A/HRC/16/17 compensation to victims. The delegation welcomed the solidarity and support shown by the international community and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 44. With regard to Mauritania’s accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, the delegation said that the country’s current priority was to fulfil the obligations it had assumed upon acceding to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 2004. Its efforts in that regard had included the submission of its initial report and participation in a constructive dialogue with the Committee against Torture. The Government was firmly resolved to investigate allegations of torture and to prosecute the perpetrators of such acts. 45. Various other developments also reflected Mauritania’s commitment to meet its obligations under the Convention against Torture, including awareness-raising programmes for public security officials, refusals by judges to consider confessions extracted under torture, the imposition of disciplinary measures by the authorities in proven cases of torture, without prejudice to the filing of criminal charges against those responsible as well, and the fact that prisoners could now request that judges order the preparation of medical reports in order to establish the degree of criminal responsibility of the perpetrators of such acts. In addition, the National Human Rights Commission could and did make unannounced visits to places of detention throughout the country. 46. All the arrangements had been finalized in preparation for the imminent creation of an OHCHR office in Nouakchott, which, according to reliable sources, was expected to open its doors on Monday, 15 November 2010. 47. Death penalty sentences were commuted, as provided for in the Islamic law from which it was drawn and other provisions of criminal law. No executions had been carried out for 23 years. The moratorium would be examined as part of the current reforms process; possible alternatives would be considered, and conclusions would be reached in accordance with the country’s penal policy. 48. With regard to equality between men and women, it should be noted that domestic law contained no inegalitarian or discriminatory provisions. In order to ensure equality, the Government had taken institutional measures, formulated sectoral policies and strategies, set up monitoring groups and adopted numerous pieces of legislation. Furthermore, discrimination in general was prohibited and punishable under the new Act No. 042/2007 on the prevention, treatment and monitoring of HIV/AIDS. 49. On the question of impunity for sexual and domestic violence, the delegation recalled that Mauritania, as a Muslim country, had a system of values and education that formed the first defence against such behaviour. In addition, the Government had taken significant steps to combat impunity for sexual violence. It had drawn up standard operating procedures for cases of gender-based violence, formulated a policy to combat female genital mutilation, issued a fatwa in 2010 on ending the practice, and was in the process of developing a national policy to combat gender-based violence. 50. The country had a law that systematically banned slavery-like practices. Under that law, victims could submit complaints and receive assistance, and administrative authorities found guilty of failing to act in such cases were subject to penalties. A complaint of slavery-like practices was sufficient to prompt action by the administrative authorities or legal proceedings. The law also protected the interests of children who had been enslaved and provided for the punishment of any form of discrimination or violence against them and for their reintegration. In a general sense, that law had facilitated significant progress in fighting slavery, and the delegation invited non-governmental organizations to collaborate with the authorities by reporting all confirmed cases. In order to eliminate the legacy and vestiges of slavery, Mauritania was working on additional measures, particularly through a programme to eradicate the after-effects of slavery. An action plan to combat trafficking, 8