A/HRC/38/14 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its twenty-ninth session from 15 to 26 January 2018. The review of the United Arab Emirates was held at the 12th meeting, on 22 January 2018. The delegation of the United Arab Emirates was headed by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Mohammad Gargash. At its 17th meeting, held on 25 January 2018, the Working Group adopted the report on the United Arab Emirates. 2. On 10 January 2018, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the United Arab Emirates: Egypt, Peru and the Republic of Korea. 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 United Arab Emirates: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/29/ARE/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.6/29/ARE/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/29/ARE/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Brazil, Czechia, Germany, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to the United Arab Emirates 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 Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates stated that a national universal periodic review committee had developed a plan to implement the outcome of the most recent review and met regularly to assess progress. Civil society had played an integral role in that process. 6. During the second universal periodic review cycle in 2013, the United Arab Emirates had accepted, in whole or in part, 107 recommendations. Since then, considerable progress had been made in implementing the vast majority of those recommendations. The national report detailed efforts to protect and promote human rights in key thematic areas: promoting civil and political rights; increasing the protection of workers; combating human trafficking; and empowering women and youth. 7. The rise of extremist forces over the past few years presented dilemmas, not only in the region, but around the world. Governments were grappling with the challenge of how to protect their societies from genuine security threats, while safeguarding fundamental rights. The United Arab Emirates was committed to finding the right balance between meeting its legitimate need for security and preserving its reputation as an open society. It would do so strictly within the framework of its Constitution and laws, while respecting international human rights principles. 8. The United Arab Emirates would continue to strengthen national institutions that would effectively protect and promote human rights and would, in 2018, establish a national human rights institution, in accordance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles). 2