A/HRC/25/13 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 seventeenth session from 21 October to 1 November 2013. The review of Belize was held at the 12th meeting on 28 October 2013. The delegation of Belize was headed by Judith Alpuche, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation. At its 18th meeting, held on 31 October 2013, the Working Group adopted the report on Belize. 2. On 14 January 2013, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Belize: Brazil, Germany and Maldives. 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 Belize: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/17/BLZ/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.6/17/BLZ/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/17/BLZ/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Germany, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Belize 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. The delegation of Belize stated that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, both at home and abroad, was a cornerstone of the State’s domestic and foreign policy. The preparation of the UPR report had provided Belize with an unparalleled opportunity to reflect on the meaning of human rights in the context of its own national development, on the status of the implementation of its international human rights obligations, and on the duty of the Government in that respect. 6. In drafting the national report, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had coordinated with the full range of ministries and with civil society partners. The report reflected inputs from the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation, the Attorney General’s Ministry, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. A number of non-governmental organizations had also been consulted during the process, including the Women’s Issues Network of Belize, the Human Rights Commission of Belize, the Belize Council of Churches, the Belize Association of Evangelical Churches, the United Belize Advocacy Movement and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). Once the final draft of the report was ready, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had convened a validation workshop with government and nongovernmental agencies to share the report and receive final comments. The report was 3