A/HRC/41/15 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-second session from 21 January to 1 February 2019. The review of Cyprus was held at the 13th meeting, on 29 January 2019. The delegation of Cyprus was headed by the Law Commissioner of Cyprus, Leda Koursoumba. At its 17th meeting, held on 31 January 2019, the Working Group adopted the report on Cyprus. 2. On 15 January 2019, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Cyprus: Austria, Nepal and Uruguay. 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 Cyprus: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/32/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.6/32/CYP/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/32/CYP/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Germany, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national implementation, reporting and follow-up, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America was transmitted to Cyprus 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 stated that the national report had been prepared by the Law Commission in close cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, government departments, independent authorities and monitoring mechanisms. The Government was grateful for the participation of civil society organizations in the process of adopting legislative acts, strategies and action plans presented in the national report. 6. Cyprus had taken significant steps in further promoting human rights despite the 2013 financial crisis and challenges arising from migratory flows. The Government’s commitment to promoting human rights had been enhanced by the establishment of a Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Justice. Cyprus had also been one of the first countries to undergo a voluntary national review on its implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 7. In line with its commitment to implementing Sustainable Development Goal 5, the National Action Plan for Gender Equality (2018–2021) aimed to implement the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, focusing primarily on protecting and empowering vulnerable groups of women. 8. The Equality Unit of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order and the National Mechanism for Women’s Rights played a leading role in the overall promotion of gender equality. A Commissioner for Gender Equality had been appointed to further advance women’s rights. The reform of the Family Law, with a view to its full harmonization with the international and European human rights instruments, was one of the Government’s priorities. 2