A/HRC/14/4 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 Italy was held at the third meeting, on 9 February 2010. The delegation of Italy was headed by the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vincenzo Scotti. At its seventh meeting, held on 11 February 2010, the Working Group adopted the report on Italy. 2. On 7 September 2009, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Italy: Slovakia, Argentina and Ghana. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/7/ITA/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/ITA/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/7/ITA/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was transmitted to Italy through the troika. These 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. At the third meeting, on 9 February 2010, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs introduced the national report, prepared with the participation of civil society organizations, with past and future meetings organized by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights. He emphasized that Italy's engagement in universal periodic review is part of its commitment to the promotion of human rights in the UN and other international fora. 6. Italy declared its intention to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture once a relevant independent national preventive mechanism is put in place in connection with the establishment of a national human rights institution. The bill to ratify the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Beings has been approved and will now be submitted to Parliament. While remaining attentive to the needs of migrants, Italy is not in a position to ratify the Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, which does not make a distinction between regular and irregular migrant workers and whose provisions fall within the European Union domain. 7. With regard to the domestic process aimed at establishing a national independent commission for the promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with the Paris Principles, the inter-ministerial working group is currently concluding draft legislation and the governmental process should be finalized in a few months. 3