A/HRC/23/13 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 fifteenth session from 21 January to 1 February 2013. The review of the United Arab Emirates was held at the 12th meeting, held on 28 January 2013. The delegation of the United Arab Emirates was headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Anwar Mohammad Gargash. At its 16th meeting, held on 31 January 2013, the Working Group adopted the report on the United Arab Emirates. 2. On 14 January 2013, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the United Arab Emirates: Ethiopia, Germany and Thailand. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of the United Arab Emirates: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/15/ARE/1 and Corr.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.6/15/ARE/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/15/ARE/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by the Netherlands, Norway, Mexico, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to the United Arab Emirates 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. The head of the United Arab Emirates delegation noted that the UPR process represented a beacon for the cause of human rights worldwide and an unparalleled opportunity for the United Arab Emirates to promote a transparent and inclusive approach to human rights. He described steps undertaken since the 2008 UPR in order to implement the outcomes of that review, noting that, in 2010, a committee comprised of Government bodies and advisers from civil society had been set up to ensure follow-up to commitments made. The committee now acted as a permanent forum for the consultative process with civil society and had conducted a wide consultation with stakeholders in preparing the national report for the 2013 UPR. 6. The delegation recalled that at the 2008 UPR, the United Arab Emirates had accepted 36 recommendations and made 9 additional voluntary pledges, of which more than 90 per cent were implemented. The report of the United Arab Emirates for the 2013 UPR demonstrated the efforts made to act on the findings of the review, and the continuous progress achieved. 7. The delegation explained that the United Arab Emirates had a stable political system characterized by a consultative relationship between its citizens and its Government, the 3