A/HRC/14/2 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 Qatar was held at the 1st meeting, on 8 February 2010. The delegation of Qatar was headed by H.E. Mr. Ahmad Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Council of Ministers. At its 5th meeting, held on 10 February 2010, the Working Group adopted the report on Qatar. 2. On 7 September 2009, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Qatar: Gabon, Hungary and Japan. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Qatar: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/7/QAT/1) and (A/HRC/WG.6/7/QAT/1/Corr.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/QAT/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/7/QAT/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Argentina, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Qatar through the troika. The 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 delegation considered that the review process was an important way to fulfil Qatar’s human rights obligations at the national level. The national report was the result of a broad consultative process and expanded partnership with all categories and sections of society, as well as with related stakeholders. 6. The promotion and protection of human rights constituted the backbone of Qatar’s comprehensive constitutional, economic, social and cultural reform policy, as emphasized in the comprehensive development vision, Qatar National Vision 2030, which was approved in 2008 and included important topics relating to key human rights issues in the areas of education, health, the environment, rights of expatriate workers, women's empowerment, the rights of the child, the elderly and the disabled. 7. The Constitution embodied the main principles steering Qatar’s policy, including its emphasis on the principles of the separation of powers, the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and fundamental rights and freedoms. The third chapter of the Constitution was devoted to fundamental rights and freedoms, and guaranteed economic, social, cultural, civil, political and collective rights, such as the right to development. Constitution article 146 stipulated that human rights provisions and public freedoms may not be amended, except where the objective was to provide more guarantees to citizens. Fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution had been promoted through the issuance of a set of national laws. 3