A/HRC/8/32 Page 13 right to adequate housing at the national, provincial and local level and the measures towards establishing a statutory social housing rental regime for vulnerable groups who cannot afford to own their own houses, and noted the great progress in the health delivery sector and in the ensuring of the right to education. It recommended that South Africa expedite the process of ratification of ICESCR, considering that these rights are already justiciable in terms of the Constitution. It also encouraged South Africa to continue in its pursuit of ensuring that the marginalized and previously disadvantaged members of the community participate in the political, social and economic life as equal partners. 41. Mauritania noted that South Africa’s legal and institutional instruments for the promotion of human rights have been reinforced since the end of apartheid, including within the civil, political, social and economic spheres. Mauritania welcomed the progress made in the areas of health, education, freedom of expression and poverty eradication. It asked about measures taken to fight xenophobia against non-nationals that persists, according to the CERD, and recommended to maintain and intensify efforts regarding the elimination of poverty and social inequality. 42. Denmark acknowledged the wide range of improvements by South Africa in the human rights area since the end of apartheid. In light of the continued allegations of acts of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by security personnel, Denmark took due note of the information provided by South Africa to the effect that a specific offence of torture, as required by CAT, will be introduced in South Africa’s criminal law. As recommended by the Committee against Torture, it urged South Africa to adopt the appropriate legislation at an early date, and requested the delegation to elaborate on the concrete measures the Government intends to take to ensure that the reported systematic use of torture be abolished in practice. 43. France welcomed the efforts and progress made in recent years in promoting human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights and civil and political rights. France noted that over the recent years South Africa has become an important immigration country and France requested more clarification and asked how the rights of migrants and/or asylum-seekers are guaranteed. It also recommended to South Africa to sign and ratify the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. 44. The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya noted that South Africa is one of the countries that ratified the majority of international human rights conventions and has opened its doors to invite all special procedures. South Africa had suffered from the scourge of apartheid; however, after its establishment as a democratic State, every national enjoys civil, political, social, cultural and economic rights. In the field of education, UNICEF has noticed that South Africa is about to reach universal access to primary education for all, and equality between the girl and boy child. It asked what measures South Africa is taking to reach a new qualitative mode of education for all children. 45. Palestine welcomed the efforts made by South Africa and noted its leadership role in the field of human rights. Palestine noted its efforts to overcome the legacy of racial discrimination and provide protection of human rights to all citizens without discrimination, including economic, social and cultural rights, the right to development, as well as civil and political rights. It noted South Africa’s excellent achievements regarding equality for women, equality to work, education, and food security as well as its challenges in health. It noted South Africa’s openness to all special procedures and its vital role in settling disputes and peacekeeping. 46. Botswana recognized the many achievements made by South Africa in the promotion and protection of human rights, particularly following the painful transition from the end of the apartheid era. It commended South Africa on successfully setting up an institutional framework and