A/HRC/48/12 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 Palau was held at the 9th meeting, on 7 May 2021. The delegation of Palau was headed by the Vice-President and Minister of State, J. Uduch Sengebau Senior. At its 14th meeting, held on 11 May 2021, the Working Group adopted the report on Palau. 2. On 12 January 2021, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Palau: Gabon, Pakistan and Ukraine. 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 Palau: (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, 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 the United States of America was transmitted to Palau 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 of Palau began by underscoring that Palau was a young nation that had gained its independence in 1994 and that had a population of fewer than 20,000 people. Palau was free of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and 90 per cent of the adult population had received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The country was ready to slowly open up to visitors. 6. The National Gender Mainstreaming Policy 2018–2023, adopted in 2018, was aimed at guiding the process of developing laws, policies, procedures and practices to achieve gender equality, so that all women and men could enjoy their fundamental human rights and have equal opportunities and responsibilities in all aspects of political, economic, social and cultural development, thereby contributing to the well-being of their families, the resilience of their communities and the development of their country, in accordance with national cultural values. The country plan 2020–2022 aimed at improving the political, economic and social opportunities of women had been developed with the support of Australia. 7. Women were well respected in the community, including by traditional leaders. In the recent national election in 2020, a woman had been elected Vice-President. However, while it continued to be a struggle to raise the number of women in the national legislature, a woman had been elected to the State legislature for the first time in 40 years. 8. A new prison was being built outside the main city of Koror, at a cost of $4 million, with the objective of providing a better environment for prisoners and address overcrowding. 1 2 3 2 A/HRC/WG.6/38/PLW/1. A/HRC/WG.6/38/PLW/2. A/HRC/WG.6/38/PLW/3.