A/HRC/19/19 73. Burkina Faso thanked the delegation for its constructive commitment during the universal periodic review. It appreciated the efforts made by Haiti to promote and protect human rights despite the political, socio-economic and judicial challenges. Burkina Faso expressed its regret for the lost of human life and material damage caused by the 2010 earthquake. It noted with satisfaction the preparation of a National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction. Burkina Faso made a recommendation. 74. The Dominican Republic recalled that it was fully committed to the reconstruction and development of its neighbour, Haiti. It considered that when reviewing the human rights situation in Haiti, it was necessary to take into account the catastrophic situation of the country and considered that the priority should be the return to normality, without neglecting human rights. It also recalled that a year and a half had passed since the earthquake and that Haitians were still waiting for the assistance agreed to by the international community. It encouraged the newly established Government to undertake all possible efforts to defend human rights. 75. Djibouti congratulated Haiti on the holding of the latest election and in particular for its efforts to promote and protect human rights despite very difficult socio-economic situation. Djibouti called upon the international community to stand by Haiti and its process of reconstruction by providing fresh impetus to the democratic institutions of the country. Djibouti made recommendations. 76. Senegal stressed that while Haiti had to rely on itself, it also relied on active solidarity of other countries and international community as a whole. Senegal took note of the goodwill of the Government to work constructively to promote and protect human rights. Senegal urged everybody at the international, regional and bilateral levels, including international financial institutions and civil society, to provide political, financial, material and technical support to the Government and people of Haiti, particularly in its priority areas. Senegal invited OHCHR to step up the level of assistance provided to the authorities and to the independent expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti. 77. Barbados noted positively the Government of Haiti’s 2010 Action Plan for National Reconstruction and Development aimed at targeting priority areas critical to economic development and social-recovery efforts. Barbados noted that more work should also be done with regard to providing access to food and health care and protecting the basic human rights of vulnerable groups such as children. It called on the international community to continue its support for Haiti’s reconstruction efforts and policies aimed at promoting development, reforming the justice system and other priorities areas. Barbados made a recommandation. 78. The delegation of Haiti thanked all the delegations who had taken the floor to ask questions and make suggestions or recommendations to the Haitian authorities. 79. In response to the suggestions that some delegations had made for the establishment of a national human rights institution, they said that such an institution already existed, under the name of Office de la Protection du Citoyen. 80. The delegation also recalled that Haiti had already ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 81. They said that a specialized service had been set up for sexually assaulted women, while criminal proceedings were initiated against the perpetrators. An awareness campaign was needed among the authorities and civil society in order to convince those who still tended to stigmatize women who had been subjected to rape and other sexual abuse to change their attitude. 82. The delegation stressed that Haitian women played a major part in Haitian society. They were represented throughout the power structure and had already occupied the highest 12 GE.11-17271