A/HRC/19/18 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 twelfth session from 3 to 14 October 2011. The review of the Republic of Moldova was held at the 16th meeting on 12 October. The delegation of the Republic of Moldova was headed by the Deputy Minister of Justice, Vladimir Grosu. At its 18th meeting, held on 14 October 2011, the Working Group adopted the report on the Republic of Moldova. 2. On 20 June 2011, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the Republic of Moldova: Hungary, Kyrgyzstan and Mauritius. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of the Republic of Moldova: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/12/MDA/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.6/12/MDA/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/12/MDA/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to the Republic of Moldova through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the UPR. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The delegation expressed the Government‟s commitment to the universal periodic review process. It stated that the process of the preparation of the national report, which included the national human rights institutions and stakeholders, gave the country an opportunity to assess the human rights situation and would allow creating synergies between human rights policies and the lives of people. 6. The Republic of Moldova had extended a standing invitation to all mandate holders for special procedures. It had been continuously improving the normative and institutional framework for the promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with the international standards, national priorities and aspirations of the European integration. Furthermore, the international legal instruments were directly applicable in the national legal system. The Government had undertaken measures to ensure respect of all human rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed to its citizens and in particular, it supported the existence of a strong, free and independent civil society, including the media. 7. Since the formation of the Government two years ago, new initiatives to implement the country‟s international human rights obligations had been undertaken. In particular, the European Union (EU)-Moldova dialogue on human rights had been launched and the Moldovan experts together with the regional organizations had been discussing the priorities for cooperation in the area of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and 3