A/HRC/49/5 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-ninth session from 1 to 12 November 2021. The review of Greece was held at the 1st meeting, on 1 November 2021. The delegation of Greece was headed by the Secretary-General of Justice and Human Rights at the Ministry of Justice, Panos Alexandris. At its 12th meeting, held on 9 November 2021, the Working Group adopted the report on Greece. 2. On 12 January 2021, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Greece: Japan, Senegal and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 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 Greece: (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 Angola, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Panama, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States of America was transmitted to Greece 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 head of the delegation of Greece stated that the national report had been drafted through an inclusive, transparent and participatory process, involving various ministries and the Greek National Commission for Human Rights. As in the previous two cycles, a voluntary midterm progress report would be submitted on the implementation of the supported recommendations. 6. Commencing an overview of recent developments and main challenges, the head of delegation underlined the negative impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and the benefits of vaccination. Vaccines were free of charge and accessible to all in Greece, including vulnerable groups. Front-line workers and medical personnel were praised, and restrictive measures taken in order to protect public health were proportionate, nondiscriminatory and in full compliance with democratic and parliamentary processes. 7. Having overcome a very severe economic crisis, whose effects were still felt today, Greece was committed to building back better through its national recovery and resilience plan. Financial constraints could not be a pretext for shortcomings in human rights protection. Projects in Greece aimed to alleviate disparities, which undermined civil, political, economic and social rights, such as the national strategy for social integration and poverty reduction. 8. During the reporting period, Greece had adopted the first national action plan on the rights of persons with disabilities, based on the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and with the full participation of the National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities in Greece. The first national action plan against racism and intolerance had been adopted by the National Council against Racism and 1 2 3 2 A/HRC/WG.6/39/GRC/1. A/HRC/WG.6/39/GRC/2. A/HRC/WG.6/39/GRC/3.