A/HRC/14/10 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 seventh session from 8 to 19 February 2010. The review of Kazakhstan was held at the 9th meeting, on 12 February 2010. The delegation of Kazakhstan was headed the Deputy Prime Minster, Yerbol Orynbayev. At its 13th meeting, held on 16 February 2010, the Working Group adopted the report on Kazakhstan. 2. On 7 September 2009, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Kazakhstan: Bangladesh, Cuba and Mauritius. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Kazakhstan: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/7/KAZ/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.6/7/KAZ/2) and A/HRC/WG.6/7/KAZ/2/Corr.1; (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/7/KAZ/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Argentina, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Kazakhstan through the troika. Those questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process 5. During the interactive dialogue, 54 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are found in section II of the present report. A. Presentation by the State under review 6. At the 9th meeting, on 12 February 2010, the Deputy Prime Minister noted, during his presentation of the national report, that the universal periodic review provides an effective interactive platform for exchanging views and sharing experiences in the area of human rights protection. 7. Since the early days of its independence, Kazakhstan has recognized the centrality of its people and of human rights and freedoms. It has made steady progress in the transition from a country with a command economy controlled by a totalitarian political system to a modern State with an open market economy and a liberal political system. Structural reforms, including the privatization of State property, land and housing, ensured robust economic growth over the past 10 years, which in turn contributed to a fourfold decline in the number of people with incomes below the poverty line, from 50 to 12 per cent. 8. Economic growth, poverty reduction and policy reforms have increased the wellbeing of citizens in many respects, including the enjoyment of the right to affordable housing, increased life expectancy, 100 per cent enrolment in secondary schools, a modern pension system and social assistance for families living below the poverty line. Kazakhstan 3