A/HRC/22/9 45. Indonesia appreciated Benin’s enactment of laws, such as the Act on corruption, money-laundering and illicit enrichment, and the Act on prevention and punishment of violence against women; the establishment of the National Council for the Promotion of Gender Equity and Equality, as well as the National Institute for Women’s Advancement. It made recommendations. 46. Iraq valued the enactment of laws to combat corruption, money-laundering, prevention and punishment of violence against women and the enactment of the penal law and procedures. It also valued the ratification of the Convention on the protection of displaced persons and the CRPD. It paid tribute to the adoption of rules regarding movement of children, and actions taken to combat trafficking in children. It made recommendations. 47. Italy welcomed Benin’s ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR. It expressed concern about the ritual infanticides of so-called “witch children” as well as the abuse of minors working as domestic servants, and noted the persistence of female genital mutilation. It also highlighted the poor standards of detention facilities. Italy made recommendations. 48. Kuwait noted Benin’s commitment to eradicate poverty and that the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and the Growth Strategy for Poverty Reduction brought together national policy measures aimed at not only fighting poverty, but also improving access to basic infrastructure and social services, promoting economic growth, gender equality and women’s empowerment. Kuwait made recommendations. 49. Latvia noted that Benin had strengthened its cooperation with the special procedures of the Human Rights Council and has undertaken preparatory work for a visit by the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Latvia made a recommendation. 50. Libya paid tribute to Benin for its progress to improve the education system and implement gradual free education for all. It also paid tribute to the legislative measures to improve gender equality and women’s empowerment, the strategy on reduction of poverty, the enactment of the law to combat trafficking in children, as well as the setting up of the Ombudsman office. Libya made recommendations. 51. Liechtenstein welcomed Benin’s efforts to provide the public education sector with the necessary financial resources. It noted with appreciation the Government’s adoption of decrees implementing the laws concerning the suppression of child trafficking. Liechtenstein acknowledged Benin’s commitment to international justice. It made recommendations. 52. Luxembourg expressed concern about the lack of legal protection for children against physical violence and the persistence of ritual infanticides of children accused of “witchcraft.” It was also concerned about domestic violence against women and female genital mutilation. It also noted that food security remained an important concern for a majority of the population. Luxembourg made recommendations. 53. Malaysia commended the Government’s active work in strengthening its national normative and institutional framework for the promotion and protection of human rights, particularly in the area of poverty reduction, women’s empowerment and children’s rights. It applauded Benin for providing free education for girls up to their second year of secondary school. It made recommendations. 54. Mauritania paid tribute to Benin for its efforts to fight poverty and for giving priority attention to the most disadvantaged. It encouraged Benin to improve the condition of detainees and promote the rights of women, children and the disabled. It enquired as to how 8 GE.12-18655

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