A/HRC/23/12 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 fifteenth session from 21 January to 1 February 2013. The review of Montenegro was held at the 11th meeting on 28 January 2013. The delegation of Montenegro was headed by Suad Numanović, Minister of Human Rights and Minorities. At its 16th meeting held on 31 January 2013, the Working Group adopted the report on Montenegro. 2. On 14 January 2013, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Montenegro: Estonia, Mauritania, United States of America. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Montenegro: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/15/MNE/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.6/15/MNE/2 and Corr.1); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/15/MNE/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Czech Republic, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Montenegro through the troika. These questions 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. Montenegro welcomed the opportunity to present its national report, especially given that Montenegro joined the Human Rights Council as of 1 January 2013. The Government confirmed its commitment to the Council by deciding to appoint the special representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador, on the Council 6. The national report was a result of cooperation between State authorities and nongovernmental organizations. The United Nations system in Montenegro supported the process of drafting the report. The Government of Montenegro adopted the national report on the status of human rights in Montenegro on 13 September 2012. 7. Montenegro has achieved significant progress since its previous report in 2008, inter alia, in the following areas: independence of the judiciary; decriminalization of insult and defamation; fight against corruption and organized crime; improvement of the prison system; legal reforms related to anti-discrimination, domestic violence, trafficking in human beings, strengthening of capacities of the Ombudsman; setting up the Council for anti-discrimination, Council for persons with disabilities and Council for rights of the child; advancement of tolerance towards differences, in particular in relation to the LGBT population; social inclusion of the Roma and Egyptian community. 3