A/HRC/15/6 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its eighth session from 3 to 14 May 2010. The review of Spain was held at the 5th meeting, on 5 May 2010. The delegation of Spain was headed by the Secretary of State for Constitutional and Parliamentarian Affairs, José de Francisco. At its 9th meeting, held on 7 May 2010, the Working Group adopted the report on Spain. 2. On 7 September 2009, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Spain: Chile, India and South Africa. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, 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.6/8/ESP/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.6/8/ESP/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/8/ESP/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Argentina, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Spain through the troika. Those 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. The delegation of Spain acknowledged that the preparation of the national report had allowed the Government to identify areas for improvement, raise awareness of pending issues and compare Spain’s experience with those of other United Nations Member States. It felt persuaded that the conclusions would be useful for the improvement of existing protection mechanisms. 6. Its recent history has caused Spain to closely link the protection and development of human rights to the strengthening of democracy. Fundamental rights are a core element of the rule of law. For the current Administration, the promotion of human rights is a political priority. That commitment is apparent at the international and national levels, as well as in legislative and public policy initiatives. It is also reflected in the Government’s establishment of the Ministry for Equality, which is entrusted with, among other responsibilities, the eradication of discrimination and gender-based violence. 7. At the international level, Spain has ratified most international and regional human rights treaties, including the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (2006), the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto (2007) and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (2009). Currently, Congress is acting to authorize the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 3