A/HRC/26/15 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 eighteenth session from 27 January to 7 February 2014. The review of the Dominican Republic was held at the 15th meeting on 5 February 2014. The delegation of the Dominican Republic was headed by Alejandra Liriano de la Cruz, Vice Minister of Foreign Relations. At its 18th meeting held on 7 February 2014, the Working Group adopted the report on the Dominican Republic. 2. On 15 January 2014, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the Dominican Republic: Gabon, India and Peru. 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 the Dominican Republic: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/18/DOM/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.6/18/DOM/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/18/DOM/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Liechtenstein, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was transmitted to the Dominican Republic through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review (UPR). I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. In the introductory remarks, the delegation of the Dominican Republic presented its compliments to the distinguished Members of the Human Rights Council and the Working Group in the presentation of its follow-up second-cycle report, and extended a greeting to the States represented, international organizations and NGOs present. 6. Regarding the Dominican domestic legal framework, the delegation reported that since 2010, the State had been governed by a new Constitutional text which ensured more broadly fundamental rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural, collective and environmental. It also noted the constitutional block, which consisted of provisions of equal hierarchy emanating from the Constitution, constitutional law and international law. 7. The delegation mentioned a number of laws and regulations regarding development and the rights of persons with disabilities, and referred to several normative advances such as: the amendment to the Dominican Penal Code (addressing aspects such as crimes against humanity, domestic violence, feminicide, forced disappearance, racial segregation and slavery); the ratification of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or 3