A/HRC/41/12/Add.1 36. The creation of the working group demonstrates the Government’s willingness to take all necessary measures to prevent and suppress all practices of trafficking in persons. 37. This means that the Government shares the concerns raised and accepts the recommendations made by the United States of America, including those related to trafficking in persons. 38. The Comoros therefore accepts recommendation 119.12. 39. Recommendation 119.14 deals with early marriages and genital mutilation. 40. In accordance with the provisions of article 19 of the Constitution of 23 December 2001, the Assembly of the Union deliberated on and adopted the Family Code Act, which expressly prohibits early marriage. 41. Article 8 provides that betrothal results from a solemn promise of marriage made with mutual consent by a man and a woman of at least 18 years of age. 42. Article 14 provides that no one under the age of 18 years may enter into marriage. 43. However, under article 15, the judge performing the marriage ceremony may grant exemptions from the age requirement for serious and legitimate reasons if both the future spouses consent. 44. Therefore, the Government accepts recommendation 119.14 made by Rwanda. 45. It should be noted that the practice of female genital mutilation does not exist in the Comoros. Conclusion 46. All the recommendations received have been carefully examined. This has enabled the authorities to recognize the importance of some aspects of human rights that they had previously considered secondary or even marginal. 47. The Government has taken a significant step forward in accepting recommendations that will require major awareness-raising and educational efforts before they can be accepted by a rather conservative population. 48. The Government hopes to return for its next universal periodic review with results that meet its own and the Human Rights Council’s expectations. 49. However, as has already been stated, the Comoros is counting on international cooperation to implement some of the recommendations it has accepted. We would like to express our gratitude in advance to our current and future partners. 4 GE.19-10327