A/HRC/19/19 8. Haiti had also established a number of institutions that were connected to the protection of human rights, including the Ombudsman’s Office (Office Protecteur du Citoyen), the Ministry for the Status of Women and Women’s Rights, the Ministry of the Environment, the State Secretariat for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities, the National Identification Office, the National Office of Migration, the National Anti-Drug Commission, the Central Unit for Financial Information and the Anti-Corruption Unit. 9. Economic and social rights, which were complementary to civil and political rights, were enshrined in the preamble of the 1987 Constitution. Contrary to the latter rights, however, protection of the former depended on suitable economic circumstances. In that regard, a National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction paper, prepared in 2007, highlighted the policies and the means required to help the country emerge from poverty and distress, while giving priority to the basic needs of the citizen. 10. Haiti ensured the promotion and protection of human rights. The death penalty had been abolished in 1988 and replaced by life imprisonment. Thus at trials held in 2001 and 2002, law enforcement officers had been convicted of summary executions. Freedom of expression and freedom of opinion, which were enshrined in article 28 of the Constitution, were currently among the best defended rights in Haiti. For example, the perpetrators of the murder of the journalist Brignol Lindor in 2001 had been tried and convicted. Freedom of religion and freedom of association, enshrined in articles 30 and 31 of the Constitution, were freely exercised in Haiti. 11. Among recent actions, Haiti had ratified the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. In addition, an Act concerning the prohibition and elimination of all forms of abuse, violence, ill-treatment or inhuman treatment against children had come into force in 2003. Further progress would be made when the preliminary bill on trafficking in persons was passed by Parliament. 12. With regard to adoption, the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption was in the course of ratification and a new text amending the former 1974 Act, tabled before Parliament, had already been passed by the Chamber of Deputies. 13. Several administrative measures had been taken, including the establishment of a Brigade for the Protection of Minors within the National Police Force in May 2003 and the opening of a helpline for women and children in danger. 14. The rights of migrant workers had been a source of concern for the Haitian authorities. In response, a Ministry for Haitians Living Abroad had been established to meet the requirements of Haitians living abroad and especially to serve as a facilitator and spokesperson vis-à-vis the authorities. 15. A great deal of effort had been made by the authorities to promote children’s rights, including the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 23 December 1994 and the decrees passed in 1995 and 2005 to facilitate late birth registrations, which had extended the scope of civil registration services. 16. The situation regarding street children had worsened following the earthquake of 12 January 2010. Many steps had been taken to improve matters, including the placement of some of the children concerned in homes. 17. The right to food, enshrined in article 22 of the Constitution, was one of the chief priorities of the Haitian authorities. Despite the Government’s efforts in that respect, many Haitians were affected by malnutrition. 4 GE.11-17271