A/HRC/30/12 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its twenty-second session from 4 to 15 May 2015. The review of the United States of America was held at the 11th meeting, on 11 May 2015. The delegation of the United States was headed by the United States Ambassador to the Human Rights Council, Keith Harper, and the Acting Legal Adviser, Department of State, Mary McLeod. At its 17th meeting, held on 15 May 2015, the Working Group adopted the report on the United States. 2. On 13 January 2015, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the United States: Botswana, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia. 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 the United States: (a) A national report (A/HRC/WG.6/22/USA/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (A/HRC/WG.6/22/USA/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR (A/HRC/WG.6/22/USA/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Azerbaijan, Belgium, China, Cuba, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to the United States through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the Working Group. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The co-head of the United States delegation, Keith Harper, noted the importance of the universal periodic review mechanism and expressed pride in the record of the United States and its acknowledgement of its imperfections. He welcomed civil society’s presence and engagement. 6. He highlighted the announcement of support of the United States for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as further explained in its statement of support and its enactment of laws to empower tribal governments to provide for public safety and to protect Native American women against domestic violence and sexual assault. 7. The other co-head of the United States delegation, Mary McLeod, noted that the United States had carefully considered the recommendations accepted from fellow States Members of the United Nations during its first universal periodic review and had taken many steps to implement them. 8. Ms. McLeod provided an outline of the democratic system in the United States, which allows for scrutiny, advocacy and debate to fuel progress and reform. She outlined federal efforts to end violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, to prosecute crimes motivated by bias, to prohibit discrimination in 3