A/HRC/8/21 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 first session from 7 to 18 April 2008. The review of Tunisia was held at the 3rd meeting held on 8 April 2008. The delegation of Tunisia was headed by H.E. Mr. Béchir Tekkari, Minister of Justice and Human Rights. At its 7th meeting held on 10 April 2008, the Working Group adopted the present report on Tunisia. 2. On 28 February 2008, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of Rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Tunisia: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mauritius and China. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Tunisia: (a) A national report submitted in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/1/TUN/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/1/TUN/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR, in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/1/TUN/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Canada, Denmark, Djibouti, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Netherlands, Sweden and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Tunisia 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. At the third meeting, on 8 April 2008, H.E. Mr. Béchir Tekkari, Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Tunisia, introduced the national report. The Minister recalled that a few weeks ago, Tunisia’s fifth periodic report was examined by the Human Rights Committee and welcomed the discussion of the Working Group on UPR on Tunisia’s contributions to the United Nations Human Rights Council mechanisms. The Minister reiterated Tunisia’s willingness to cooperate in the area of human rights with all mechanisms and recalled that since its independence, Tunisia has put great efforts in the area of human rights. In particular, it was noted that Tunisia abolished slavery in 1846 and has now ratified almost all relevant regional and international human rights instruments. For Tunisia, the promotion and protection of human rights is an ongoing process which requires consolidated efforts. 6. The Minister also highlighted Tunisia’s commitment to objectively and constructively contribute, at the level of examination and follow-up to its report, to promoting the UPR mechanism’s modalities and objectives, as contained in General Assembly resolution 60/251, which includes “ensuring universality, objectivity and non-selectivity in the consideration of human rights issues” and making sure that “the promotion and protection of human rights [are] based on the principles of cooperation and genuine dialogue”. In the introduction of its report, Tunisia asserted that it “will pursue, in 2008, its commitment to act for the promotion and respect of human rights, and to develop its cooperation with all the concerned parties at the national, regional and international levels. In addition to the measures and initiatives mentioned in the report, Tunisia will