A/HRC/41/12 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-second session from 21 January to 1 February 2019. The review of the Comoros was held at the 9th meeting, on 25 January 2019. The delegation of the Comoros was headed by the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Mohamed Housseini Djamalilaili. At its 14th meeting, held on 29 January 2019, the Working Group adopted the report on the Comoros. 2. On 15 January 2019, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the Comoros: Spain, Tunisia and Ukraine. 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 the Comoros: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/32/COM/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.6/32/COM/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/32/COM/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Angola, Liechtenstein, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to the Comoros through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The delegation of the Comoros emphasized that the Government had taken steps to make human rights a national cause. As a result, the constitutional reform adopted by referendum had demonstrated the commitment of the Comoros in favour of human rights. Indeed, an entire title was devoted to human rights under the revised Constitution, which also made provision for government bodies to be held accountable for violations of rights by public officials in the performance of their duties. The purpose of the reform had been to strengthen the political stability needed to implement socioeconomic projects and organize elections to elective positions. This had created some political tension, which was merely a sign of a vibrant democracy. 6. The Government would be equal to the task of ensuring public order and political security for the effective enjoyment of human rights. 7. Moreover, nearly all the ministries, the Assembly of the Union of the Comoros and civil society organizations had engaged in the consultations that had culminated in the preparation of the report for the universal periodic review. 8. The Government had also adopted legislative measures on the environment by ratifying the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency. Several environmental laws had been adopted to protect plant species and prohibit the production, marketing and distribution of plastic bags and packaging. 9. At the institutional level, the mandate of the National Human Rights Commission and the composition of the Committee on follow-up to the universal periodic review had 2 GE.19-06795