A/HRC/24/16 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 sixteenth session from 22 April to 3 May 2013. The review of Cuba was held at the 16th meeting on 1 May 2013. The delegation of Cuba was headed by Bruno Rodríguez Parilla, Minister for Foreign Affairs. At its 18th meeting, held on 3 May 2013, the Working Group adopted the report on Cuba. 2. On 14 January 2013, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Cuba: Guatemala, Montenegro and Thailand. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Cuba: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/16/CUB/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.6/16/CUB/2 and Corr.1). (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/16/CUB/3 and Corr.1). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by the Czech Republic, Germany, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Cuba through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review (UPR). I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The delegation of Cuba indicated that the economic, political and media blockade imposed by the United States of America was a mass, flagrant and systematic violation of human rights which caused damages, scarcities and hardships, but had not managed to hinder the provision of equal opportunities, the equitable distribution of wealth or the realization of social justice. 6. The relentless attempts by the United States to impose a “change of regime” on the Cuban people was a serious violation of its right to self-determination, which had failed to prevent the active, democratic and direct participation of its citizens in the construction of its constitutional order, in the decisions adopted by its Government and in the election of its authorities. 7. Cuba was a State where there had not been a single extrajudicial execution, and where there were no tortured or disappeared persons. 8. The national report was the result of a broad and participatory process of consultations which had involved several governmental institutions, the Parliament, several civil society organizations and other relevant institutions. 9. Significant economic and social changes had taken place since the first presentation by Cuba before the UPR mechanism in 2009. The country had moved forward in the process of institutional development; Cuba had continued to improve citizens’ participation 3