A/HRC/13/12 what measures have been envisaged to remedy the situation. In addition, France made several recommendations. 44. Nicaragua noted that Dominica has a regulatory and administrative framework able to guarantee the defence and promotion of citizen’s human rights. Nicaragua recognized the achievements made in the social and economic spheres and congratulated Dominica for its efforts to build a society free of violence giving special value to respect and equality for women and children. Nicaragua made recommendations. 45. The United Kingdom noted that, as with all countries, there are areas where more work would further aid implementation. It noted that Dominica has recognised a need to further update and strengthen legislative, institutional and procedural frameworks in order to reflect current international human rights norms. It welcomed Dominica’s commitment to making the necessary reform in the shortest possible time and acknowledged that limitations on progress may be imposed by capacity constraints, particularly human resources. The United Kingdom acknowledged Dominica’s vulnerability to natural disasters and the devastating effects on infrastructure and livelihoods. The United Kingdom made recommendations. 46. Mexico recognized the efforts made by Dominica to ratify international conventions on the trafficking of persons, migrants and refugees and conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) as well as regional instruments of return and child adoption. Mexico indentified as a challenges facing Dominica the complete harmonisation of domestic legislation with international instruments to which it is a party, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Eliminations of all Discriminations against Women, with their respective Optional Protocols. Mexico asked about progress in this area. Mexico made recommendations. 47. China appreciated the efforts of Dominica in recent years and the achievements in safeguarding the rights of women and children and improving their status, in combating human trafficking, and in other areas. China recalled that the government provides free medical care for persons over 60 and below 18, and has taken positive measures to protect the right of detainees and to facilitate their reintegration, especially juvenile offenders into society. China noted that in areas such as combating HIV/AIDS, protecting the rights of indigenous and disabled people, and improving the scope and equality of education, some difficulties and challenges still exist. China appreciated efforts to address the above mentioned problems. China noted that Dominica faces difficulties and requires technical assistance with regard to the submission of reports to human rights treaty bodies and requested information on the specific challenges and the nature of the assistance required from the international community. 48. Slovenia noted that, according to the summary of stakeholders’ submissions, corporal punishment of children is still lawful in the home as well as public and private schools. It inquired whether Dominica planned to prohibit corporal punishment of children in all settings. It noted that Dominica has not ratified some of the core human rights instruments, such as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and asked whether Dominica planned to ratify these two instruments. Slovenia also noted that Dominica does not report regularly to treaty bodies (five reports being overdue to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women since 1982) and asked how the international community could help Dominica to fulfil its reporting obligations. Slovenia made recommendations. 49. Germany stated that there were reports about the wide use of corporal punishment which gave cause for concern. It asked how Dominica was addressing this issue. Germany also made recommendations. 9