A/HRC/13/2 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 sixth session from 30 November to 11 December 2009. The review of Eritrea was held at the 1st meeting on 30 November 2009. The delegation of Eritrea was headed by Dr. Girmai Abraham, Economic Advisor in the Ministry of National Development. At its 5th meeting held on 2 December 2009, the Working Group adopted the present report on Eritrea. 2. On 7 September 2009, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Eritrea: Angola, Italy 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 Eritrea: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/ERI/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.6/6/ERI/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/ERI/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Argentina, the Czech Republic, Latvia and the Netherlands was transmitted to Eritrea through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the Working Group. I. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE REVIEW PROCESS A. Presentation by the State under review 5. At the first meeting of the sixth session of the Working Group, on 30 November 2009, the delegation of Eritrea led by. Dr. Girmai Abraham, Economic Advisor in the Ministry of National Development, introduced the report, indicating that Eritrea viewed this exercise as an important vehicle for presenting its record on human rights, both achievements and challenges. 6. The delegation underlined that the strong belief of both the people and the Government of Eritrea in, among other things, the right to life, liberty and security of the human person, was deeply rooted in the culture and history of the country. No people without such a belief would have paid such a high price as the people of Eritrea did to secure that right for themselves. Even during the most trying and harshest times of the independence struggle, the then Eritrean People’s Liberation Front accorded humane treatment to Ethiopian prisoners of war. It did so out as a matter of principle and with a compelling vision as to the future relations between the two neighbouring countries. 7. The delegation indicated that, notwithstanding the fact that Eritrea’s independence was won through military victory, the then Transitional Government of Eritrea had chosen in 1991 not to