A/HRC/8/20 Page 3 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), established in accordance with Human Rights Council decision 5/1 of 18 June 2006, held its first session from 7 to 18 April 2008. The review of Ecuador was held at the second meeting held on 7 April 2008. The delegation of Ecuador was headed by H.E. Mr. Gustavo Jalkh, Minister of Justice and Human Rights. At its sixth meeting held on 9 April 2008, the Working Group adopted the present report on Ecuador. 2. On 28 February 2008, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Ecuador: Italy, Mexico, and India. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Ecuador: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/1/ECU/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.6/1/ECU/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR, in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/1/ECU/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by States members and observers of the Human Rights Council was transmitted to Ecuador through the troika. I. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE REVIEW PROCESS A. Presentation by the State under review 5. At the 2nd meeting, on 7 April 2008, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Ecuador, H.E. Mr. Gustavo Jalkh, introduced the national report of Ecuador. He noted that Ecuador is a party to the main human rights international instruments and that most recently, on 3 April 2008, Ecuador had deposited its ratification to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol. Ecuador is also up to date with the presentation of reports to the treaty monitoring bodies. He further emphasized that Ecuador is a founding member of the Human Rights Council (HRC) and in 2002, extended an open invitation to the special procedures to visit the country. In the last six years, Ecuador has received five visits of special procedures. 6. Ecuador has also established internal mechanisms for the effective protection and promotion of human rights. It has adopted a national human rights action plan, which is currently in the process of being evaluated. The recently established Ministry of Justice and Human Rights coordinates State actions to guarantee the effective implementation of human rights and, together with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, will be updating the national human rights action plan to reflect current priorities and challenges in an operational manner, and to be able to measure progress. Ecuador has ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and in 2006, set up the National Commission on Humanitarian Law but still faces the challenge of reforming the legislation on state of emergencies in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law. 7. The Constitution recognizes the right to life as a fundamental right, and there is no death penalty in Ecuador. On the issue of eradication of torture, Ecuador has ratified the Convention