A/HRC/8/33 Page 3 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 first session from 7 to 18 April 2008. The review of the Czech Republic was held at the 15th meeting on 16 April 2008. The delegation of the Czech Republic was headed by H.E. Mr. Vit Schorm, Government Agent before the European Court for Human Rights, Ministry of Justice. For the composition of the delegation, see appendix below. At its 17th meeting held on 18 April 2008, the Working Group adopted the present report on the Czech Republic. 2. On 28 February 2008, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the Czech Republic: France, South Africa and Nicaragua. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of the Czech Republic: (a) A national report submitted made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/1/CZE/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.6/1/CZE/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR, in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/1/CZE/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Cuba, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to the Czech Republic 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 15th meeting, on 16 April 2008, Mr. Vit Schorm, Government Agent before the European Court for Human Rights, Ministry of Justice, introduced the national report by welcoming the opportunity offered to his delegation to discuss with the members of the Council the Government’s work to protect and promote the human rights of everyone within the jurisdiction of the Czech Republic. He reaffirmed the will of the Czech Republic to cooperate with the international community to face new challenges, to increase its knowledge and to improve subsequently the situation at the national level, and affirmed its full commitment to the success of the UPR and to its added value to existing mechanisms, which it should complement but not duplicate. 6. As a member of the Human Rights Council during its first year of existence, the Czech Republic announced that it has fulfilled all voluntary pledges and commitments it made when entering the Council. Firstly, the Czech Republic ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) in 2006. The functions of the national preventive mechanism in terms of the Optional Protocol are performed by the Public Defender of Rights. The Czech Republic also ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 2006. It signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto in 2007 and the Government established an