A/HRC/39/3 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 Turkmenistan was held at the 1st meeting, on 7 May 2018. The delegation of Turkmenistan was headed by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Vepa Hajyyev. At its 10th meeting, held on 11 May 2018, the Working Group adopted the report on Turkmenistan. 2. On 10 January 2018, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Turkmenistan: Burundi, Croatia and Pakistan. 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 Turkmenistan: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/30/TKM/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/TKM/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/30/TKM/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Liechtenstein, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America was transmitted to Turkmenistan 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 of Turkmenistan expressed confidence that a constructive dialogue in the working group would help to achieve further progress in the implementation of the rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens of Turkmenistan. 6. During the reporting period, Turkmenistan had engaged in a dialogue with the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Human Rights Committee and the Committee against Torture. Subsequently, the Government had started to follow up on the concluding observations received from those Committees. 7. A series of efforts had been made to improve domestic legislation to bring it into line with international human rights standards. In 2016, Turkmenistan had adopted a new Constitution with an expanded section on human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Constitution placed a strong emphasis on the universally accepted norms of international law. The Government had focused its efforts on ensuring the implementation of the provisions of international treaties at the national level. 8. The Constitution had introduced the institution of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson). Subsequently, Parliament had adopted the Ombudsperson Act in 2016, which had established the mandate and functions of the Ombudsperson. The Law had been drafted in cooperation with relevant international experts, including from the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). It had come into force in January 2017 and the Ombudsperson had been elected in March 2017. In April 2018, the Ombudsperson had submitted its first annual report. 2