A/HRC/26/16 8. The delegation noted the positive achievements, challenges and future goals in seven major areas: ratification of treaties, land rights, rule of law, detention and issues related to torture and ill-treatment, economic, social and cultural rights, women’s rights and children’s rights. 9. The delegation emphasized that Cambodia had ratified nine international conventions. Regarding the two Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the Cambodian Human Rights Committee, with the assistance of OHCHR, had organized two seminars and meetings with relevant ministries and institutions. 10. Regarding invitations to the special procedures mandate holders, the delegation stated that there was no need for them to be invited, since they could visit Cambodia at any time. It indicated that there were many organizations working on human rights issues in the country, including the Human Rights and Complaints Commission of the National Assembly, the Human Rights and Complaints Commission of the Senate, the Committee itself, hundreds of national and international organizations, including OHCHR, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia. 11. In regard to the issue of land, the delegation noted that the Cambodian authorities continue to register all types of land with the aim of strengthening the security of land ownership. The campaign for the implementation of “old policy, new actions” in the land sector had been launched to carry out the measurement programme for the distribution of land, and residential and rice-field titles had been issued. The authorities had registered 2,845,282 land titles for 500,000 families. Regarding evictions from the land, the delegation stated that certain people were not well informed and that the Government had had to take into consideration the interests and safety of the people and could not let the interests of the majority become a hostage to the interests of a minority. 12. The delegation noted that the Government recognized illegal land ownership, on a temporary basis, for people looking for a legal location in which to reside. It added that representatives had been designated to protect the interests of poor communities. The delegation also explained that in general, notification that a location was going to be developed was sent at least one year in advance. 13. Regarding the lands of indigenous peoples, the delegation emphasized that the Government had policies, regulations and laws to protect and recognize their rights. A subdecree had been drafted, based on pilot projects of land registration for three indigenous communities. Furthermore, consultations had been carried out with national and international legal experts, the relevant ministries and institutions, development partners, civil society organizations and especially with the indigenous peoples themselves. 14. On the rule of law, the delegation stated that the Government had continued to carry out profound reforms on legal and judiciary issues. To date, 416 laws had been adopted to enhance the legal framework and strengthen the capacity, independence and impartiality of the judiciary institutions. The authorities would continue to work harder to reform the laws by encouraging the drafting of new laws; establishing programmes to increase the awareness of laws; and conducting training for law enforcement officials at all levels. The delegation added that the Government had also pushed to enact the laws related to the judiciary. 15. Noting that elections to the National Assembly took place on 28 July 2013, the delegation stated that all political parties had had access to the media. The National Election Committee had facilitated freedom of expression and public assembly for all. It had also encouraged national and international organizations to get involved in the dissemination of information related to the elections. The delegation noted that the electoral 4