A/HRC/28/13 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 twentieth session from 27 October to 7 November 2014. The review of Madagascar was held at the 11th meeting, on 3 November 2014. The delegation of Madagascar was headed by Noeline Ramanantenasoa, Garde des sceaux, Ministre de la Justice. At its 17th meeting, held on 6 November 2014, the Working Group adopted the report on Madagascar. 2. On 15 January 2014, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Madagascar: Algeria, Costa Rica and Indonesia. 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 Madagascar: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/20/MDG/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.6/20/MDG/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/20/MDG/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America was transmitted to Madagascar through the troika. Those questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review (UPR). I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The delegation of Madagascar, headed by Noeline Ramanantenasoa, Minister of Justice, indicated that the national report had been prepared by the Interministerial Committee for the Drafting of Human Rights Reports, with the assistance of all stakeholders at national and regional level and representatives of civil society organizations. The implementation of the recommendations had been greatly affected by the crisis of 2009 as well as by the sanctions taken against Madagascar and their negative effects on all sectors. However, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other bilateral and multilateral partners, it had been possible to implement certain recommendations. Others had been rejected, including the dismantling of the Special Intervention Force ordered by the Council of Ministers following the investiture of the President of the fourth Republic; the consideration by the Government Council and Council of Ministers of the bill ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, and the tabling before the National Assembly of the private parliamentary bill abolishing the death penalty. GE.14-24933 3