A/HRC/19/5 31. Hungary hoped that the universal periodic review of Antigua and Barbuda would strengthen the promotion of human rights in the ground. It welcomed the priority given to the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It expressed concern on the legality of corporal punishment for children, the low age of criminal responsibility and the fact that no separate detention facilities for persons under 18 existed. It praised the establishment of a human rights desk to combat discrimination against HIV-infected persons but regretted that homosexual acts between consenting adults continued to be illegal. Hungary made recommendations. 32. Slovakia commended the adoption of the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act and the country’s efforts to address that negative phenomenon. It referred to the absence of an adequate complaint mechanism for child victims of abuse and the very low minimum age of criminal responsibility set at 8 years as indicated by the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). It raised concern at the poor conditions in prisons and detention centres due to overcrowding and lack of necessary infrastructure. Slovakia made recommendations. 33. The delegation thanked the recommendations made by various speakers and stated that it would certainly be looking into their adoption. It also indicated its appreciation to the assistance given by Cuba and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in respect of poverty alleviation as well as university education. 34. With regard to the concerns expressed for the mandatory death sentence and corporal punishment, the delegation reiterated that corporal punishment in schools was rather limited. As for mandatory death sentence, Antigua and Barbuda did not have a political mandate for its abolition; however, it was concerned and would certainly educate the public towards the realization of its abolition. It was acting in concert with various territories of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, as it had a common judiciary with them and its positions and situations in terms of judicial directions were similar to theirs. The fact that it had exercised a moratorium on the execution clearly indicated the direction to which Antigua and Barbuda was leaning, particularly as it had considered making life sentences in respect of those persons who were convicted and sentenced to death. 35. The delegation also noted the concerns expressed about criminalization under the Sexual Offences Act, which it recognized that the international community was actually moving away from. It stated that there was no discrimination based on sexual orientation. Nor were there any particular acts of discrimination against these persons. Antigua and Barbuda had to be aware and concerned of the society’s leanings and where it stood. However, it did not have a political mandate to decriminalize those acts. Criminalization was on the books as far as the law was concerned, however, it was only in the very rare instances that the law had actually been enforced. Antigua and Barbuda was, nevertheless, guided by the public opinion and was not in a position to clearly decriminalize these acts. 36. Concerning juveniles, Antigua and Barbuda was introducing a family court which would specialize in criminal behaviour and punishment of juveniles and also address all other family matters so that more speedy, more interactive and mediatory resolutions of family matters and offences against children would be expected. 37. The delegation also pointed out that, although Antigua and Barbuda had passed the Anti-Trafficking Act, it did not have problems of trafficking in persons. It passed that legislation in the light of its obligations towards the international community. After the Data Unit had been established within the Ministry of Legal Affairs, it would be more responsive to the adoption of various conventions and would ensure that they were part of its domestic legislation and that they could clearly be enforced in its local courts. 8