A/HRC/29/16 adult sexual relations and on discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons, and on the age of criminality. 10. As part of the consultative process, following the elections in 2011, a decision had been taken to bring those recommendations before the National Assembly. The Government had therefore tabled a motion and asked that those matters be sent to a Parliamentary Special Select Committee. The motion had been approved by the National Assembly; a Parliamentary Special Select Committee had been appointed and had commenced meeting in 2012. 11. The Select Committee had not concluded its work at the time of reporting but had commenced by focusing on the abolition of corporal punishment. Public hearings had been held and submissions had been received from government agencies, civil society and experts. It had become evident during the hearings that the abolition of corporal punishment in schools remained an issue on which sections of society were staunchly and equally divided. Nonetheless, the delegation highlighted the enactment of the Training School (Amendment) Act 2010 and the Juvenile Offenders (Amendment) Act 2010, which abolished corporal punishment in juvenile correctional institutions. Also, the new Child Care and Development Services Act (2011) prohibited corporal punishment in institutional residences. 12. Although the Parliamentary Special Select Committee had not completed its mandate with regard to the recommendations on the abolition of the death penalty, the Criminal Law Offences (Amendment) Act No. 21 of 2010 had removed the mandatory death penalty for persons convicted of murder and made provisions for life imprisonment and imprisonment with the possibility of parole. The death penalty was retained only in limited cases, such as the murder of a police officer on duty or a judicial officer, or treason. As a result, during the past five years more than 15 prisoners on death row had had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment; some of those prisoners would be coming up for parole. At the time of reporting there were 13 prisoners on death row. During the period under review no prisoner on death row had been executed. 13. The Parliamentary Special Select Committee also had a mandate to receive and hear submissions on the attitude of Guyanese regarding changes in legislative provisions and the Criminal Code regarding consensual adult same-sex relationships and discrimination, perceived or real, against LGBT persons. Due to the prorogation of the tenth Parliament, the Committee’s work had ceased. The Government hoped to resubmit those matters to the National Assembly following general elections in May. 14. During the reporting period, there had been unfettered freedom of expression by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), religious organizations and the media on LGBT issues. In response to an NGO submission on LGBT rights in Guyana, the Government wished to reiterate that the State did not discriminate against persons based on their sexual orientation and that every Guyanese was entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms as provided for in the Constitution, laws and policies of Guyana. 15. Consultations had been held across the country by the Ministry of Education on the abolition of corporal punishment. 16. The delegation highlighted the Low Carbon Development Strategy and the GuyanaNorway partnership. Under the partnership, Guyana was targeted to earn up to US$ 250 million for its forest climate services. The funds earned were being used for the implementation of projects and initiatives identified in the Low Carbon Development Strategy; a significant portion had gone to interventions that focused on the indigenous population. 4