A/HRC/11/22* 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 fourth session from 2 to 13 February 2009. The review of Cuba was held at the 8th meeting on 5 February 2009. The delegation of Cuba was headed by H.E. Mrs. María Esther Reus González. Minister of Justice. At its meeting held on 9 February 2009, the Working Group adopted the present report on Cuba. 2. On 8 September 2008, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Cuba: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gabon and Uruguay. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Cuba: (a) A national report submitted made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/4/CUB/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.6/4/CUB/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR, in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/4/CUB/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was transmitted to Cuba through the troika. These questions, as well as the answers from Cuba, 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. H.E. Mrs. María Esther Reus, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Cuba, presented the report, which resulted from a wide and participative national process of consultations that involved all stakeholders. 6. This process coincided with the 50th anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, a historic event that allowed all Cubans to fully enjoy all of their human rights. 7. The profound transformations taken up by the Revolution ensured the eradication of the structural injustices inherited from the colonial and neo-colonial periods. 8. The Cuban people, in the exercise of its right to self-determination, set up a truly representative and genuinely autochthonous political system which would guarantee real participation by all the people in the exercise of public power. 9. The Cuban political system respects and promotes the widest plurality of ideas, guaranteeing ways and means for participation and debate. 10. The key quality of the Cuban political system is its capacity for permanent improvement by full, genuine and periodic participation by the people. 11. The Constitution of the Republic – approved by the positive vote of 98 per cent of the electorate – establishes the basis and principles of the Cuban State. GE.09-16273 3