A/HRC/25/6 persons, the elderly and the sick. In that context, Nigeria had signed and ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). In an effort to entrench affirmative action for women, 13 female ministers out of a total of 42 ministers, accounting for 33.3 per cent, as well as 4 female special advisers out of a total 18, accounting for 22 per cent, had been appointed. Furthermore, the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill had passed its second reading in the National Assembly. The bill aimed to incorporate into Nigeria’s domestic law the provisions of CEDAW and of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. 18. The death penalty still existed on the statute books. Laws could only be changed through negotiation and persuasion and not by government fiat. Regarding the executions carried out in June 2013, due process had been followed and the executions had been carried out in accordance with the provisions of Nigeria’s laws. 19. In addition to the constitutional provisions protecting the rights of minorities, the creation of States had contributed to the efforts to give the different ethnic groups in Nigeria more political control over their affairs. Also, the federal character principle had enabled people from all parts of the country to receive fair and equal allocation of public goods, social services and amenities. 20. The development of the child was at the centre of Nigeria’s development priorities. Adequate laws and policies were in place to protect children against all forms of violence. 21. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters had been established with a mandate to combat human trafficking occuring within and across Nigeria’s borders. In addition, a national policy had been adopted on protection and assistance for trafficked persons, in line with internationally accepted standards and best practices. 22. In response to a question on preventing election violence, the delegation stated that the granting of financial autonomy to the Independent National Electoral Commission had enabled it to perform optimally, as well as enhancing electoral processes. Also, the Constitution had been specifically amended in order to set timelines for the determination of election petitions. The amendment mandated an election tribunal to deliver its judgement in writing within 180 days of an election petition being filed. Similarly, an appeal from the decision of an election tribunal or court must be determined within 60 days of the date of judgement. The outcome of that amendment had been the speedy determination of election petitions, and the avoidance of unnecessary distractions to governance often occasioned by delays in determining election petitions. The delegation noted that when the electorate believed in the credibility and fairness of the election process, violence could be prevented. 23. While the Government was yet to extend a standing invitation to special procedures, Nigeria had had longstanding cooperation with that vital mechanism of the Human Rights Council. Requests for visits by a number of special procedures mandate holders had been considered, and Nigeria had agreed to receive the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences; the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons; the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children; and the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. The requests by the Independent Expert on minority issues, and by the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context, were being processed. It was stated that, as a matter of principle, Nigeria had never been averse to visits by special procedures mandate holders to Nigeria, and had never rejected any requests to visit. 24. In order to enhance treaty reporting obligations, the Inter-Ministerial National Working Group on Human Rights Treaty Reporting had been established, in July 2010. 5