A/HRC/48/4 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-eighth session from 3 to 14 May 2021. The review of Namibia was held at the 1st meeting, on 3 May 2021. The delegation of Namibia was headed by the Minister of Justice, Yvonne Dausab. At its 10th meeting, held on 7 May 2021, the Working Group adopted the report on Namibia. 2. On 12 January 2021, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Namibia: Fiji, the Sudan and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 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 Namibia: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a);1 (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b);2 (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c). 3 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Canada, Germany, Haiti, Liechtenstein, Panama, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, Slovenia, Spain, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay was transmitted to Namibia 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 stated that Namibia had supported 82 per cent of the recommendations received during the previous review and that the progress made in implementing them and the challenges faced had been highlighted in the national report. The contribution of civil society organizations in preparing the report was highly valued. 6. Namibia had prioritized combating sexual and gender-based violence, with emphasis placed on prevention and rehabilitation efforts and on a victim-centred approach. New legislation on divorce introducing a cost-effective and less cumbersome process that no longer included the common law element of fault as grounds for divorce was in the final stages of enactment. 7. Gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls had been incorporated into national development frameworks, including the Fifth National Development Plan, the Harambee Prosperity Plan, the National Gender Policy and Vision 2030. Since 2015, the proportion of women represented in Parliament had increased from 41.6 per cent to 46 per cent. Progress had also been made in relation to youth empowerment. 8. The Child Care and Protection Act (3 of 2015), which placed the welfare of children at the forefront of all matters affecting them, was comprehensive and, inter alia, prohibited harmful practices such as child marriage and sexual initiation practices and provided for children to consent to medical procedures and HIV/AIDS testing from the age of 14 years. Legislation on children in conflict with the law was at an advanced stage of finalization. 1 2 3 2 A/HRC/WG.6/38/NAM/1. A/HRC/WG.6/38/NAM/2. A/HRC/WG.6/38/NAM/3.