A/HRC/31/5 15. The Government and civil society organizations placed great emphasis on the rights of persons with mental or physical disabilities, in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2000, and strove to protect and integrate persons with disabilities. 16. Compulsory primary education was provided free of charge in Lebanon and Lebanese university fees were purely symbolic. 17. Having reviewed the human rights related bills that were pending adoption, Lebanon noted that any delay in the adoption of the bills would be the result of political instability in the country, which had already caused delays in the adoption of many other laws and decrees. 18. Despite its fierce and costly war on terrorism, Lebanon remained committed to combating terrorism in all its forms and to doing its utmost to protect human rights. 19. Lebanon highlighted that it was facing not only terrorism, but also many other military, security, economic and social challenges at the national, regional and international levels, mainly the Israeli occupation and its repeated attacks on its territories in 1978, 1982, 1993, 1996 and 2006 against the civilian population and infrastructure. The assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri on 14 February 2005 and the ensuing situation had had a destabilizing effect on Lebanon. That was in addition to the effects of the Syrian crisis on the political, economic, social and security situation in Lebanon since 2011, which was stretching insufficient resources beyond existing capacity. 20. The Government of Lebanon, however, in full respect for its international obligations, continued to prepare its reports to the United Nations treaty bodies, albeit with delays. Lebanon had submitted reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Reports to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee against Torture were under preparation. The foreign minister had announced his intention to establish a human rights directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. 21. Lebanon had received a number of international human rights delegations, including the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery and the Committee against Torture, making Lebanon one of the few countries to receive a delegation from that committee. That was a demonstration of the high level of transparency and determination of the Lebanese authorities to protect and promote human rights and to fulfil the country’s international obligations. It had also received a visit from the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 22. During the interactive dialogue, 98 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 23. Saudi Arabia noted the efforts of Lebanon, despite political and economic challenges, particularly to combat terrorism, integrate refugees, respect the right of persons with disabilities and children and combat human trafficking. 24. Senegal praised progress since the first review, especially the implementation of the National Human Rights Plan and the establishment of the national preventive mechanism, in compliance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. 25. Serbia stated that the situation of migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons required attention and that a comprehensive strategy should be developed to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to displaced persons. 5