A/HRC/10/29 VI. Universal periodic review 261. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 60/251, Council resolution 5/1 and the President’s statements on modalities and practices for the universal periodic review process (A/HRC/PRST/8/1 and A/HRC/PRST/9/2), the Council considered the outcome of the reviews conducted during the third session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, held from 1 to 15 December 2008. A. Consideration of universal periodic review outcomes 262. In accordance with paragraph 4.3 of President’s statement 8/1, the section below contains a summary of the views expressed on the outcome by States under review, Member and observer States of the Council, as well as general comments made by other relevant stakeholders before the adoption of the outcome by the plenary. 1. Botswana 263. The review of Botswana was held on 1 December 2008, in conformity with all the relevant provisions contained in Council resolution 5/1, and was based on the national report submitted by Botswana in accordance with the annex to Council resolution 5/1, paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/3/BWA/1); the compilation prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/3/BWA/2); and the summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/3/BWA/3). 264. At its 27th meeting, on 18 March 2009, the Council considered and adopted the outcome of the review on Botswana (see section C below). 265. The outcome of the review on Botswana comprises the report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (A/HRC/10/69), the views of Botswana concerning the recommendations and/or conclusions, and its voluntary commitments and replies presented before the adoption of the outcome by the plenary to questions or issues that were not sufficiently addressed during the interactive dialogue in the Working Group (see also A/HRC/10/69/Add.1). (a) Views expressed by the State under review on the recommendations and/or conclusions as well as on its voluntary commitments and on the outcome 266. Botswana stated that it approached the review process with an open and transparent spirit and that it undertook to consider all the recommendations made at a later stage with a view to reflect on all of them carefully and constructively. To this end, Botswana was able to engage all relevant stakeholders. Botswana noted the circulation of the detailed responses during the meeting. It noted that most of the recommendations were currently being implemented by the Government and that the acceptance to some of these recommendations was on this basis. 267. The delegation stated that consultations for the establishment of an independent national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles had been concluded and that the relevant recommendations would be submitted to cabinet for consideration. Botswana currently had several institutions that directly addressed human rights issues, including the Department of Social Services for Children’s Welfare, the Department of Women Affairs for Gender Issues and the Independent Electoral Commission for Universal Suffrage. GE.09-17451 127