A/HRC/15/60 291. The outcome of the review of Guinea comprises the report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (A/HRC/15/4), the views of Guinea concerning the recommendations and/or conclusions, and its voluntary commitments and replies presented before the adoption of the outcome by the plenary to questions or issues that were not sufficiently addressed during the interactive dialogue in the Working Group (see also A/HRC/15/4/Add.1). 1. Views expressed by the State under review on the recommendations and/or conclusions and on its voluntary commitments and the outcome 292. The Minister for Justice of Guinea, Siba Loholamou, congratulated the President of the Council and its Bureau on their recent election. 293. The Minister stated that his country was pleased to have completed the peer review of the universal periodic review. He referred to the announcements made by Guinea during the eighth session of the Working Group in May 2010 in relation to the adoption of a new Constitution and organic law as solid bases for a new era in the promotion and protection of human rights. Guinea was pleased to participate in the final phase of the process, which had been prepared in broad consultation among various administrations and civil society. 294. Since May 2010, a number of initiatives and measures have been taken; first, the promulgation of a new Constitution, including new laws such as the electoral code, a law on the freedom of the press and the creation of a high authority for communication. Second, a process of national reconciliation had been initiated by the transitional president, General Sekouba Konaté, who took this opportunity to apologize on behalf of all his predecessors for the violations of human rights committed in the past. Third, an office of OHCHR had been opened, a new development in the area of cooperation between Guinea and the United Nations system. Fourth, the holding of the first round of elections on 27 June 2010 reflected the will of the transitional Government and the population to turn a new page. The Minister stated that the postponement of the second round of election by the National Independent Electoral Commission was due to logistics and technicalities, and also in order to ensure the transparency and accuracy of the process. 295. In this context, a number of conferences and seminars had been organized to publicize the new Constitution, which contained a human rights charter with 22 articles under title 2. The involvement of non-governmental organizations in the preparation of the laws was also highlighted. Several non-governmental organizations had already commenced the translation and publication of the texts in various national languages. 296. The new law regarding the freedom of the press was a breakthrough to protect journalists from arbitrary arrest and illegal detention, as it reduced any penal sanction against journalist to a simple fine. 297. The Minister referred to the nine pending recommendations mentioned in the addendum to the Working Group’s report and to the forum held on 7 July 2010. The forum had brought together members of the administration in charge of human rights, and nongovernmental organizations, in order to acquaint with the 114 recommendations made at the session of the Working Group, including the 105 recommendations accepted and the 9 others for which reservations were expressed. A document was drafted following these consultations. 298. The recommendations related to the timely submission of periodic reports to treaty bodies, the establishment of a national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles, the establishment of a national plan of action for the rights of children and women, the formulation of a national strategy of reconciliation and pardon together with a mechanism to fight against impunity, access to international instruments, the withdrawal of reservations, strengthening the power of the civil forces of defence and security, the 126 GE.11-17043