A/HRC/18/16 82. With regard to Southern Sudan, it was noted that civil and political rights are enshrined in the Constitution of Sudan, under the title Bill of Rights, a covenant among and between the Sudanese people and their governments, and the cornerstone of social justice, equality and democracy throughout Sudan. Although Southern Sudan still maintains the death penalty, it is not imposed on persons under 18 years, and it is only imposed for conviction of crimes of treason, murder or aggravated robbery with firearms. It was noted that the Southern Sudan Human Rights Commission is functioning, and already has a considerable number of cases before it. II. Conclusions and/or recommendations 83. The following recommendations will be examined by the State under review, which will provide responses in due course, but no later than the eighteenth session of the Human Rights Council in September 2011. 83.1. Ratify as soon as possible the main international human rights instruments to which it is not yet a party and issue a standing invitation (Japan); 83.2. Ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Switzerland); 83.3. Ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Switzerland); 83.4. Accede to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aimed at abolishing the death penalty, and take the necessary steps to remove the death penalty from Sudan’s justice system (Australia); 83.5. Consider ratifying core universal human rights instruments, in particular the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Brazil); 83.6. Sign and ratify the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and its Optional Protocol; Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol (Spain); 83.7. Accede or ratify the following international instruments: International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and its Optional Protocol; Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children; and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Ecuador); 83.8. Take appropriate steps to accede to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Malaysia); 83.9. Ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol (Norway, Belgium); 12