A/HRC/29/15 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 Turkey was held at the 13th meeting on 27 January 2015. The delegation of Turkey was headed by Bülent Arınç, Deputy Prime Minister. At its 17th meeting, held on 29 January 2015, the Working Group adopted the report on Turkey. 2. On 13 January 2015, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Turkey: Cuba, Gabon and Saudi Arabia. 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 Turkey: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/21/TUR/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/TUR/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/21/TUR/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America were transmitted to Turkey through the troika. These 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 head of the delegation thanked, in advance, all countries that would make recommendations in a spirit of sincere cooperation. He expressed gratitude to all relevant governmental institutions and different stakeholders for their contributions, as they were consulted during the preparation process for the UPR. He emphasized that the protection and promotion of human rights was one of the political objectives of Turkey. The first pillar of measures had been directed towards eliminating the problems stemming from legislation. The second priority had been the establishment of new national human rights mechanisms. 6. The Constitutional amendments of 12 September 2010 had introduced positive discrimination in respect of women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities, had enhanced the protection of personal data and children’s rights and had expanded the scope of the right to freedom of assembly and association. The judicial reform packages had introduced substantial legislative amendments to the Turkish Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Anti-Terror Law and the Press Law, with the aim of strengthening the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, enhancing its efficacy, facilitating access to justice, expanding the scope of freedoms and ensuring further improvements in freedom of expression. 3