A/HRC/13/7 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 sixth session from 30 November to 11 December 2009. The review of Cyprus was held at the 2nd meeting, on 30 November 2009. The delegation of Cyprus was headed by H.E. Ms. Leda Koursoumba, Law Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus. At its 10th meeting held on 4 December 2009, the Working Group adopted the present report on Cyprus. 2. On 7 September 2009, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Cyprus: Senegal, Philippines and the Netherlands. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Cyprus: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/ CYP /1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/ CYP /2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/ CYP /3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Argentina, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Cyprus through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the Working Group. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process 5. The Chair of the Human Rights Council Working Group on the UPR stated that it is of utmost importance when discussing human rights issues that everybody respect each other’s views and uphold United Nations terminology and standards when referring to countries and territories. A. Presentation by the State under review 6. Leda Koursoumba, Law Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, introduced the national report based on information from departments, independent authorities and monitoring mechanisms, and following consultations with civil society. 7. The delegation stated that the Constitution sets out an extensive bill of rights. International treaties become part of national law and have superior force to national legislation. 8. The delegation highlighted that Cyprus has ratified the majority of universal and regional human rights instruments. There is a small number of recent human rights instruments to which Cyprus is still only a signatory. Ratification has been delayed for bureaucratic reasons. Cyprus is committed to completing the process of ratification in the near future, including the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OP-CRC-AC). 3