A/HRC/33/5 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its twenty-fifth session from 2 to 13 May 2016. The review of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was held at the 2nd meeting on 2 May 2016. The delegation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was headed by the Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations, Inga Rhonda King. At its 8th meeting held on 6 May 2016, the Working Group adopted the report on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. 2. On 12 January 2016, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Latvia, Mexico and Mongolia. 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 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/25/VCT/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.6/25/VCT/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/25/VCT/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Liechtenstein, Mexico, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review.1 Additional questions raised during the dialogue by Costa Rica, Jamaica, Montenegro and Uruguay are summarized in section I B below. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The delegation noted that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines looked forward to engaging with the international community during the review process. It hoped to bring a fuller appreciation of the practical challenges faced by small island developing States in fulfilling their human rights obligations. 6. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a plural and fully inclusive parliamentary democracy. Over sixty per cent of senior positions in Government were held by women. There was an active free press, with three weekly, independent newspapers published. 7. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had prepared its report for submission to the second cycle of the universal periodic review based on community and focus group consultations. 1 GE.16-11831 See www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/VCSession25.aspx. 3