A/HRC/28/14 69. The State of Palestine welcomed the efforts to reduce poverty but the impact of poverty on children was of concern. It noted progress achieved through the enactment of legislation and adopting strategies, such as the national strategy for education and higher education, and strategy for illiteracy. 70. The Sudan appreciated the efforts made, particularly on the rights of women and children with disabilities, through the adoption of the National Strategy to Combat the Violence against Women, and the maternal and child health-care strategy, and the accession to CRPD. 71. Sweden was concerned by the situation regarding Iraqi women’s rights and encouraged the Government to overcome differences between political parties so as to focus on helping displaced persons. 72. Switzerland was concerned by the committed and continuing human rights violations perpetrated by the IS, but also by the Iraqi Armed Forces and the increasing use of the death penalty, often without due process. 73. Tajikistan noted measures adopted by the Government, particularly the national human rights plan that would promote respect for rights in all areas of life. 74. Thailand remained concerned at violence and discrimination against women and girls. Thailand condemned the systematic violation of human rights by ISIL and associated armed and urged all parties involved in the conflict to comply with international humanitarian law. 75. The head of delegation reported that the High Commission for Human Rights was functioning and implementing its mandate, including to receive and investigate complaints, monitor, write reports and, at the same time, submit recommendations to the Government. The Government had issued guidelines to all ministries instructing them to cooperate with the Commission. The Commission had already conducted many programmes and activities, including on freedom of expression, supporting the media and civil society. It had suggested the creation of a specialized human rights tribunal. The Government continued providing support to the Commission, to enable it to undertake its role effectively. 76. On women’s rights, the delegation stated that a national team had been formed to implement the recommendations of CEDAW. The draft Jaafari law had been withdrawn. On violence against women, Iraq had started implementing the National Strategy against Violence. Four areas were identified by the National Plan of Action to implement Security Council resolution 1325. On early, temporary and informal marriage, the statute established the age of marriage as 15 years for boys and girls only by judicial decision, otherwise it was 18 years. It sanctioned forced marriage. 77. The delegation emphasized that the Iraqi Constitution in its article 37, paragraph 1 (c), banned torture and compensation to victims, while article 333 of the Penal Law provided for the criminalization and punishment of any form of torture by public servants. In 2008, Iraq established a committee under the Ministry of Human Rights to harmonize Iraqi legislation with the provisions of CAT. Given the very specific circumstances that prevailed on the security front, officials and officers might have conducted actions that are not compatible with human rights. The officials were held accountable and subjected to disciplinary sanctions, the most severe of which were dismissal and referral of the case to the courts. Over 516 cases during 2008–2014 were documented, with many of those cases having been prosecuted. A number of commissions had been established to look into complaints of torture. The measures taken by the Ministry of Human Rights to address torture consisted of direct on-site monitoring and serious follow-up action. The Ministry also received complaints either directly from persons alleging torture or from their relatives. In addition, it contacted the Judicial Council (Office 9