A/HRC/21/5 following up on the recommendations of the UPR and other human rights mechanisms as well as the evaluation mission of the OHCHR to Tunis right after the Revolution. 7. Based on its will to consolidate its cooperation with international human rights mechanisms, Tunisia had prepared a number of reports to the human rights treaty bodies and extended a standing invitation to all special procedures. Three mandate holders had accepted this invitation and visited Tunisia in 2011 and 2012, and four more visits were planned for this year. Tunisia had also acceded, inter alia, to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as well as to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OP-CAT) in June 2011, and it was completing consultations with civil society regarding the creation of a national mechanism for the prevention of torture. A national consultation was held last Saturday and has approved the creation of a national commission composed of 60 per cent of civil society representatives and 40 per cent of Government institutions representatives in order to draft a law on the creation of the national mechanism. Furthermore, Tunisia had adopted additional measures to create a legal framework for the prevention of torture, including the definition of the crime of torture in conformity with CAT and to declare confessions obtained under torture null and void. The National Constituent Assembly will soon consider a draft law to abolish the statutory limitation of 15 years prescribed for this crime. Tunisia had also concluded a number of agreements to host offices by international organizations, including OHCHR and UNHCR, and it had removed remaining obstacles for the work of NGOs. All measures demonstrated Tunisia’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of its first cycle report at the UPR. 8. Since January 2011, Tunisia had worked to build a democratic system by taking measures such as a general amnesty and the recognition of human rights defenders, ensuring rights for victims, launching the process of transitional justice on the basis of wide national consensus, developing national human rights institutions, establishing a Ministry for human rights and transitional justice, and reforming the judiciary. Furthermore, it was reforming its national security service into a republican administrative body that would protect the rights of all without discrimination, conscious that the protection of fundamental freedoms was no less important than national security. Thus, Tunisia was establishing a pluralist democratic State attaching great importance to civil and political rights, freedom of expression, and the right to create parties and associations. 9. At the same time, Tunisia sought to further incorporate women’s rights into its development plans, and to firmly establish gender equality and develop constitutional mechanisms to guarantee their full participation in social and political life. The Government was also working with civil society to prevent violence against women and assist victims. Furthermore, it was taking efforts to ensure sound educational conditions and to adopt the necessary measures, mechanisms, legislation and policies to protect child rights at all levels. 10. Tunisia was convinced that political reform and democracy were possible, because it was uniting all forces to ensure stability in its development efforts so as to have a balanced society with economic stability and the enjoyment of economic and social rights, including access to health care and adequate living conditions. The Government was listening to the people’s choice and strove to overcome poverty and marginalization. It had made efforts under its financial law of 2012 to adopt a budget that would help vulnerable groups and develop the infrastructure to provide basic services to all. The protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms was a strategic choice. A new Constitution is being drawn up by the Constitutional Assembly, following the first free and fair elections. The Government would continue to work towards a pluralist democracy, in consultation with all segments of society. In this process, it welcomed all constructive recommendations and support. The lack of democracy in the past had not allowed the spread of a democratic culture, but the 4