A/HRC/8/43 Page 3 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 second session from 5 to 19 May 2008. The review of Zambia was held at the 9th meeting on 9 May 2008. The delegation of Zambia was headed by Mrs. Gertrude M.K. Imbwae, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Zambia. For the composition of the delegation, composed of 19 members, see annex below. At its 13th meeting held on 14 May 2008, the Working Group adopted the present report on Zambia. 2. On 28 February 2008, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of Rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Zambia: Senegal, Switzerland and the Philippines. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Zambia: (a) A national report submitted in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/2/ZAB/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.6/2/ZAB/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR, in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/2/ZAB/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, Latvia, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and was transmitted to Zambia through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW. I. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE REVIEW PROCESS A. Presentation by the State under review 5. At the 9th meeting, on 9 May 2008, Mrs. Gertrude M.K. Imbwae, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Head of Delegation of Zambia, presented the national report and indicated that it had been prepared by the Government through the Ministry of Justice. Broad national consultations were undertaken and inputs from stakeholders, including civil society, were incorporated into the draft report and thereafter validated through the same process. She indicated that Zambia took note of the Working Group’s advance questions to the national report and responded to them. With regard to Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom’s question on how the issue of the death penalty will be dealt with in the ongoing revision of the Constitution, she indicated that in the year 2002, a constitutional review commission was appointed to collect public opinion, inter alia, on the abolition or retention of capital punishment in Zambia’s statutes. Its report and the draft constitution are currently being considered by the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) which was established in 2007. In response to a question by Denmark on gender-based violence bill, it was indicated that the Zambia Law Development Commission has been tasked with carrying out research and consultations on legislation pertaining to gender gender-based violence. The Commission has established a 15-member committee which consists of both Government and civil society organizations and is chaired by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. According to the Commission’s programme of activities, it is hoped that a bill will be in place by the end of