A/HRC/12/50 Congo 277. The review of the Congo was held on 6 May 2009 in conformity with all the relevant provisions contained in Council resolution 5/1, and was based on the national report submitted by the Congo in accordance with the annex to Council resolution 5/1, paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/5/COG/1); the compilation prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/5/COG/2 and Corr.1); and the summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/5/COG/3). 278. At its 15th meeting, on 23 September 2009, the Council considered and adopted the outcome of the review on the Congo (see section C below). 279. The outcome of the review on the Congo comprises the report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (A/HRC/12/6), the views of the Congo concerning the recommendations and/or conclusions, and its voluntary commitments and replies presented before the adoption of the outcome by the plenary to questions or issues that were not sufficiently addressed during the interactive dialogue in the Working Group. 1. Views expressed by the State under review on the recommendations and/or conclusions as well as on its voluntary commitments and on the outcome 280. The Minister for Primary and Secondary Education in charge of literacy, Rosalie Kama Niamayoua, noted that democracy was a process affected by a wide range of constraints, including cultural difficulties inherent to each country and society. The Congo reaffirmed its commitment to the universal periodic review mechanism, and expressed its determination to live up to all its international obligations. Despite the obstacles faced in a number of areas, the Government would spare no effort to bring about a society in the Congo where people can live, think, express their views, move and act freely. 281. The delegation indicated that it was in this spirit that the 50 recommendations accepted by the Congo on 8 May 2009 were already being implemented. For this purpose, an inter-ministerial commission responsible for monitoring the implementation of the recommendations had been established. 282. The Congo had ratified the two protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Moreover, it planned to ratify several other international conventions and the protocols thereto. The bill allowing the ratification of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, as well as the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance were being considered by the two chambers of Parliament. 283. The National Human Rights Commission was independent and had the authority to convene its own meetings (auto-court referral). The Government had taken due note of the recommendation to establish an institution in line with the Paris Principles. In that regard, the procedure of accreditation was under way and the Congo was working, inter alia, in the framework of the 2010 budgetary period to implement two basic commitments: to increase the funds allocated to the institution; and to speed up the rehabilitation of its headquarters. 284. The measures aimed at strengthening the protection of human rights and setting needs-related priorities were contained in the preliminary draft of the national action plan on human rights for the period 2009–2013. In order to achieve this goal, the Government of the Congo requested the support and assistance of the international community. With regard to the rights of the child, the Congo was bound by the provisions of the international conventions that it had already ratified. 104