A/HRC/29/12 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 twenty-first session from 19 to 30 January 2015. The review of Guinea-Bissau was held at the 9th meeting, on 23 January 2015. The delegation of Guinea-Bissau was headed by José António da Silva Gonçalves, Adviser to the Minister of Justice on Strategic Planning. At its 14th meeting, held on 27 January 2015, the Working Group adopted the report on Guinea-Bissau. 2. On 13 January 2015, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Guinea-Bissau: Botswana, Estonia and Kazakhstan. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Guinea-Bissau: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/21/GNB/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.6/21/GNB/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/21/GNB/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Guinea-Bissau through the troika. Those questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review (UPR). I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The delegation of Guinea-Bissau recalled that, after the previous Universal Periodic Review in 2010, Guinea-Bissau had undergone a further setback on the road to consolidating democracy, the rule of law, human rights and development when, in 2012, the constitutionally elected Government had once again been overthrown by the military. 6. For two long years, the international isolation suffered by Guinea-Bissau and the political crisis that had ensued had adversely affected the socioeconomic status of the population and had led to the resurgence of some deplorable cases of human rights violations. 7. It was in that difficult climate, characterized by insecurity, that general elections had been held during the first half of 2014, thanks to the commitment of the international community, in particular the United Nations, the European Union, the Economic Community of West African States and the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries. The objectives of a return to the normal functioning of democratic institutions had thus been set within the framework of a political dialogue, which had led to the establishment of an inclusive and representative Government. 8. With respect to the implementation of recommendations issued in the course of the first UPR cycle, Guinea-Bissau had made great efforts and had succeeded in implementing GE.15-07685 3