A/HRC/12/6 page 8 expressed by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. It encouraged the Congo to take the best possible advantage of the poverty reduction strategy initiative which should help in improving the access of the poor to basic social services. 30. The Holy See noted that the death penalty has not been carried out since 1979 and recommended that the Congo (a) fully abolish the death penalty. Noting that, despite efforts, one third of Congolese are still deprived of education and women and children are the most affected, it recommended that the Congo (b) continue to invest in education, giving special attention to women and girls. While noting that maternal mortality remains high despite the progress regarding maternal health, it recommended that the Government (c) further invest in obstetrics clinics and in the information of skilled birth attendants. It noted that in prisons, however, women and men, children and adults are not always separated. Prisons are often overcrowded and healthcare is inadequate. The Holy See asked how the Congo intends to confront this problem and to improve the situation of prisoners, especially of women and children. 31. Sweden recommended that the Congo (a) continue its efforts with a view to fully tackling the problem of discrimination against minority groups. Sweden noted that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women had expressed concern about domestic violence, rape, including marital rape, and other forms of sexual abuse of women. Sweden welcomed the information that a new law is being prepared and recommended that Congo (b) continue implementing measures to handle the problem and (c) take measures to ensure full compliance with CAT and other international standards in this regard. 32. The Democratic Republic of the Congo noted that the judicial system has suffered from weakness in terms of the principle of independence and asked about the reason for it and measures to correct it. The Democratic Republic of the Congo encouraged the Congo (a) to finalize its plan to elaborate a national law on assistance and protection of internally displaced persons and (b) to define its priorities and determine its needs in order to support its request for technical assistance in the area of human rights. 33. Azerbaijan commended the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission and the Office of Mediator, but joined with CRC in recommending that those institutions be provided with an adequate mandate and financial resources. Azerbaijan recommended that the Congo increase its efforts, especially educational and public awareness measures, to improve the realization of women’s rights. It urged the Congo to (a) reinforce efforts to combat discrimination against women; (b) incorporate instruction on human rights in school curricula; and (c) abolish capital punishment. 34. Argentina recommended that Congo (a) adopt all necessary measures to ensure the right to life and protection of the individual, in particular the effective incorporation in domestic legislation of the prohibition of the practice of torture in accordance with the Convention Against Torture and the abolition of the death penalty from its Penal Code; (b) adopt legislation to prohibit practices of sexual violence affecting Congolese women in line with CEDAW which Congo has also ratified. It also suggested the eradication of the practice of female genital