A/HRC/8/35 Page 3 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), 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 Gabon was held at the first meeting on 5 May 2008. The delegation of Gabon was headed by Mr. Dieudonné Ndiaye, chargé d’affaire ad interim, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Gabon. For the composition of the delegation, composed of six members, see annex below. At its fifth meeting held on 7 May 2008, the Working Group adopted the present report on Gabon. 2. On 28 February 2008, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Gabon: Nigeria, China, and Azerbaijan. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Gabon: (a) A national report submitted in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/2/GAB/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/GAB/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR, in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/2/GAB/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Sweden and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and was transmitted to Gabon through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the UPR. I. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE REVIEW PROCESS A. Presentation by the State under review 5. At the first meeting, on 5 May 2008, the representative of Gabon introduced the national report. The representative of Gabon stated that under the authority of the Ministry for Human Rights, a Committee, which includes representative of Governments, national institutions, and representative of the civil society, is especially entrusted with the preparation of reports to the treaty bodies and with other related tasks like the dissemination of reports, analysis and recommendations. National human rights legislation is specifically oriented against all forms of abuse and covers all citizens working in Gabon. Furthermore, no execution has been carried out since 1980 and the death penalty has been abolished. 6. Gabon also ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1994 and recently launched a campaign, with the assistance of WHO and UNICEF, to raise awareness of health, child and maternal mortality. A number of projects, including one on the transmission of AIDS from mother to child, are now being carried out throughout the country. UNICEF and Gabon are cooperating for the vaccination of all children under five against tuberculosis, poliomyelitis and tetanus and other transmissible diseases. 7. With regard to the exploitation of children, Gabon has since 1994 set up a comprehensive legal framework, which includes a number of laws and decrees concerning trafficking in children, child labour and the establishment of an observatory to ensure cooperation with international