A/HRC/21/5 Togo commended Tunisia’s ratification of several international conventions and the withdrawal of reservations to CEDAW. Togo made recommendations. 30. Turkey commended Tunisia on the democratic election of its Parliament, President and Government. Turkey congratulated Tunisia on its orderly transition to democracy as an inspirational model of success in the region, praising its efforts to strengthen the human rights situation in the country, particularly the adoption of a pluralistic electoral law. Turkey made recommendations. 31. Uganda commended Tunisia for, among others, the new amnesty law, release of political prisoners, prosecution of abusers of human rights and creation of a Ministry of Human Rights. It made recommendations. 32. The United Arab Emirates commended Tunisia’s progress in the field of human rights. It wanted also to know the steps taken to reduce economic and social disparities between various regions of the country. It made a recommendation. 33. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland welcomed the establishment of Tunisia’s first democratic Government and its commitments to human rights. It recognized however that challenges remained, particularly in security sector reform, judicial reform and the need to repeal or amend remaining repressive laws. It made recommendations. 34. The United States of America saluted the Tunisian people for initiating a transition to democracy and inspiring a wave of democratization across the Middle East. It commended Tunisia’s decision to release detained journalists, bloggers and political prisoners. It welcomed the launch of a Fact Finding Commission on Recent Abuses but was concerned that the Commission’s work had not been fully supported. It also expressed its concern on the violence between police and demonstrators during recent protests. It made recommendations. 35. Uruguay noted the opening of an OHCHR office in Tunis, which represented a positive step in the field of human rights. It also expressed its satisfaction for the determination of Tunisia to achieve gender equality, and for the ratification of the Optional Protocol to CEDAW. Uruguay made recommendations. 36. Tunisia stated that changes presently occurring did not only concern changes on the ground and legislative enactments, but rather the whole mentality of the nation. With respect to questions regarding torture and abuse, Tunisia stated that such practices had been a major cause of civil society struggle against the previous regime. The existence of torture and cruel and inhumane treatment had, for years, tarnished the image of Tunisia. Therefore, reforms had been undertaken in relation to legislation and prison conditions. In the context of the ratification of the OP-CAT, a committee to draft a law on the creation of national prevention mechanism had been established, mainly of members from civil society, with the participation of the Government. This committee would also organize human rights training programmes. 37. Tunisia emphasized the need to bring its legal framework in line with international standards. Human rights law had been introduced in the training programme, in particular for first-year studies at the Institut Supérieur de la Magistrature, and training in human rights was provided for the judiciary, law enforcement officers and prison wardens. 38. Ratification of the third Optional Protocol to CRC was under consideration and would constitute an additional step to strengthen respect for human rights and to complement measures previously adopted to combat the sale of children and the use of children in pornography. Significant steps had also been taken towards the ratification of other human rights instruments. 7