A/HRC/10/70 Page 7 21. Cuba congratulated the Bahamas for the results achieved in the field of women’s rights. It noted that the empowerment of women and their extensive participation in the economic, political and social life of the country were very positive achievements. Cuba recommended that the Bahamas continue its positive efforts in this area and share its experiences and best practices with regard to the empowerment of women. Cuba also congratulated the Bahamas for the elaboration and implementation of policies to enhance the economic and social situation of the historically disadvantaged black majority and to protect the rights of the white minority. Cuba recommended that the Bahamas share with the international community its positive experiences and lessons learned in the struggle against racism and racial discrimination. 22. Chile encouraged the Bahamas to become a party to the international human rights instruments listed in the OHCHR report, some to which Bahamas is not yet a party. It recommended that the Bahamas declare a moratorium on executions and start an information campaign explaining to the population the problems of capital punishment. Chile also recommended that corporal punishment be eliminated from the Bahamas legislation in accordance with the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Chile noted that inter-family violence continued to be a major problem and asked for further information on national provisions and the existence of governmental campaigns addressing this issue. It also requested information on the practical effects of the cooperation with regional bodies in order to combat trafficking in persons. 23. France noted that prisons are ill-equipped and overpopulated, and that cases of mistreatment, torture and refusal to allow access to lawyers have been noted, in particular with regard to asylum-seekers, and asked what measures the Government had taken to remedy the situation. In taking note of the intention of the Government to review the age of criminal responsibility, France hoped that, during the upcoming reform, this issue would indeed be raised. While referring to the concerns and the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child about the situation of children in prison, France asked the Government to ensure that there was a proper separation between adults and children in prison, as well as training for professionals dealing with juvenile justice. France asked if the Bahamas had implemented these recommendations. Despite legislative measures to prevent violence against women, including domestic violence and sexual violence, it remains widespread, and France asked what specific measures were taken, and recommended that the Government make a real political commitment to combating violence against women, and in particular that it change its national legislation to criminalize marital rape. France referred to the concerns of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination with respect to the de facto discrimination of migrants and persons of Haitian descent, and asked if the Government has taken specific measures to remedy it. France appreciated the fact that the Bahamas will shortly submit a number of reports to various treaty bodies. It recommended that, in future, the Bahamas should respect the deadlines for submitting such reports. France recommended that the Bahamas rapidly sign and ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as announced at the session. France also recommended that the Bahamas sign and ratify the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the optional protocols to the various United Nations conventions on human rights as well as the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. 24. The Netherlands appreciated the answers to the written questions that it had submitted concerning discrimination against non-nationals, reporting to the Committee on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women, violence against women and protection of