A/HRC/36/14 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its twenty-seventh session from 1 to 12 May 2017. The review of Poland was held at the 13th meeting, on 9 May 2017. The delegation of Poland was headed by the Under-Secretary of State and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Renata Szczech. At its 17th meeting, held on 11 May 2017, the Working Group adopted the report on Poland. 2. On 13 February 2017, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Poland: Hungary, India and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Poland: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/27/POL/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.6/27/POL/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/27/POL/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America was transmitted to Poland through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. Poland, a candidate for the 2020-2022 term of the Human Rights Council, considered human rights to be an issue of utmost importance. Since 2001, Poland had cooperated fully with all special procedures and continued to extend to them a standing invitation to visit Poland at their convenience. 6. The national report of Poland had been drafted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the basis of contributions from various governmental agencies responsible for fulfilling human rights-related obligations domestically. In drafting the report, Poland had strived to make the entire process as transparent as possible, duly notifying members of parliament of its course and organizing an information meeting with representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to listen to any comments and concerns. Contributions had also been received from the Ombudsman (Human Rights Commissioner) and the Ombudsman for Children. 7. Since the previous review, in 2012, Poland had signed and ratified a number of international conventions. 8. Poland was particularly concerned with protecting children’s rights. In 2015, major amendments had been made to the Polish Family and Guardianship Code, elevating the protection of children. Those changes had served to eliminate automatic decisions that limit the custody rights of a parent during divorce or separation, and replace them with the child’s guaranteed right to both parents. As such, decisions to restrict parental custody rights were taken only in extreme circumstances. 2