A/HRC/30/7 17. On violence against women, Panama adopted in 2013 a law that criminalized femicide. The State has also taken steps for the implementation of this law, including the appointment of a special prosecutor and the creation and regulation of the National Committee on Violence against Women. The delegation noted, however, that the regulation implementing the law, still pending, would need to be drafted in the near future. 18. On the issue of trafficking, measures had been taken to ensure the adequate care of victims in the context of judicial proceedings. Also, the number of specialized trainings had increased for staff in the police, the prosecutors’ offices, the judiciary, the migration office and the health and education ministries. The delegation committed itself to the prompt adoption of the regulation implementing Law 79/2011, to the provision of a budget to the National Commission against Trafficking in Persons and to the building of a shelter for victims of human trafficking, in accordance with international standards. 19. Also, as part of a comprehensive public safety policy, the Government was implementing a safe neighbourhoods programme aimed at addressing criminal activity involving gangs through processes and spaces of social integration for young people who belonged to or remained close to them. 20. Regarding refugees, the National Assembly passed Law 74/2013 permitting refugees to apply for residence after three years of living on Panamanian soil. The Government has also improved the process for determining refugee status so that it is in accordance with international standards. In addition, the delegation committed itself to the prompt adoption of a decree regulating the mechanism to determine statelessness. 21. On immigration, the Government had continued its policy of openness by regularizing the situation of 57,652 foreigners between 2010 and 2014. The delegation recognized that currently the conditions in migration shelters were not adequate. Consequently, the Government was committed to building a new women’s shelter with the infrastructure necessary to ensure appropriate treatment. Similarly, the conditions in the men’s shelter were being improved. 22. The delegation acknowledged the need for measures to ensure the independence and impartiality of judges. The National Assembly was debating a bill to establish a judicial career and, with the support of civil society, the executive branch had submitted to Congress a bill on community justice. 23. With regard to the rights of children, the delegation reported that the Government had recently adopted legislation to raise to 18 years the legal minimum age for marriage and had set up an inter-institutional commission to prepare a draft law on the protection of the rights of children and adolescents. 24. The delegation added that a ministry for the environment had recently been established to face the challenge of guaranteeing the right to a healthy environment. 25. The delegation reiterated the commitment of Panama to continue to promote compliance with its human rights obligations and take positive measures to ensure the conditions necessary for the full enjoyment of the human rights of every person living in the country. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 26. During the interactive dialogue, 49 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue can be found in section II of the present report. 27. Ecuador acknowledged efforts made since the first universal periodic review, particularly the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, the 5