A/HRC/10/29 the commitment demonstrated by Barbados to the universal periodic review and its objective evaluation and openness during the review process. It commended the State’s acknowledgment of the challenges and achievements in advancing human rights, and its commitment to confronting them. Mexico considered Barbados to be an outstanding example within the Caribbean region and appreciated its sharing of experience during various regional seminars. Mexico encouraged efforts made concerning the implementation of the recommendations, and hoped that Barbados would be supported by the international community in this regard. Mexico congratulated the Government for the steps that it had already taken in implementing these recommendations, including institutional and legislative measures. Lastly, Mexico recalled the importance of the role of the Council and the international community as a whole, in supporting the efforts being made by Barbados to improve the human rights situation in the country. 371. Cuba acknowledged the high level of acceptance by Barbados of the recommendations made in the framework of the review and its efforts to follow up on them. Cuba praised the efforts made by the Government of Barbados, notwithstanding the challenges it faced, as a developing country, owing to material and financial constraints. Despite these challenges, Barbados continued with its firm intention to cooperate with the human rights system of the United Nations and the universal periodic review in particular. Cuba called on the international community to consider positively the request made by Barbados for technical support. 372. Japan, as a member of the troika for Barbados, congratulated it on its constructiveness in preparing for and conducting the review. The Government of Barbados had shown its firm commitment to improving its human rights situation. It expected that the recommendations that enjoyed the support of the Government would be fully implemented, and it encouraged the Government to continue its maximum efforts to improve the human rights situation, taking into account the concerns of the international community. It expressed its belief that the serious stance of the Government would lead to concrete implementation of the recommendations and improve the country’s human rights situation. 373. Algeria reiterated its appreciation for the high quality of the Barbados national report on the human rights situation in the country. It was greatly encouraged by the efforts made to protect and promote human rights and good governance. It noted the challenges facing this small-island developing State and strongly supported the appeal by Barbados to the international community for technical and financial assistance to support its efforts to implement its human rights commitments. (c) General comments made by other relevant stakeholders 374. On behalf of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network expressed appreciation for the constructive approach of the delegation and the consideration given to all recommendations. With reference to the recommendation on the decriminalization of consensual adult same-sex conduct, it noted the State’s comments in relation to social pressure against such decriminalization, but emphasized that human rights must never become a popularity contest, and indeed international guarantees of non-discrimination were designed precisely to protect the rights of unpopular minorities. Stating that the universal periodic review was based on relevant international legal standards, it noted that, in May 2007, the Human Rights Committee, in its concluding observations, specifically stated that Barbados should decriminalize sexual acts between adults of the same sex and take all necessary actions to protect homosexuals from harassment, discrimination and violence. It urged the delegation to act upon the Committee’s recommendations as soon as possible, citing also comments by the High Commissioner in this regard. The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network welcomed the State’s commitment in its response to protecting GE.09-17451 145