A/HRC/11/16* information about the measures and steps taken by Djibouti to decrease incidences of infant mortality. It recommended further efforts to develop human resources in the health sector in accordance with the needs. 31. Saudi Arabia welcomed the Minister of Justice and noticed the great attention Djibouti pays to human rights through its Constitution and laws and the establishment of a ministry for women and referred to statistics showing Djibouti’s progress in the field of human rights. It paid tribute to the accomplishment of improvements of human rights at the legal and institutional levels and on the ground. Saudi Arabia recommended that Djibouti continue its efforts in order to achieve the MDGs and increase the number of its primary and secondary schools while expanding higher education. 32. Russian Federation commended Djibouti’s leadership in the field of promotion and protection of human rights and the significant progress achieved, notably by acceding to main human rights of treaties, developing education and, inter alia, reducing maternal mortality. However, challenges still remain in the area of legislation and the courts system as well as capacity-building for the promotion and protection of human rights. The Russian Federation fully supported Djibouti’s request to OHCHR to provide technical assistance and to send a needs-assessment mission. 33. Responding to comments and questions put forward by various delegations, Djibouti stated that there has been a constant political will since 1999 to increase the participation of women in the country’s development. Particularly noteworthy were the adoption of a specific National Strategy for the Integration of Women in Development (NSIWD) covering four priority areas (health, decision-making, participation in the economy and national education). Following the adoption of laws on quotas in elective functions, women entered Parliament for the first time in 2003; an implementing Decree adopted in November 2008 established a quota of 20 per cent in public services. The delegation also mentioned other measures regarding the leadership of women in the administration and to a programme for a gender institutionalisation to strengthen the gender approach in nineteen ministries. A system for monitoring NSIWD had been established to assess the representation of women in the Government. The female illiteracy rate was being through, inter alia, a literacy and a post-literacy programme and income-generating activities. 34. Djibouti recalled that FGM had been penalised since 1995 and that awarenessraising campaigns were undertaken concerning it. Other relevant developments included the strategy to counter all forms of FGM (2006), the establishment of a unit within the Ministry for the advancement of women to coordinate all programmes to combat FGM (2007), a joint programme to speed up the elimination of all forms of FGM through four main networks. Djibouti recalled that the right of education is a fundamental right for all children aged between 6 and 16. The Government hoped to raise the gross enrolment rate — currently 72 per cent — by developing strategies based not only on formal education but also on mobile education for nomads, special education for disabled children and the construction of new schools, including mobile schools, etc. In addition, in order to fight against illiteracy, Djibouti has an ambitious programme to reduce disparities in access to school to ensure full participation. 35. Despite falling significantly between 2002 and 2006, the infant mortality rate remained high. The delegation referred to the main reasons for the high rate and the good results regarding vaccination coverage in the country. It also recalled the major initiatives and programmes adopted in the health sector, as enumerated in the replies to the advance questions, and pointed out that steps were taken in 2008 to counter malnutrition and to enhance health status. The delegation also recalled the increase in the proportion of the health budget in the national budget. The delegation also drew attention to a 2008–2012 strategy aimed at reinforcing human resources both in rural and urban areas. Despite those efforts, there was still a shortage of staff in the health sector. GE.09-15263 9