A/HRC/40/12 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-first session from 5 to 16 November 2018. The review of the Central African Republic was held at the 9th meeting, on 9 November 2018. The delegation of the Central African Republic was headed by the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Protection, Jean-Christophe Nguinza. At its 14th meeting, held on 13 November 2018, the Working Group adopted the report on the Central African Republic. 2. On 10 January 2018, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the Central African Republic: Angola, Pakistan and Slovenia. 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 the Central African Republic: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/31/CAF/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.6/31/CAF/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/31/CAF/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Liechtenstein, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national implementation, reporting and follow-up), Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to the Central African Republic 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. The delegation thanked the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic for its support in preparing for the third universal periodic review. 6. Since 2013, the military and political crises faced by the Central African Republic had adversely affected its capacity to respond to challenges related to human rights and international humanitarian law. There had been a resurgence of serious crime and mass human rights violations by armed groups, primarily targeting the most vulnerable groups of the population. The conflict had resulted in thousands of deaths and internally displaced persons and refugees. 7. The absence of State authority, particularly in the judicial system, in the areas controlled by rebel groups had given rise to countless abuses and acts of violence and the application of vigilante justice. The Government had taken a number of measures to address the situation as soon as constitutional legality had been restored. 8. The Special Criminal Court had been established under Act No. 15.003 of 3 June 2015 in order to prosecute the perpetrators, co-perpetrators and accomplices of the serious human rights violations committed in the country since 2003. There had been a number of significant advances, including the appointment in 2017 and 2018 of national and international judges, court clerks and secretaries and members of the Court’s Special Unit of the Judicial Police, as well as the adoption by the National Assembly on 29 May 2018 of the Act on the rules of evidence and procedure of the Court, which had been immediately 2 GE.19-00176