A/HRC/10/73 Page 3 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 third session from 1 to 15 December 2008. The review of Barbados was held at the fifth meeting, on 3 December 2008. The delegation of Barbados was headed by H. E. Christopher Sinckler, MP, Minister for Social Care, Constituency Empowerment, Urban and Rural Development. At its meeting, held on 5 December 2008, the Working Group adopted the present report on Barbados. 2. On 8 September 2008, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Barbados: South Africa, Japan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Barbados: (a) A national report submitted / written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/3/BRB/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.6/3/BRB/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR, in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/3/BRB/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Barbados through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review. I. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE REVIEW PROCESS A. Presentation by the State under review 5. At the 5th meeting, on 3 December, the Head of Delegation of Barbados, H. E. Christopher Sinckler, MP, Minister for Social Care, Constituency Empowerment, Urban and Rural Development expressed his thanks on behalf of the Government and people of Barbados. 6. The Minister noted that Barbados is a small island developing State with an international human rights record and a level of good governance, which has served the country well since its independence in 1966. Despite its limited financial and human resources, Barbados has been an active participant and fervent supporter of international human rights and the international system of protection for the most vulnerable. It is with this central thesis that his Government approached the deliberations under the universal periodic review. He also stated that the preparation of the report was an exercise that allowed Barbados to become reacquainted with its national structure of human rights protection and to determine its best practices and areas where the Government knows it must improve. He believes the national report accurately reflects the current status of human rights in the country but also presents a picture of where Barbados anticipates being in the near future.