A/HRC/30/10 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its twenty-second session from 4 to 15 May 2015. The review of Bulgaria was held at the 8th meeting, on 7 May 2015. The delegation of Bulgaria was headed by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Katia Todorova. At its 14th meeting, held on 12 May 2015, the Working Group adopted the report on Bulgaria. 2. On 13 January 2015, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Bulgaria: Côte d’Ivoire, Ireland and Pakistan. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Bulgaria: (a) A national report (A/HRC/WG.6/22/BGR/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (A/HRC/WG.6/22/BGR/2); (c) Summary prepared by OHCHR (A/HRC/WG.6/22/BGR/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Liechtenstein, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Bulgaria through the troika.1 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 delegation stated that the national report had been prepared through a cooperative and transparent process with the participation of relevant State bodies and based on the valuable input of civil society representatives. The draft was published on the official page of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for broad public discussions. 6. Since its first universal periodic review, the Government has made efforts to implement the recommendations of the review and to enhance the capacity of the human rights mechanisms. Bulgaria submitted a voluntary midterm report in 2013. The delegation highlighted the significant progress achieved in strengthening the institutional and legislative framework for the promotion and protection of human rights. 7. In 2013, the National Coordination Mechanism on Human Rights was established in order to improve coordination among the relevant authorities and representatives of civil society in implementing the international human rights obligations of Bulgaria. Bulgaria introduced the practice of establishing working groups in the process of follow-up to the universal periodic review recommendations. The national human rights institutions had served as members of those working groups. 1 Circulation by the universal periodic review secretariat of the advanced questions submitted by Sweden was delayed owing to technical reasons. 3