A/HRC/21/3 109. Oman commended Morocco on its attention to strategic planning on human rights and its determination to work in compliance with international treaties and implement their provisions. 110. Pakistan commended Morocco for the structural reforms undertaken in the judicial system and its strategic planning in the field of human rights and the adoption of the Plan for Democracy and Human Rights. It noted Morocco’s efforts to combat poverty. Pakistan made a recommendation. 111. Palestine congratulated Morocco on its role in consolidating regional mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights. It welcomed the new Constitution, which allowed greater political participation, an improved election process and better access to justice. Palestine made a recommendation. 112. Philippines welcomed Morocco’s recent initiatives on developing more institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights, especially the establishment in 2011 of the Inter-Ministerial Council on Human Rights, the Ombudsman and the broadening of the mandate of its National Human Rights Council. The Philippines made a recommendation. 113. Portugal welcomed the withdrawal of the reservations to CEDAW and the new constitutional norms on equality under the law on inheritance, custody and marriage. It asked how those changes would be reflected in practice, namely the Family Code. Portugal made recommendations. 114. Qatar congratulated Morocco for having issued an open invitation in April 2011 to special procedures officers. It welcomed positive initiatives in the area of employment. Qatar made recommendations. 115. Republic of Moldova welcomed the establishment in Morocco of regional mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights and inquired about preliminary assessment of these mechanisms. It also noted Morocco’s experience in integrating gender dimension in the budgetary programming. It made recommendations. 116. Romania congratulated Morocco for the introduction in its strategic planning of the Plan for Democracy and Human Rights, as well as the first four priority fields mentioned in the National Report. It also commended Morocco for its commitment towards human rights. 117. The Russian Federation noted Morocco’s measures for strengthening legislative framework for protection of human rights, reforms for judicial law-enforcement system, individual and collective rights, including freedom of assembly, adoption of a new Constitution and creation of the National Council on Human Rights. It made a recommendation. 118. Saudi Arabia stressed the efforts deployed by Morocco through strengthening human rights mechanisms and noted the adoption of the new Moroccan Constitution by a referendum. Saudi Arabia made a recommendation. 119. Senegal welcomed the guarantees on human rights in the new Constitution and the creation of structures and mechanisms to strengthen the institutional framework. It highlighted that Morocco would need technical support to enable it to overcome challenges. Senegal made recommendations. 120. Singapore highlighted Morocco’s efforts to further strengthen its domestic human rights framework, including the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Unit on Human Rights in 2011. It also commended Morocco’s efforts for improvement of the health care system, and in particular, reduction in maternal mortality rate. Singapore made recommendations. 14