A/HRC/10/75 Page 4 arbitrary arrest and detention, respects freedom of speech and press, peaceful assembly and association, as well as religion. Moving forward, the Government is committed to studying the framework for accession to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The United Arab Emirates has amply demonstrated its commitment to these principles through the enactment of several laws that have been effectively implemented. 8. The population has a high standard of living and is now reaping the benefits of investment in education, health and social services: more than 648,000 students were enrolled in 1,259 public and private schools in 2007/2008 and the Government's policy of guaranteeing free education up to university level has resulted in a 93 per cent literacy rate. Today, there are over 60 public and private universities in the country, and a commitment to raising the age for compulsory education to 18 years. 9. Rapid advancement in health-care facilities drastically reduced infant mortality to about 8 per 1,000 births in 2008 and raised the average life expectancy age to 77 years for men and 80 for women. 10. The Government’s strategy focuses on ensuring country-wide sustainable development, which includes enacting legislation and special regulations for the assimilation of people with special needs and other vulnerable groups; increasing rehabilitation and training programmes in partnership with other local and private institutions; providing free or subsidized housing; training social welfare dependents for the job market; providing financial assistance to those in need; and enacting legislation to encourage local institutions, individuals and the private sector to provide social services. 11. The country’s social security policy illustrates this effort: in 2008, the Government allocated over $600 million in financial assistance to 16 vulnerable sections of society, numbering nearly 38,000 people, with the elderly, disabled, orphans, widows and divorced women topping the list of beneficiaries. The State is committed to acceding to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 12. With regard to the protection of children, the State has taken substantive measures concerning adequate childcare, enacting legislation that regulates children’s rights to health care, education and a protected upbringing. It is committed to accession to the protocols of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 13. The State regards political participation, women and labour as critical to its pursuit of a positive human rights record. Major steps have been taken in recent years to modernize and institutionalize the Government structure, to make it more responsive to the needs of its growing population and to widen avenues of participation. It has a tradition of direct political participation, popularly known as majlis or council, which has existed for centuries. The tradition of consultation and dialogue was reflected in the establishment of the United Arab Emirates federation in 1971, as well as the consultative body of the nation, the Federal National Council, soon after. At the local level, individual emirates have consultative mechanisms that hear complaints and suggestions from the people, and ensure they have a voice in the decisionmaking process. 14. The political modernization plan outlined by the President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a multi-stage process. With the intention of making the Federal National Council a