A/HRC/21/5 49. Austria welcomed the opening of an OHCHR office in Tunis, accession to several international instruments as well as the creation of a national independent committee on transitional justice. However, it deplored that prison sentences had been handed down to protect public order and morality. It made recommendations. 50. Azerbaijan welcomed the efforts made to draft new legal provisions to ensure the real independence of the judiciary. It also noted with appreciation the social measures taken as well as the measures to reinforce the participation of all citizens in public life. Azerbaijan made recommendations. 51. Bahrain underlined that Tunisia was making progress in areas such as education, health and living conditions. It also asked for more information on the indicators of success of programmes and plans for development and for meeting its Millennium Development Goals. 52. Belgium commended the efforts made in the area of human rights since the fall of the Ben Ali regime. Despite the progress accomplished, Belgium highlighted the need to remain vigilant so that Tunisia would pursue its path towards a full and modern democracy. It made recommendations. 53. Botswana noted that Tunisia had managed to make human rights a priority despite the pressures of a major political transition. Some of the milestones included ratification of the Rome Statute of the ICC and the OP-CAT as well as the election of the National Constituent Assembly. Botswana made recommendations. 54. Brazil congratulated Tunisia for the remarkable achievements since last year, including the democratic, free and transparent elections; the ratification of several human rights treaties and the withdrawal of reservations to CEDAW. It underlined that special attention should be given to include in the new Constitution provisions which guarantee the rights to freedom of opinion and expression. Brazil made a recommendation. 55. Burkina Faso noted with satisfaction the implementation of UPR recommendations relating to the ratification of several human rights instruments. It also highlighted the importance of the media in the democratic process and in the protection and promotion of citizens’ rights. 56. Canada asked for examples of strategies and initiatives carried out to protect the rights of members of religious minorities and the results achieved so far. Canada made recommendations. 57. Chad noted with satisfaction that, despite resistance, Tunisia was now promoting and protecting human rights in all areas of life, and calling on the international community to support further the country. Chad made a recommendation. 58. Chile welcomed the establishment of a national committee to investigate crimes committed in January 2011, reforms to promote and protect the right to demonstrate peacefully and the changes in the military justice. Chile considered as a good initiative the inclusion of civil society’s recommendations in the national report, and would like to know how the consultations with the NGOs were handled. It made recommendations. 59. China appreciated Tunisia’s implementation of the accepted recommendations from the first UPR and efforts made to promote and protect human rights. China welcomed Tunisia’s ratification of the CRPD and the submission of reports to the Committee on the Rights of the Child and to the CEDAW committee. China acknowledged Tunisia’s progress in combating unemployment and poverty. China made recommendations. 60. Congo congratulated Tunisia on its willingness to implement recommendations from the first cycle of UPR. Congo noted with satisfaction Tunisia’s ratification of international human rights instruments, the withdrawal of reservations to certain provisions of these 9