A/HRC/22/9 implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights were currently being presented. 9. The delegation reported that Benin had hosted visits from the Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture in May 2008, and from the Special Rapporteur on the right to food in 2009, and noted that the measures adopted as follow-up to those visits were part of the progress made by Benin in complying with its international commitments. 10. At the domestic level, the delegation noted that the reform of civil and criminal procedures had resulted in the adoption of the Act of 28 February 2011 on the Code of Civil, Commercial, Social, Administrative and Accounting Procedure, as well as the Act of 30 March 2012 on the Code of Criminal Procedure. The delegation added that the Act of 30 March 2012 provided for a system of visits by international and national bodies to places where people were deprived of their liberty, as prescribed in articles 1 and 3 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. An implementing decree would establish the remit, composition and functioning of the national mechanism for the prevention of torture. 11. With regard to the continuation of the reforms aimed at consolidating the rule of law and promoting good governance, the delegation observed that the Beninese Government had adopted several general policy measures. For instance, in the area of poverty reduction, the document covering the period 2011–2014 included, in particular, measures for the survival, education and protection of children, the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality, and wastewater treatment in urban areas. Measures had also been taken to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment; to combat corruption and illicit enrichment through prevention and punishment, and to encourage girls’ education and ensure that education was free in all public schools. 12. In terms of human rights infrastructure, the delegation highlighted that the institution of the Ombudsman of the Republic contributed to improving the rule of law and administrative governance. Furthermore, the delegation noted that the reforms undertaken by Benin and the initiatives implemented in the area of promotion and protection of human rights with a view to achieving the Millennium Development Goals were in line with the follow-up to the previous universal periodic review. 13. With regard to access to justice, the delegation mentioned that many reforms had been undertaken, such as the construction of new prisons and the establishment of new courts. The latter had been provided with modern equipment and infrastructure. In addition, the delegation highlighted that, between 2008 and 2011, the number of judges sitting in the courts had increased from 73 to 133, and that the State had continued its policy of recruiting judicial officers. As a result, 40 court clerks, 30 judicial officers, 400 court administrators, and 2,000 police officers had been recruited in 2011. 14. Reporting the concern of the Government of Benin with regard to the poor conditions of detention, the delegation said that measures had been taken to improve everyday life for prisoners and facilitate their access to drinking water and quality health care. It added that, in order to ease prison overcrowding, the Government had set up a commission to explore solutions that might reduce the prison population. The delegation stressed that, as a result of the commission’s work, overcrowding in places of detention had been reduced significantly, with the prison population having dropped from 8,000 in January 2012 to 7,247 currently, of whom 360 were women. Benin had also strengthened efforts to put an end to ransom demands in prisons and stop the growth of corruption at all levels. 15. With regard to juvenile justice, the delegation said that the implementation of alternatives to prosecution and imprisonment of minors in conflict with the law had yielded 4 GE.12-18655