A/HRC/11/26* 33. Venezuela recognised the efforts made to give utmost priority to education as shown by its annual budget and through the universal basic educational programme, which increased school enrolment with a better gender equality. Venezuela also highlighted the increase in the number of teachers, their pay level in rural areas and increase in literacy rate among youths. Venezuela encouraged Nigeria to continue resolutely consolidating the education system in accordance with the particular characteristics and needs of its population. Venezuela inquired on the range of achievements of the latest educational programmes. 34. Sudan welcomed Nigeria’s commitment to its regional obligations under the umbrella of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its international obligations in the Human Rights Council, and other international mechanisms. Sudan recommended that Nigeria seek from the international community technical help and assistance in terms of civil and political rights, mentioned in its national report, namely, access to justice, law enforcement, and environment protection. 35. Portugal welcomed Nigeria’s establishment of a democratic government, the fight against corruption and economic growth. Portugal recommended that Nigeria: (a) fully investigate abuses by law enforcement officials, namely extrajudicial killings, acts of torture and ill-treatment of detainees and arbitrary detentions and human rights violations and ensure that the perpetrators are duly punished. Portugal also recommended that Nigeria (b) ensure that all detainees are tried without undue delay or freed if no accusation is presented. Portugal recommended that Nigeria (c) ensure that the National Human Rights Commission is fully independent of the government and (d) that it is given the mandate to investigate extrajudicial complaints regarding human rights violations and propose adequate remedies to victims. Portugal further recommended that Nigeria, (e) as a party to the ICESCR, consider making the legal adaptations required to ensuring that economic, social and cultural rights are considered as individual and enforceable rights, with the same status as all other human rights, and not mere State goals or aspirations. 36. Saudi Arabia noted that the 1999 Constitution set up the framework for the protection of human rights and the institutional framework aimed at protecting and promoting human rights, such as the National Agency to combat trafficking in persons and the Ombudsman and those which are mandated to provide assistance to victims. The efforts to protect children’s rights and combat trafficking deserve support and Saudi Arabia asked whether more information could be provided in this respect, notably on obstacles to overcome. 37. Angola welcomed the establishment of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), and noted that Nigeria has developed a NAPPPHR. Angola recommended that Nigeria continue to strengthen the role of civil society and its cooperation with relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms. Angola welcomed the collaborative initiatives with various stakeholders in order to combat human trafficking, in particular, the implementation and monitoring of programmes to rescue, rehabilitate and reintegrate victims of human trafficking. It recommended that Nigeria allocate according to its capacity, adequate human and other resources in order to strengthen the combat on human trafficking. 38. Mozambique commended Nigeria for prioritizing rule of law and noted the initiative of Human Rights’ desks in police stations, prison and law enforcement agencies. It also commended its coherent policies and adherence to several regional and international instruments on human rights. Mozambique encouraged that Nigeria continue its endeavours in the field of human rights specially when one takes into account the fact that the government has been promoting human rights under special circumstances of a country in transition from a long period of military rule to a fully fledged democracy. 8 GE.09-16312

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