A/HRC/26/14 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 Cyprus was held at the 13th meeting on 4 February 2014. The delegation of Cyprus was headed by Leda Koursoumba, Law Commissioner. At its 17th meeting, held on 6 February 2014, the Working Group adopted the report on Cyprus. 2. On 15 January 2014, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Cyprus: Republic of Korea, United States of America, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 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 Cyprus: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/18/CYP/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/CYP/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/18/CYP/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Cyprus through the troika. The 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 Law Commissioner presented the national report. She underlined that Cyprus attributes great significance to the UPR process as the principal human rights protection mechanism. 6. Since the first review cycle, there had been significant developments regarding compliance by Cyprus with human rights instruments. Many laws had been enacted and policies adopted, and several national action plans had been initiated. Independent control mechanisms had been established by law, such as the National Independent Authority for Human Rights, the Independent Mechanism for the Promotion, Protection and Monitoring of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Independent authorities had been created, such as the Commissioner for Humanitarian Issues, and existing mechanisms such as the Commissioner for Children’s Rights, the Anti-Discrimination Body, the National Machinery of Women’s Rights and the Police Office for Combating Discrimination had further promoted their scope and actions. Cyprus had also transposed a number of European Union (EU) directives. 3