A/HRC/29/17 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 Kuwait was held at the 16th meeting on 28 January 2015. The delegation of Kuwait was headed by Hend Subaih Al-Subaih, Minister of Social Affairs and Labour/Minister of State for Planning and Development. At its 18th meeting, held on 30 January 2015, the Working Group adopted the report on Kuwait. 2. On 13 January 2015, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Kuwait: Bolivia (Plurinational State of), India and South Africa. 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 Kuwait: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation prepared in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/21/KWT/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.6/21/KWT/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/21/KWT/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, the Czech Republic, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Kuwait 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. The Minister of Social Affairs and Labour/Minister of State for Planning and Development stated that, although basic principles of human rights were enshrined in the Constitution and laws issued for its implementation, UPR recommendations had led to progress in that field. Kuwait considered the interactive dialogue to be a process for exchanging views that could reinforce mutual understanding with the Working Group. 6. The Minister highlighted that, in seeking to follow up on its international human rights obligations and commitments, Kuwait had established a standing committee to prepare all national reports on human rights and supervise the follow-up. The second national report had been prepared by all government agencies, in coordination with civil society and non-profit organizations. 7. Since the previous review in 2010, Kuwait had established national mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights. The National Assembly’s Committee for the Defence of Human Rights was one of them. The Government had drawn up a bill to establish an independent human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles and also drafted three bills emanating from the voluntary pledges or UPR recommendations received in 2010. Those bills were related to the rights of the child, the establishment of a Family Court, and juveniles. 3