A/HRC/10/71 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 third session from 1 to 15 December 2008. The review of Burundi was held at the 3rd meeting, on 2 December 2008. The delegation of Burundi was headed by Her Excellency, Ms. Immaculée Nahayo. At its meeting on 4 December 2008, the Working Group adopted the present report. 2. On 8 September 2008, the Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Burundi: Mauritius, India and Cuba. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Burundi: (a) A national report submitted made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/3/BDI/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.6/3/BDI/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR, in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/3/BDI/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Burundi 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. On 2 December 2008, at the third session of the Working Group, Ms. Immaculée Nahayo, Minister for Solidarity, Human Rights and Gender, introduced the national report and gave a presentation which should be considered an integral part of the report. She said that peace was gradually being restored in Burundi following the signing of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi in 2000 and subsequent agreements. The institutions set up in the country following the elections of August 2005 had a mandate to establish the rule of law, with human rights as a priority. 6. The minister drew attention to the many conventions and international and regional treaties on human rights and international humanitarian law, as well as those on the right to peace, development and a healthy environment, to which Burundi was a party. 7. Burundi had done its best to improve the situation of economic, social and cultural rights, particularly with regard to the population’s standard of living, education and health. Many efforts had been made to boost agricultural production, jobs and revenues, and the budget increases required, among other things, to eradicate hunger had been implemented.