A/HRC/14/37 4. Concluding remarks of the State under review 524. The delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated that recommendations that were partially accepted referred to legislation amendments that had to follow an ongoing internal process, the outcome of which could not be known in advance. 525. The delegation objected to some interventions during the interactive dialogue that were considered politically motivated. It recalled that, without being liberal or secular, the Islamic Republic of Iran remained a democracy that should be accepted by the international community. Iranian democracy was only 30 years old, but had achieved many accomplishments, which the Government wanted to further improve. 526. The delegation welcomed the engagement of civil society and mentioned that, since the revolution, more than 7,000 non-governmental organizations had sprouted in the country. It found some harmony between certain non-governmental organization statements and the positions of the Governments hosting them, and that this did not seem a mere accident. 527. On the issue of torture, article 38 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran explicitly banned this practice and regarded it as a criminal act. Furthermore, Iran had no objection to joining the Convention against Torture, with only one caveat, which was the fact that the Convention considered torture a legal punishment established by Iran’s legislation. The Government was nevertheless studying the issue. 528. The delegation concluded its statement by reiterating the standing invitation to special procedures, and announced that it was organizing new missions, including the visit of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, scheduled for 2011. Madagascar 529. The review of Madagascar was held on 15 February 2010 in conformity with all the relevant provisions contained in Council resolution 5/1, and was based on the following documents: (a) The national report submitted by Madagascar in accordance with the annex to Council resolution 5/1, paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/7/MDG/1); (b) The compilation prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/7/MDG/2); (c) The summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/7/MDG/3). 530. At its 24th meeting, on 10 June 2010, the Council considered and adopted the outcome of the review of Madagascar (see section C below). 531. The outcome of the review of Madagascar comprises the report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (A/HRC/14/13), the views of Madagascar concerning the recommendations and/or conclusions, and its voluntary commitments and replies presented before the adoption of the outcome by the plenary to questions or issues that were not sufficiently addressed during the interactive dialogue in the Working Group (see also A/HRC/14/13/Add.1). 1. Views expressed by the State under review on the recommendations and/or conclusions, its voluntary commitments and the outcome 532. The head of the delegation thanked the 24 countries that had expressed interest in the protection and the promotion of human rights in Madagascar during the seventh session of the Working Group in February 2010, when 84 recommendations were made. GE.12-17781 127