A/HRC/39/14 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirtieth session from 7 to 18 May 2018. The review of Azerbaijan was held at the 13th meeting, on 15 May 2018. The delegation of Azerbaijan was headed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Khalaf Khalafov. At its 17th meeting, held on 17 May 2018, the Working Group adopted the report on Azerbaijan. 2. On 10 January 2018, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Azerbaijan: Ecuador, Slovenia and United Arab Emirates. 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 Azerbaijan: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/30/AZE/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.6/30/AZE/2 and Corr.1); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/30/AZE/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Armenia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Liechtenstein, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and Uruguay was transmitted to Azerbaijan through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. Azerbaijan noted that the universal periodic review was an effective format for consideration of the third national report of Azerbaijan, enabling the country to provide full information on the activities carried out and measures taken for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the promotion of dialogue and the sharing of experience. 6. Azerbaijan was a party to the main international legal instruments in the field of human rights and regularly submitted reports to the relevant United Nations treaty bodies on their implementation. At the Council’s thirty-fifth session, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights had cited Azerbaijan among the 34 countries that had fulfilled their reporting obligations in a timely manner. Azerbaijan was also among the 15 countries that had submitted midterm reports on the first two cycles of the universal periodic review. 7. Azerbaijan had sent a standing invitation to all special procedure mandate holders, recognizing their important role in facilitating cooperation and dialogue with Member States. 8. As a result of a referendum held in 2016, amendments had been made to the Constitution aimed at further strengthening the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the formation of an effective and flexible mechanism of public administration and ensuring the effectiveness of economic reforms. 9. In 2017, the Presidential decree on improving the efficiency of the penitentiary system had been signed. The decree aimed at developing the penitentiary system through the humanization of penal policy and also ensured the application of complex institutional, legislative and practical measures for the liberalization of criminal law policy, including the 2