A/HRC/14/5 protection, which went beyond combating poverty and addressed, inter alia, food security, employment and economic development. Costa Rica encouraged El Salvador to continue its efforts to improve the living conditions of its population along those lines and to strengthen the gender perspective in all aspects of public policy in order to comprehensively address inequalities. Costa Rica made recommendations. 74. Bolivia noted remarkable education and health improvements since the new Administration had taken power. It expressed understanding of the remaining challenges due to the legacy of the armed conflict and to imposed economic policies. It made recommendations. 75. Poland appreciated the progress made by El Salvador in promoting and protecting human rights. It referred to the national policy on women for 2005-2009 and the solidarity network programme as among the recently adopted measures and stated that, nevertheless, serious obstacles to women’s enjoyment of their human rights persisted, as a result of a wider problem related to gender and domestic and sexual violence. Poland made recommendations. 76. The delegation of El Salvador referred to concerns regarding the minimum age for marriage, an issue that affected girls in particular and had been the subject of particular mention by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. The Government stated that it would review the relevant legislation and propose legal reforms if deemed appropriate, in accordance with international human rights standards. 77. El Salvador emphasized its commitment to conducting timely studies on some of the concerns raised in the questions submitted in advance by delegations, including the need to bring the definitions of torture, enforced disappearance, gender-based violence and other crimes into line with international human rights standards. The delegation also underscored its willingness to share information about recent efforts to address the problem of violence, particularly as it affected vulnerable groups such as women and children. 78. The delegation acknowledged the failure of public security policies that, until recently, had been focused primarily on police control and repression, at the expense of crime prevention, attention to victims and the rehabilitation of offenders. El Salvador announced that it had launched a plan to develop a comprehensive public security policy. The new policy would focus on police control and greater control in prisons; addressing impunity for crimes committed by State agents; recovering public trust in the national police force; and the restructuring of the force, in accordance with the spirit of the peace accords. 79. El Salvador highlighted concerns about the problem of impunity and appreciated the recommendations made by States with a view to addressing that serious issue. The delegation stated that investigations into alleged human rights violations and other crimes committed by police chiefs were under way, and that a law to strengthen the Office of the Inspector-General was being discussed. 80. El Salvador reaffirmed its commitment to taking up the agenda proposed by the working group on enforced disappearances, which the Committee against Torture had recently reinforced, and concluded by expressing its appreciation for the recommendations, questions and comments made during the interactive dialogue. II. Conclusions and/or recommendations 81. The recommendations formulated during the interactive dialogue and listed below have been examined by El Salvador and enjoy the support of El Salvador: 1. To strengthen its legal framework and mechanism for the promotion and protection of human rights (Lao People’s Democratic Republic); 12