A/HRC/19/11 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its twelfth session from 3 to 14 October 2011. The review of the Syrian Arab Republic was held at the 9th meeting on 7 October 2011. The delegation of Syria was headed by Mr. Faysal Mekdad, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs. At its 13th meeting held on 11 October 2011, the Working Group adopted the report on Syria. 2. On 21 June 2010, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Syria: Djibouti, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Singapore: (a) A national report submitted and a written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/12/SYR/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.6/12/SYR/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/12/SYR/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to the Syrian Arab Republic through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review (UPR). I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. In its opening statement, the Syrian Arab Republic affirmed its appreciation for the importance of the UPR process as a universal and non-selective mechanism, and expressed the hope for a constructive interactive dialogue. Syria had contributed to the development of the Human Rights Council mechanisms and hoped that the review would not become a tool to politicize the question of human rights. 6. The national report had been prepared through a collective institutional process, initiated by a decision of the Prime Minister, taken over a year in advance, to form a national committee headed by the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and comprising representatives from different government entities as well as non-governmental organizations concerned with human rights. 7. Syria reiterated that it continued its efforts to strengthen human rights and build a democratic society in line with fundamental rule of law principles. It reaffirmed the universality of human rights, which did not belong to any single civilization or culture or religion. The principle of democracy also had to include democratic relations between countries, without the domination of the strong over the weak. 8. During the past seven months, Syria had experienced many threats and was subjected to a media war conducted through misinformation and lies. Syria was faced with the hegemony of the West, the United States of America and Israel, and was the target of 3