A/HRC/13/56 human rights. Cuba noted the priority areas identified in the field of human rights and the measures taken to protect vulnerable groups, as well as the considerable progress made to empower women and to promote women’s rights. Cuba reiterated its appeal to developed countries and relevant United Nations programmes to meet the request for cooperation and assistance contained in the national report of Dominica. 591. Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) noted the challenges faced by Dominica in its exposure to the vicissitudes of nature, as well as the economic difficulties now aggravated by the world financial crisis. It acknowledged the Government’s efforts to prepare the national report with the participation of various sectors of civil society. Venezuela expressed satisfaction at Dominica’s reply regarding the improvement in living conditions of indigenous populations, particularly the Kalinago people, with considerable investment being made in housing and the water supply. 592. The United States of America commended the progress made in the advancement and promotion of women’s rights and gender mainstreaming, and the efforts to curb gender-based violence and discrimination in the areas of health, economic development, education and decision-making. It reiterated its strong support for the recommendation regarding the creation of public campaigns to combat social discrimination against those with HIV/AIDS. It urged Dominica to consider promoting legislation to guarantee the protection of citizens who had been discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity or the fact that they had HIV/AIDS. It appreciated Dominica’s commitment to improve prison and detention conditions, its acceptance of the recommendations for the separation of prisoners based on the severity of crimes committed and the creation of a separate judicial and detention system for minors. 3. General comments made by other relevant stakeholders 593. The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, in a joint statement with the International Lesbian and Gay Association (Europe), noted the recommendations to ensure nondiscrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and HIV status, and to develop awareness programmes on these grounds, urging Dominica to accept these recommendations. It regretted that Dominica had not accepted the recommendations to decriminalize sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex. It commended Dominica’s support for the Organization of American States resolution on sexual orientation, gender identity and human rights, adopted by consensus in 2009. It urged the Government to fulfil the commitment by bringing its criminal legislation into conformity with international law and ensuring that all Dominicans were protected from discrimination, including on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. 4. Concluding remarks of the State under review 594. The Permanent Representative of Dominica thanked Member States and civil society for their comments. He reiterated the constraints faced by Dominica, particularly with regard to the issues of trade, which had seriously affected the country’s ability to survive economically. He also referred to the impact of climate change and the enormous financial amounts spent on the coastal areas owing to the severity of the hurricanes. 595. In response to recommendations 3, 6, 7 and 8 of paragraph 71 of the Working Group report, the Representative reiterated Dominica’s position that the Government provided social services to those affected by HIV/AIDS, irrespective of their sexual orientation, and that there was no policy of discrimination. It was extremely difficult, however, to promote sensitivity to persons who had been affected by this disease because of a particular sexual orientation, by virtue of the fact that same-sex relations were a criminal offence in Dominica. The Government of Dominica was not currently in a position to support recommendations 3, 6, 7 and 8. 169