A/HRC/15/10 56. Mozambique noted that Guinea-Bissau was a country with a vibrant civil society that actively participated in the promotion and protection of human rights and garnered strength because individual freedoms and liberties such as freedom of expression, association and the press enjoyed constitutional protection. Mozambique noted that GuineaBissau was a democracy in which there was no capital punishment and whose Constitution outlawed torture. Mozambique made one recommendation. 57. The Democratic Republic of the Congo noted that Guinea-Bissau tackled the AIDS pandemic, protected freedom of religion and remained a country of hospitability, regularly taking in a considerable number of refugees. It highlighted the many socio-economic problems facing Guinea-Bissau, citing the public insecurity undermining the right to life, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, the trafficking in human beings, insufficient support for children, food insecurity and the lack of health infrastructure. It made recommendations. 58. Bangladesh welcomed achievements in the areas of health and primary education. It expressed appreciation for the adoption of a national plan to combat HIV/AIDS and for steps taken to combat trafficking. It also expressed its understanding of the multiple challenges faced by the country, many of which had been aggravated by the political volatility and armed conflict. It made recommendations. 59. The Philippines stated that it understood the complex challenges facing GuineaBissau, particularly the continuing need to combat poverty, which had had a severe impact on the promotion of human rights; the need to improve the rule of law; and the need to address the security and political situation in a resolute manner and in a spirit of inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation. The Philippines highlighted the role of the international community in assisting Guinea-Bissau and congratulated its Government on having adopted the Plan of Action of the first phase of the World Programme for Human Rights Education. The Philippines made recommendations. 60. Guinea-Bissau emphasized that it was important for the international community to realize that, without its support, the country would remain trapped in a vicious circle. There were now three vital matters for Guinea-Bissau: firstly, a high-level international conference scheduled to take place in New York in June 2010 to engage the assistance of international partners in implementing the programme of defence and security sector reforms. 61. In addition to this high-level conference, the Government is planning a round table for October or November 2010 at which it will present its growth and poverty-reduction programme to the international community, with the aim of securing the international assistance and support necessary to set the country on the path to sustainable development. 62. The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund is due to conduct a midterm review of Guinea-Bissau’s programme. However, the programme’s timeliness and pertinence have already been proven by its direct impact on the Government’s capacity and resources to effectively combat poverty and create conditions conducive to economic growth. 63. In its concluding remarks, Guinea-Bissau reiterated its standing invitation to Special Rapporteurs to visit the country and form their own opinion of the human rights situation on the ground. In so doing they would also have the opportunity to evaluate the Government’s efforts and the country’s need of support from the international community in the implementation of all the reform programmes under way. 64. Guinea-Bissau gave assurances that any recommendations would be given due consideration and would be of great help to its domestic authorities and institutions in their efforts to promote and protect human rights in the country. 10 GE.10-14446