A/HRC/12/5* sites and refugee camps; (d) take all measures to address and prevent abduction of children, child trafficking, sexual abuse and exploitation and child labour, including the prosecution of perpetrators of such acts, and to protect and reintegrate child victims. Slovenia also recommended that Chad take all necessary measures (e) to effectively implement the national legislation prohibiting female genital mutilation and (f) to protect women, and especially girls, from sexual violence in the context of armed conflict. 51. Germany cited reports raising the issue of violence against children and asked for further information on the juvenile justice system in Chad. Germany recommended that Chad (a) abolish the state of emergency; (b) prevent military recruitment of children and foster the rights of the child as provided for in the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and (c) reform the judiciary and establish a true separation of powers to ensure democracy and full respect for human rights. 52. Thanking the speakers for the recommendations made which, on the whole, appear acceptable, the delegation asserts that the situation in Chad must be placed in context and that political will is evidenced by the setting-up of the Ministry for Human Rights and the Promotion of Freedoms and by the measures taken by the President of the Republic. 53. Chad’s priority is to safeguard its security and national sovereignty. In this context, human rights must also be safeguarded. The Government wishes to act together with the United Nations system, in particular the Human Rights Council, to ensure a more secure future for children and women. 54. The delegation notes that, during a joint mission with the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons, UNICEF and the UNHCR, several families housed in UNHCR camps were questioned on the issue of child soldiers. In 2003 and 2004, many parents were in contact with rebel groups, but since 2004 the recruitment of children has stopped completely. A similar situation exists in the camps of displaced persons. The Government can state that, within Chad’s borders, there is no child recruitment at present and that the phenomenon of child soldiers which is prohibited by law, is no longer a reality. Children’s place is with their families and at school; the Government, which is in the process of bringing its legislation into line with the international conventions on the rights of the child, remains vigilant on this issue and stands ready to punish any violation. 55. Another subject which has been raised is the existence of systematic violence, especially sexual violence, against women. The Government has carried out an investigation in the east of the country, where the security situation is most difficult, but it has not found any firm evidence of such incidents. Since independence, and in particular since 1990, several efforts have been made to prevent violence against women and, consequently, impunity has been greatly reduced; nevertheless, the Government continues to work tirelessly on this question. 56. The Government has made specific commitments to bring its laws into line with international treaties. In June 2009, a forum in which several foreign States and international organizations are due to participate will be organized in Chad; it will carry out a comprehensive assessment of the human rights situation in the country and implement a substantial number of pertinent measures. 57. As far as the agreements of 13 August are concerned, in addition to the setting-up of the electoral commission, which has yet to be finalized, the elections will be held with the joint agreement of the Government and the opposition, and after the people of Chad, who will be free to express their political preferences, have been duly informed. 58. Regarding freedom of the press, the delegation notes that, since his appointment in 2005, the Minister for Human Rights has secured the release of all imprisoned journalists GE.09-16375 11