A/HRC/11/37 362. The United States of America welcomed the adoption of Nigeria’s national plan of action on the promotion and protection of human rights. It noted that torture and abuse of detainees by security forces, lengthy pre-trial detention and poor prison conditions were severe problems in Nigeria. It supported the recommendations that Nigeria make efforts to end impunity for the perpetrators of human rights violations. It also supported the recommendations to ensure the independence of the national human rights commission. The United States of America hoped that the recently created Ministry for the Niger Delta had sufficient capacity and Government support to address the problems of violence and crime in the region. It supported the recommendation that consultations with minority groups in the Delta be undertaken. 363. Senegal welcomed Nigeria’s continued efforts to promote and protect human rights. Despite important progress, the authorities had reaffirmed their commitment to pursue reforms to improve the human rights situation in the country. Senegal welcomed the adoption of the national plan of action for the promotion and protection of human rights, the implementation of which would be a clear opportunity to make further significant progress. It noted that the attainment of the objectives set out in the plan and the implementation of the review recommendations would be easier if Nigeria could benefit from the support of the international community. 3. General comments made by other relevant stakeholders 364. Amnesty International welcomed Nigeria’s engagement with the universal periodic review and its commitment to cooperate in every aspect of the work of the Council. It also welcomed Nigeria’s statement according to which it continued to exercise a self-imposed moratorium on the death penalty, but expressed concern at recent legislative amendments in several States in Nigeria to extend the scope of the death penalty to include crimes related to kidnapping. Amnesty International welcomed the announcement by Nigeria to support most of the review recommendations and urged early implementation in particular of recommendations related to women’s rights; access to justice; the fight against impunity; discrimination on the basis of gender and sexual orientation; the independence of the human rights commission; and on a formal moratorium on the death penalty. 365. The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network stated that the delegation of Nigeria had recalled that the rights enshrined in the Constitution applied to all people, including those who considered themselves gay. It referred to the proposed same sex prohibition bill of 2006 and the same gender prohibition bill of 2008, noting that, if approved, the bill would seriously restrict essential freedoms and HIV-prevention services, as well as the activities of human rights defenders. Reference was also made to harassment and publications in the media inciting and promoting hatred against sexual minorities. The Network asked Nigeria to repeal criminal provisions against consensual same-sex conduct, and to ensure that the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and human rights defenders were not violated; to reject any attempt to create discriminatory new laws; and eliminate all existing legislation that discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation. 366. While referring to claims by Nigeria reflected in paragraph 6 of the Working Group report, Conectas Direitos Humanos believed that Nigeria had failed to implement reforms that did not require substantial financial resources or additional capacity, citing as an example the recommendations in paragraphs 103–1 and 103–8. Conectas regretted that there were no recommendations related to the right of housing, noting that Nigeria had failed to agree to a visit by the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing. Conectas stressed that, under international law, a country’s domestic regime was no excuse for failure to implement its international obligations. 367. While taking note of the commitments made by Nigeria concerning the implementation of the universal periodic review recommendations, Cercle de recherche sur 114 GE.09-16766