A/HRC/14/13 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its seventh session from 8 to 19 February 2010. The review of Madagascar was held at the 12th meeting, on 15 February 2010. The delegation of Madagascar was headed by Christine Razanamahasoa, Garde des Sceaux, Ministre de la Justice. At its 16th meeting, held on 17 February 2010, the Working Group adopted the report on Madagascar. 2. On 7 September 2009, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Madagascar: Bahrain, Norway and South Africa. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Madagascar: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/7/MDG/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.6/7/MDG/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/7/MDG/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Argentina, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Madagascar through the troika. Those 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. The head of the delegation stated that, despite the crisis situation prevailing in the country, the Government had taken all the measures necessary to honour its obligations under the universal periodic review mechanism, which the international community wanted to be intergovernmental, cooperative, interactive, objective, constructive, non-politicized and action-oriented. 6. The presence of the Malagasy delegation showed the determination of the Government to achieve the common goal of the full enjoyment of human rights in the country, with the support and encouragement of the international community. 7. In presenting the most salient points of the national report, the head of the delegation emphasized that, with regard to the delay in the submission of periodic reports to the treaty bodies, an Inter-ministerial Committee for the Drafting of Human Rights Reports, which included members of civil society, had been set up in 2003. Since then, 15 reports had been drafted, of which 4 had already been examined and 3 were awaiting review. 8. The Committee prepared the national report for the universal periodic review, which was the subject of successive consultations with members of civil society at the regional level and includes their observations. 3