A/HRC/12/14 Page 3 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 fifth session from 4 to 15 May 2009. The review of Vanuatu was held at the 13th meeting, on 12 May 2009. The delegation was headed by Ms. Roline Lesines, Labour Department, Vice-Chairperson of the Vanuatu UPR Committee. At its 17th meeting, on 15 May 2009, the Working Group adopted the present report on Vanuatu. 2. On 8 September 2008, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Vanuatu: Chile, Djibouti and India. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Vanuatu: (a) A national report submitted in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/5/VUT/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/5/VUT/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/5/VUT/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Vanuatu through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the UPR. I. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE REVIEW PROCESS A. Presentation by the State under review 5. At the 13th meeting, Roline Lesines of the Department of Labour, Vice-Chairperson of the Vanuatu UPR Committee, introducing the report, said that before independence, there were three different sets of laws operating in the New Hebrides: the French Civil Code, applicable to French citizens; the English Common Law, applicable to British subjects; and the Joint Regulation, applicable to indigenous people. The New Hebrides became known as Vanuatu after its independence in 1980. 6. Vanuatu is a democratic country, with a population of approximately 235,077. The Constitution provides for parliamentary elections based on universal suffrage every four years. The Parliament elects the Prime Minister and an electoral college comprised of Members of Parliament and the Presidents of the six Provincial Government Councils elect the President of the Republic, who has largely ceremonial powers, for a five-year term. 7. As a small island developing State and a least developed country, Vanuatu has always tried its utmost to respect and promote the rights of its people. The fundamental principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are enshrined in its Constitution and Vanuatu has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and its Optional Protocol, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,