A/HRC/13/8 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 sixth session from 30 November to 11 December 2009. The review of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was held at the 7th meeting, on 3 December 2009. The delegation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was headed by H.E. Mr. Upio Kakura Wapol, Minister of Human Rights. At its 11th meeting, held on 7 December 2009, the Working Group adopted the present report on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 2. On 14 September 2009, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Gabon, Japan and Slovenia. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/COD/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/COD/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/COD/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Argentina, Belgium; Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary; Latvia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands was transmitted to the Democratic Republic of the Congo through the troika. These questions are available on the Extranet of the UPR Working Group. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The Congolese delegation introduced the national report, which was the product of broad consultations, notably with civil society, and replied to the questions put in advance by States. The delegation said that the Democratic Republic of the Congo had ratified numerous instruments for the protection of civil and political, economic, social and cultural rights, and was determined to implement them. Its efforts were being held back, however, by the recurring armed conflicts raging mainly in the east of the country, with the involvement of several external actors. 6. The delegation noted that, in many cases, documents on the human rights situation tended to give an incomplete rendering of some of the facts and omitted — often deliberately — to report the noteworthy efforts made by the Government to improve the promotion and protection of rights and freedoms. 7. According to the delegation, the framework for the protection and extension of human rights currently comprised the 18 February 2006 Constitution, which gave constitutional status to the majority of rights and made them fundamental values (notably the right to life and the prohibition of torture); various international and regional instruments, duly ratified; and the body of legislation, which included in particular a number of laws recently promulgated by the President on sexual violence, the status of GE.10-10154 3