A/HRC/31/6 development had enhanced the capacity of vulnerable groups to deal with food cr ises, reduced disparities and helped in discovering lasting solutions to the food security problem. 15. The delegation also pointed to the creation of an interministerial technical committee responsible for drawing up reports on the implementation of treat ies and recommendations by treaty bodies. 16. The delegation emphasized that the Government had cooperated with all partners in developing an action plan against racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance and in drafting a national strategy for promoting social cohesion. 17. However, despite the efforts made by Mauritania to promote and consolidate human rights, the delegation recalled that there were major challenges facing the country. Among other things, Mauritania lacked sufficient capacity and r esources to enable its citizens to fully enjoy their economic and social rights. The Minister of Justice had nevertheless stated that his country would continue to carry out the programmes to eliminate poverty, so as to attain the post -2015 objectives. 18. The delegation stressed the importance of assistance from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Mauritania. It expressed the hope that such support would help to reinforce the capacities of national human rights institutions and of the national preventive mechanism to combat torture. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 19. During the interactive dialogue, 84 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 20. Mali welcomed the accession of Mauritania to several international human rights instruments, the creation of a new human rights institution and measures taken for women’s and children’s rights. 21. Mauritius noted key initiatives, particularly the strategies on food security and poverty reduction, the 2012 constitutional review, the ratification of additional human rights treaties and their domestication, the drafting of legislation to combat violence against women, and measures aimed at improving the efficiency of the justice system. 22. Mexico acknowledged the establishment of the interministerial technical committee to comply with the obligation to prepare reports and follow up on international recommendations. It commended actions taken to increase women’s participation in legislative elections. 23. Montenegro welcomed the accession of Mauritania to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. It noted with concern that homosexuality was considered a crime punishable by the death penalty and requested that Mauritania elaborate on the measures it had planned to decriminalize homosexuality. 24. Morocco praised the commitment of Mauritania to strengthening human rights and appreciated the establishment of a national human rights institution, a national preventive mechanism to combat torture, and steps taken towards combating contemporary forms of slavery. 25. Mozambique noted that Mauritania had submitted reports to the Committee against Torture, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Human GE.15-22687 5/26