A/HRC/12/5* always responded favourably to all the requests to visit it has received and is willing to extend an open invitation to mandate holders. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 23. During the interactive dialogue, 49 delegations made statements. A number of delegations praised Chad for its comprehensive and frank presentation, for its national report and its commitment to the UPR process. They stated that the Constitution adopted in 1996, the free presidential elections the same year and the 1997 legislative elections, had paved the way for the gradual establishment of democratic national institutions. Several delegations underlined the need for international assistance and noted Chad’s accession to a number of international instruments, commended significant steps taken in various sectors including education and health, and recognized the constraints stemming from the volatile political and security situation, the recurrence of cross-border hostilities, the burden of protracted refugees and internally displaced persons. 24. Brazil commended Chad in particular for promoting a judicial reform and for establishing a National Committee for the Elimination of Illiteracy in Chad. Brazil recommended to the Government of Chad to: (a) ratify the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide; (b) eradicate possible discriminatory laws from its legislation, with a view to guarantee the effective promotion and protection of the rights of vulnerable groups, such as women and children; and (c) accomplish progressively the human right goals as set up by Human Rights Council resolution 9/12. 25. The United Kingdom emphasised the need for free and fair elections, close collaboration with MINURCAT and successful implementation of the August accords. It raised concerns on impunity and security, as well as the detention of opposition leaders and reports of extrajudicial killings. It welcomed positive cooperation on child soldiers and called for a national action plan to eradicate this problem. The United Kingdom made four recommendations: that Chad (a) take steps to strengthen the criminal justice system and, in addition, cooperate fully with the efforts of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) in this area; (b) accept the request to visit by the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; (c) develop now an action plan to prevent the illegal recruitment of children into its forces and establish transparent procedures for the verification and release of children in the Chadian army; (d) sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. 26. Algeria recommended Chad (a) to continue its efforts to ensure education for all children and to proceed, with the support and the assistance of the international community, to the necessary arrangements for the improvement of its educational system. Algeria asked Chad whether an evaluation of needs for technical and financial assistance was carried out by the Government, and whether steps have been undertaken to ensure that this kind of assistance be provided by United Nations institutions and bodies. While commending the Government’s initiative for the organisation of a forum to evaluate the human rights situation in the country, Algeria recommended that (b) solutions to be explored in this framework include training and awareness programs on human rights and international treaties to the benefit of relevant officers, including United Nations technical assistance projects. Algeria recommended the Government (c) to continue in its efforts for the reinforcement of the Rule of Law and respect for and the actual implementation of human rights throughout the country, in particular through the completion of the existing reform process in the fields of justice, territorial administration, the civil registry, the Civil Code and the Family Code. 27. France called on State authorities to increase efforts to demobilize children enrolled in the Chadian armed forces and to take measures to prevent further recruitment, including 6 GE.09-16375