A/HRC/38/13 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its twenty-ninth session from 15 to 26 January 2018. The review of Montenegro was held at the 11th meeting, on 22 January 2018. The delegation of Montenegro was headed by the Deputy Prime Minister for the Political System, the Interior and Foreign Policy and Minister of Justice, Zoran Pažin. At its 17th meeting, held on 25 January 2018, the Working Group adopted the report on Montenegro. 2. On 10 January 2018, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Montenegro: Hungary, Nepal and Panama. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Montenegro: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/29/MNE/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.6/29/MNE/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/29/MNE/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Brazil, Czechia, Germany, Liechtenstein, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America was transmitted to Montenegro through the troika. These questions are available on the website 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 Montenegro stated that its national report provided an overview of the progress made and the remaining challenges for strengthening the national human rights protection system, and that it clearly reflected the commitment of Montenegro to human rights. 6. Since the previous review, Montenegro had achieved satisfactory results in the fields of judicial reform and the fight against corruption, and had taken significant steps towards the establishment of a comprehensive anti-discrimination framework. In that regard, several bodies had been set up, such as the Social Council, the Council for the Rule of Law, the Gender Equality Council, the Anti-Discrimination Council, the Council for the Care of Persons with Disabilities, and the Child Rights Council. Montenegro had also reinforced the capacity of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms and strengthened the powers of the national preventive mechanism against torture. 7. Montenegro was aware of the importance of an independent and efficient judiciary to ensure legal security and the democratic functioning of institutions. Accordingly, during the reporting period, Montenegro had undertaken reforms to strengthen the independence of the judiciary. In addition to the adoption of the Strategy for Judicial Reform 2014–2018, several new laws had been enacted to develop integrated, transparent and merit-based selection of judges and prosecutors. Access to justice had also been enhanced through the adoption of amendments to the Law on Free Legal Aid in 2015. Moreover, a centralized anti-corruption institutional framework had been built with the establishment of the AntiCorruption Agency as an autonomous, independent State institution. 8. Montenegro had made significant progress in combating discrimination through the adoption of amendments to the laws on the prohibition of discrimination, of a new Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, and of amendments 2