A/HRC/44/7 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-fifth session from 20 to 31 January 2020. The review of Spain was held at the 4th meeting, on 22 January 2020. The delegation was headed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Fernando Valenzuela Marzo. At its 9th meeting, held on 24 January 2020, the Working Group adopted the report on Spain. 2. On 14 January 2020, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Spain: Bangladesh, Czechia and Nigeria. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Spain: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/35/ESP/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.6/35/ESP/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/35/ESP/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Germany, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Spain through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The delegation of Spain referred to the universal periodic review process as an essential tool for evaluating policies and legislation on human rights, and reiterated the country’s support for OHCHR. Spain had taken advantage of the third cycle to incorporate and share good practices. 6. Spain had ratified almost all of the fundamental United Nations human rights instruments, which demonstrated its strong commitment to human rights, as reflected in its Constitution, laws and policies. In its midterm report, submitted in 2018, it had summarized the progress made regarding the 189 recommendations received in 2015. 7. Civil society had actively participated in the preparation of the national report and, in order to guarantee effective participation channels, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation had opened a public consultation process through its website. Considering the important role of the legislative branch, the national report had included contributions from the lower house of the parliament of Spain. The national human rights institution had also participated throughout the process. 8. Spain had been a pioneer in aligning the universal periodic review recommendations with the Sustainable Development Goals, on the understanding that human rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development were interrelated and mutually reinforcing. Spain had organized a side event on the implementation of universal periodic review recommendations and the Sustainable Development Goals, held on the margins of the fortysecond session of the Human Rights Council. 9. From December 2015 to October 2016, and from April 2019 to January 2020, Spain had had caretaker Governments, which had made it difficult to process some initiatives regarding the implementation of recommendations. 2