A/HRC/26/8 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 eighteenth session from 27 January to 7 February 2014. The review of Yemen was held at the 6th meeting on 29 January 2014. The delegation of Yemen was headed by Hooria Mashhoyr Ahmed, Minister for Human Rights. At its 10th meeting held on 31 January 2014, the Working Group adopted the report on Yemen. 2. On 15 January 2014, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Yemen: the Congo, the Czech Republic and Viet Nam. 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 Yemen: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/18/YEM/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.6/18/YEM/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/18/YEM/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Liechtenstein, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island and the United States of America was transmitted to Yemen 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 head of the delegation expressed deep appreciation for the support for the respect, promotion and protection of human rights in Yemen demonstrated directly or indirectly by the international community. She also expressed appreciation for the followup by various treaty bodies. 6. The delegation stated that there had been substantial developments since the submission of the first UPR report in 2009. Key among them was the outbreak of the young people’s popular revolution as part of the Arab Spring events that began in late 2010 and persisted in diverse forms, with the people pitting themselves against forces fiercely determined to stifle change and prevent the attainment of desired goals. Those forces could never succeed, since the people had tasted freedom and sacrificed some of their finest offspring. The delegation counted on the continued support of the international community for the people’s choices and their right to systems of good governance that protected their rights and freedoms and achieved justice. 7. The delegation highlighted that the Working Group had no doubt that the realization and promotion of human rights were closely linked to the rules and principles of good 3