A/HRC/17/15 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its tenth session from 24 January to 4 February 2011. The review of Niger was held at the 13th meeting on 1 February 2011. The delegation of Niger was headed by Abdoulaye Djibo, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Keeper of the Seals. At its 17th meeting, held on 4 February 2011, the Working Group adopted the report on Niger. 2. On 21 June 2010, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Niger: Angola, Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Niger: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/10/NER/1 and Corr.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.6/10/NER/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/10/NER/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Niger 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. Abdoulaye Djibo, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Keeper of the Seals, said that since the establishment of the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy on 18 February 2010, Niger’s supreme authorities had been endeavouring to meet the three basic commitments made to the Nigerian people: restoration of democracy, reform of public finances and national reconciliation. 6. The first commitment was being met by adhering to the electoral timetable: holding of a constitutional referendum on 31 October 2010; adoption of a new Constitution; regional and municipal elections on 10 and 11 January 2011; and, since 31 January 2011, first round of the presidential and legislative elections. Action with regard to the other two commitments depended on the commissions set up to that end. 7. The Universal Periodic Review process had been conducted in a participatory and inclusive fashion and the national report was divided into seven chapters some of which had been drawn up by the delegation. 8. Niger placed a human-rights based approach at the centre of all its political strategies and development projects and programmes, and it was supported in that process by civil society organizations and its development partners. 9. Niger had ratified most of the basic international human rights instruments and, in so doing, the State had agreed to respect the obligations arising from them and to give GE.11-12306 3