A/HRC/22/6 73. To deal with congestion in the country’s prisons, Government in 2011 completed the construction of a maximum security prison with a holding capacity for 2,000 inmates, at Ankaful in the Central Region. Inmates from other prisons are being moved to the new prison facility to ease the congestion. 74. As regards the measures to address the gaps in coverage of the NHIS (Slovenia), the Government is presently exploring alternative means of financing the NHIS. 75. Concerning whether Ghana will end its policy of non-equal treatment of homosexuals and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in general (Germany) and how Ghana will apply the principle of non-discrimination in relation to the issue of homosexuality, (the Netherlands), the delegation emphasized that Ghana does not have a policy of non-equal treatment of its citizens. The Constitution entrenches the fundamental principles of non-discrimination and equality. It also guarantees the freedom of religion and the rights of persons to practise that religion. The Constitution also provides for the legislature to enact laws that further the social cohesion and economic development of the people. 76. On the CAT recommendation to criminalize marital rape, the delegation highlighted that the rape provision in the Criminal Offences Act does not make any distinction among women. It is applicable to all females above sixteen, married or unmarried, and nor are perpetrators of the offence of rape defined to exclude spouses. Section 42(g), which made marriage a defence to rape, has now been expunged from the statute. 77. On the measures to protect victims of child trafficking (Spain), the Government, together with MOWAC, the Department of Social Welfare and civil society organizations, has stepped up sensitization efforts in the rural communities and areas of high risk. A number of training programmes have also been undertaken by the Ministry of the Interior, Ghana Immigration Service and Ghana Police Service to equip them with the skills and capacities needed to detect, deter and prevent child trafficking. MOWAC has also constructed a number of shelters for victims of trafficking and continues to solicit support from the private sector and other concerned actors. 78. As to measures to combat the high maternal mortality rate (Luxembourg), the delegation indicated that some women do not attend hospitals due to financial constraints and that the Government has made medical treatment for pregnant women free, which has gone a long way to decreasing the number of maternal deaths. There is also increased education of women and training of traditional birth attendants to provide safe maternal care during pregnancy and delivery. Additionally, comprehensive abortion care is being carried out by the Ministry of Health to ensure that no woman dies from unsafe abortion. 79. Concerning the outcome of the review process, including the establishment of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service (DOVVSU), the adoption of a strategic plan and the progress achieved so far (Canada), the delegation stated that DOVVSU has undertaken a number of activities intended to sensitize the public on the need to respect women’s and children’s rights, to desist from violent conduct and resolve internal disputes through peaceful means. Significant strides have been made in advancing women’s social, economic, civil and political rights. Participation of women in public life has also improved. It is worth noting that the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice are women. 80. Ratification of OP-CAT and the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OP-CRC-AC), and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (OP-CRC-SC), has been approved by Cabinet, and will soon be considered by Parliament for ratification. 10