A/HRC/WG.6/1/BRA/4 page 3 I. INTRODUCTION 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its first session from 7 to 18 April 2008. The review of Brazil was held at the 9th meeting on 11 April 2008. The delegation of Brazil was headed by H.E. Mr. Rogério Sottili, Executive Secretary, Special Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic on Human Rights. For the composition of the delegation, composed of 16 members, see appendix below. At its 13th meeting held on 15 April 2008, the Working Group adopted the present report on Brazil. 2. On 28 February 2008, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Brazil: Gabon, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Brazil: (a) The national report submitted in accordance with paragraph 15 (A/HRC/WG.6/1/BRA/1); (b) The compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/1/BRA/2); (c) The summary prepared by OHCHR, in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/1/BRA/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Ireland, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Denmark, and Sweden was transmitted to Brazil through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the Universal Periodic Review. II. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE REVIEW PROCESS A. Presentation by the State under review 5. At the 9th meeting, held on 11 April 2008, the Head of Delegation of Brazil, H.E. Mr. Rogério Sottili, Executive Secretary, Special Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic on Human Rights, introduced the national report. 6. Mr. Sergio Abreu e Lima Florencio, Ambassador, Deputy Representative of Brazil to the United Nations Office at Geneva, recalled Brazil’s voluntary pledges to participate in the UPR in a constructive and transparent manner and noted its confidence that the UPR will reinforce the principles of universality, indivisibility and non-selectivity. Mr. Rogerio Sottili, Head of the delegation, Executive Secretary, Special Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic on Human Rights, also noted confidence in the construction of the new system. 7. Brazil’s large territory (more than 8.5 million km2) and population (187 million) were mentioned as an indication of the challenges regarding implementation of human rights policies. 8. The delegation of Brazil stressed that the elaboration of the national report resulted in consultations with different bodies and offered the opportunity for an inter-ministerial reflection on the human rights challenges in the country. In this context, several consultations were organized