A/HRC/12/2 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 fifth session from 4 to 15 May 2009. The review of the Central African Republic was held at the 1st meeting, on 4 May 2009. The delegation was headed by Mr. Henri Maidou, former Vice-President of the Republic, Personal Adviser to the Head of State, Director for Human Rights and Good Governance and Presiding Officer for the follow-up to the inclusive political dialogue. At its 5th meeting, on 6 May 2009, the Working Group adopted the present report on the Central African Republic. 2. On 8 September 2008, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the Central African Republic: Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Gabon. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of the Central African Republic: (a) A national report submitted in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/5/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.6/5/CAF/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/5/CAF/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Argentina, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, the Netherlands, 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 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 4 May 2009, Mr. Maidou thanked the members of the Human Rights Council for the special attention they were giving to the socio-political situation of the Central African Republic in general, and to the human rights situation in particular. 6. The drafting committee had been confronted with two obstacles in preparing the report: firstly, the country was in the throes of a military-political crisis which had paralysed all activities of State institutions; and secondly, the international financial crisis had made it even more difficult to raise funds to finance the committee’s work. However, the determination of the President of the Republic and his commitment to human rights issues had enabled the report to be completed.