Civil society, national human rights institutions and other partners had played an indispensable role in the efforts of the Government to further advance the protection of human rights and to successfully implement the recommendations from the universal periodic review. 6. The Charter of Fundamental Rights and Basic Freedoms was set out in the Constitution and the constitutional Act. Slovakia had ratified regional human rights instruments of the Council of Europe and core international human rights treaties. The international human rights treaties had direct application in the national legal system and prevailed over national law. 7. The Government had drafted and adopted a national strategy for the protection and promotion of human rights in 2015, through a participatory and inclusive process. The Council for Human Rights, National Minorities and Gender Equality, an advisory body of the Government, had played a key role in the process. 8. The delegation informed the Human Rights Council about the developments related to the follow-up of the previous review. Since signing the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Government had been drafting relevant legislative changes in preparation for its ratification. 2