A/HRC/28/14 sex slaves. Such acts clearly constituted crimes against humanity involving the intention to commit ethnic cleansing and genocide. 24. The delegation said that one great challenge for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) was how to deal with the 1.5 million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). The delegation noted that the KRG had displayed willingness, taken initiatives and established benchmarks aimed at further enhancing its legal and political institutions in the past few years. 25. The delegation stated that the Law on Combating Domestic Violence had been enacted in 2011. The law prohibited female genital mutilation (FGM) and criminalized forced and child marriages, verbal, physical and psychological abuse of girls and women, child abuse and child labour. It also established four courts to deal with domestic violence, women’s shelters and specialized ongoing training for judges and police offers. A quota system to ensure women’s participation in politics had been established. FGM had been decreasing each year. 26. Provision had been made for equal political participation of minorities in the Parliament of Kurdistan and the municipal councils. 27. On media freedom, the delegation stated that there were vibrant local media and that criticism of government policies was common. The 2008 Press Freedom Law together with other legislation guaranteed the balanced practical exercise of the right. 28. Government transparency was another important step forward. The draft constitution on demonstrations enshrined international law, and public demonstrations in cities were permitted and practiced. 29. On the detention issue, the delegation stated that the Judicial Council had set up special courts to investigate human rights concerns in all prisons in the Kurdistan region. Their purpose was to speed up the judicial proceedings relating to prolonged detention issues. Conditions in detention facilities had also been improved. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 30. During the interactive dialogue, 90 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 31. The Islamic Republic of Iran commended government efforts to promote and protect human rights, while condemning terrorist and Takfiri groups’ activities that led to human rights violations. 32. Ireland welcomed and encouraged continued reductions in child mortality rates. Ireland expressed concern at legislation identifying the commission of an offence with honourable motives as a mitigating excuse. 33. Israel noted the need for constitutional reform. It deplored restrictions on freedom of expression and condemned legal provisions promoting the forced, early and temporary marriage of young girls. 34. Italy noted the deteriorating situation for religious minorities. Italy, while welcoming the criminalization of FGM in the Kurdistan region, was concerned that provisions of the Jaafari Personal Status Law contradicted the rights of children and women. 35. Japan expressed concern about the large number of persons displaced by the terrorist activities of ISIL and urged all parties concerned to observe relevant international human rights and humanitarian law. 6