A/HRC/8/32 Page 16 specialized Sexual Offences Courts; the creation of equality courts that are designed to be accessible to average unrepresented South Africans and the enactment of the Promotion of Access to Information Act. Zambia also noted the challenges faced by South Africa on HIV/AIDS; provision of accessible and quality health care and congestion in prisons. In that respect, Zambia encouraged South Africa to pursue its efforts to meet international human rights obligations by continuing with the programmes it has in place for this purpose. 54. India noted that the emergence of South Africa as a mature democracy with an unwavering commitment to democratic principles and ideals was inspiring and commended on the fact that this has been achieved by preserving and promoting the multicultural and pluralistic character of the society. India also noted that education was one of the most powerful tools to engender social change and open up avenues for economic advancement. In that regard, India noted with great interest that South Africa was set to achieve MDG 2 by 2015. In that respect, India indicated its interest in hearing from the delegation about steps taken or planned to be taken to promote universal primary education, especially among the disadvantaged sections of the society. 55. Nigeria referred to the extraordinary history of South Africa through the apartheid regime, noted the harmful consequences of over 300 years of colonial and apartheid control and commended the laudable strides made since 1994 to transform the State and deploy resources to give all citizens equal access to rights and provide equal services for all. Nigeria also noted the new challenges South Africa continues to face in areas such as housing, HIV/AIDS and unemployment, but expressed its confidence that South Africa will successfully overcome these challenges. In that respect, Nigeria urged the support of the international community to South Africa in overcoming the natural consequences of the apartheid regime. Nigeria also encouraged the South African authorities to continue the realization of economic and social rights of its citizens with a view to eradicating poverty and thus meeting other MDGs. Similarly, Nigeria called on the international community to continue providing necessary assistance to South Africa in order to realize these goals and objectives. 56. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland noted that South Africa’s liberal Constitution provides a strong institutional structure for the protection and defence of human rights. It indicated that South Africa has the opportunity to share its best practice to improve the human rights situation in all countries of the world, including in its own region. The United Kingdom noted that South Africa has signed most of the international human rights instruments and has made good progress in ratifying them. It also noted the response to its question on the ratification of the OP-CAT and in this context recommended that South Africa ratify it at the earliest opportunity. The United Kingdom indicated that South Africa deserves credit for the progress made in reversing the legacy of apartheid and recognized the many challenges such as poverty, HIV/AIDS and corruption South Africa has to face. The United Kingdom stressed that it supported South Africa’s work in these areas through, for example, a number of projects supporting young people in disadvantaged communities. It congratulated South Africa on its progressive stance domestically on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people and commended it on its leadership in this area. In this regard, the United Kingdom recommended to South Africa to continue to promote and protect the right of all persons to equality without discrimination based on sexual orientation, at both the national and international levels. 57. Belgium noted the important achievements of South Africa in the field of human rights, notably in areas of economic, social and cultural rights. It also welcomed the commitment by South Africa to present its report to CERD and to draw up a national plan of action for the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Plan of Action. In this regard, Belgium sought further information on the implementation of these commitments and indicated that these