A/HRC/31/7 40. New Zealand recognized the commitments undertaken by small island developing States in engaging in the processes of the Human Right Council. While noting encouraging developments, it remained concerned about the continued suspension of opposition Members of Parliament and the resulting denial of political representation to their constituents. New Zealand made recommendations. 41. Panama welcomed the accession of Nauru to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 2011, and to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention against Torture in 2012 following its first review process. It also appreciated the establishment of a working group on treaties, an important step in dealing with pending national reports before treaty bodies. Panama made recommendations. 42. Regarding recommendations about the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the delegation of Nauru stated that the consideration of the issue was in progress, while a child protection framework was already in place. 43. On recommendations on freedom of information, and more specifically on facilitating access to journalists, Nauru stated that it believed that the attitude of the media should be marked by fairness and trust, with the ultimate goal of factual reporting. This had not been the case for Nauru in recent times, in spite of efforts made by the Government on, inter alia, refugees matters. It stated that irresponsible reporting fuelled social disorder and had negatively affected relations between locals, refugees and asylum seekers. The Government had invited representatives of the media to come to Nauru. 44. Nauru accepted recommendations related to amending the Criminal Code, abiding by human rights obligations and upholding the rule of law, guaranteeing freedom of information, opinion, expression, assembly and association. 45. Several recommendations spoke about refugees and asylum seekers detention. Nauru stated that refugees were now processed without detention and that, since 5 October 2015, any sort of detention had ended and the Refugee Processing Centre was now open 24 hours a day, and that refugees and asylum seekers could move freely. 46. With regard to a recommendation made by Ireland, the delegation stated that, as part of the Education Act, school education was compulsory up to 18 years of age. Both refugees and Nauruans were liable to be taken to Court if they did not allow their children to attend school. 47. About a recommendation of Maldives, Nauru stated that it was embarking on the drafting of disability legislation after having ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 48. Concerning the abolition of the death penalty, the delegation of Nauru stated that the provision was part of the Constitution and, owing to the reticence of the Nauruan people to revise the Constitution, the Government had decided to address the matter through the new Criminal Code, removing the death penalty for any type of crime. 49. The Philippines lauded Nauru for taking steps towards the ratification of a number of international human rights instruments, despite its financial and human resource constraints. It noted the difficulties faced by Nauru to address the negative impacts of climate change to the human rights of its people. The Philippines welcomed the commitment of Nauru to the promotion and protection of the rights of the persons with disabilities. It raised concerns over reported abuses in immigration detention facilities. The Philippines made recommendations. 8