A/HRC/27/4 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 nineteenth session from 28 April to 9 May 2014. The review of Albania was held at the 2nd meeting, on 28 April 2014. The delegation of Albania was headed by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Filloreta Kodra. At its 10th meeting, held on 2 May 2014, the Working Group adopted the report on Albania. 2. On 15 January 2014, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Albania: Austria, Kenya and Montenegro. 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 Albania: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/19/ALB/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.6/19/ALB/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/19/ALB/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Mexico, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Albania through the troika. Those 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 Albania stated that since the first UPR cycle, Albania had improved its legal, institutional and policy framework in several human rights areas, including gender equality, the rights of women and children, combating domestic violence and human trafficking, education, health care, the justice system, combating corruption, and the rights of persons with disabilities. The Government had undertaken a series of measures to promote and protect human rights by implementing recommendations put forward during the first cycle. 6. The Ombudsman and the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination played an important role in promoting and protecting human rights. The Commissioner provided assistance to victims of discrimination by addressing individual complaints and conducting ex-officio investigations. The number of cases examined by the Commissioner had significantly increased. The Commissioner had proposed a number of legal amendments aimed at aligning domestic legislation with international standards, including amendments to the Criminal Code in view of avoiding the prosecution of victims of human trafficking. 7. The delegation reported on measures undertaken by Albania to protect the rights of women, ensure gender equality and combat domestic violence, including the adoption of 3