A/HRC/48/6 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 Mozambique was held at the 3rd meeting, on 4 May 2021. The delegation of Mozambique was headed by the Minister of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, Helena Mateus Kida. At its 10th meeting, held on 7 May 2021, the Working Group adopted the report on Mozambique. 2. On 12 January 2021, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Mozambique: Armenia, Eritrea and the Philippines. 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 Mozambique: (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 Belgium, Canada, Germany, Liechtenstein, Panama, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and Uruguay was transmitted to Mozambique 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 Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs introduced the national report of Mozambique to the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review. 6. The delegation indicated that the universal periodic review had proved to be a useful tool in strengthening of the protection of human rights at the national level. Since the previous review, in 2016, Mozambique had committed itself to and made efforts to implement the 180 recommendations it had accepted. 7. Despite numerous challenges, including political-military instability in the central and northern regions, economic and financial crises, the adverse effects of climate change and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, there had been substantial improvements in the human rights situation from 2016 to 2020 compared to the previous period. 8. The national report had been the object of consultations with representatives of the State and civil society, notably during a workshop held in October 2020. 9. During the period under review, there had been an increase in the institutional and response capacity of national human rights institutions, in particular the Office of the Ombudsman and the National Human Rights Commission, the results of which had already been felt by citizens. 1 2 3 2 A/HRC/WG.6/38/MOZ/1. A/HRC/WG.6/38/MOZ/2. A/HRC/WG.6/38/MOZ/3.