A/HRC/33/7 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its twenty-fifth session from 2 to 13 May 2016. The review of Greece was held at the 4th meeting on 3 May 2016. The delegation of Greece was headed by the Secretary-General for Transparency and Human Rights, Kostis Papaioannou. At its 11th meeting, held on 9 May 2016, the Working Group adopted the report on Greece. 2. On 12 January 2016, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Greece: the Netherlands, the Russian Federation and South Africa. 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 Greece: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/25/GRC/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.6/25/GRC/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/25/GRC/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Afghanistan, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Liechtenstein, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Greece 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. Greece stated that the national report had been drafted in an inclusive process involving ministries and consultations with civil society and the National Commission for Human Rights. Greece would submit a midterm progress report on the implementation of the recommendations it supported, as it had done in the first cycle. 6. As a former chairperson of the National Commission, the head of delegation observed how the institution had grown in respect and influence and been strengthened through recent legislation. 7. Important steps had been made, but much more needed to be done. The dialogue would be guided by critical self-assessment. 8. Greece had experienced a severe economic crisis. Following negotiations with the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, policies responding to the crisis had largely consisted of extreme austerity measures. The impact of the recession had been significant. In 2014, 36 per cent of the population had been at risk of poverty or social exclusion; gross domestic product had fallen by 25 per cent; the unemployment rate had reached 24.4 per cent; and youth unemployment had 3