A/HRC/31/7 judiciary. It hoped that defendants were able to choose their own counsel. It also suggested that Nauru reduce visa fees charged to visiting journalists. The United Kingdom made recommendations. 59. The United States of America reiterated that Nauru should consider ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It supported the establishment of a public defender position, but remained concerned over the lack of affordable, effective and available legal services. It supported the stated commitment of Nauru to decriminalize same-sex conduct between consenting adults, but was troubled that no action had been taken yet. The United States made recommendations. 60. Uruguay welcomed the accession of Nauru to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the interdiction of corporal punishment for children in education centres and the priority given to combat the scourge of domestic violence, including the creation of institutions such as the Domestic Violence Unit and the Committee Against Domestic Violence. It noted the visit of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, underscoring advances in the legal framework and the determination of the refugee status. Uruguay made recommendations. 61. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela highlighted legislative reforms and the ratification of international treaties, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol and was pleased with the advances in school registration rates and the strategy against school absence in the framework of the Annual Operative Education Plan. It stated that the community of nations should provide support, cooperation and technical assistance in order to help Nauru to achieve its objectives. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela made recommendations. 62. Algeria congratulated Nauru for the significant progress in human rights areas, noting the adoption and amendment to the legislation on citizenship, cybercrime, education, refugees and asylum seekers. Algeria welcomed the efforts made and steps taken, particularly in the framework of the National Youth Policy 2009-2015, the National Policy on Disability 2015, the National Policy on Women and the National Sustainable Development Plan 2005-2025. Algeria made recommendations. 63. Argentina congratulated Nauru for acceding to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 2011 and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2012, as well as for having ratified the Convention against Torture the same year. Argentina made recommendations. 64. Armenia stated that, despite some progress towards the promotion of the rights of women, women in Nauru were still reported to face several challenges, such as lack of accessible medical services. It encouraged the Government to provide the necessary medical facilities for women for early detection of health problems and appropriate medical intervention. It noted with appreciation the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol. Armenia made recommendations. 65. Concerning recommendations calling for the decriminalization of same-sex interaction, Nauru acknowledged that it was an emerging matter globally and, taking into account the long-held social and religious feelings of the Nauruans, the Government believed that a national open consultation would be the best way to address the matter. 66. Regarding the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, the delegation stated that the Government extended an invitation to all United Nations organizations and mechanisms and the media to visit the country. 10