A/HRC/14/37 during the current session of the Council. The 50 recommendations that were deferred had been considered at the national level, and the delegation wished to report to the Council thereon. 590. Recommendations 1 to 8 under paragraph 99 of the report (A/HRC/14/6) called on the Gambia to ratify or accede to the main human rights instruments, namely the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 591. The delegation stated that the ratification process of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was far advanced, as this treaty was in line with the constitutional protection provided to persons with disabilities in the Gambia. The Gambia was also considering the list of human rights instruments and would endeavour to ratify or accede to them. It therefore hoped to engage the international community and the treaty bodies for technical assistance in this area. With regard to the two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as reported in February 2010, the protocols had been ratified in April 2008 by the National Assembly and the instruments of ratification had been sent to the United Nations Headquarters to be deposited. 592. Recommendations 9 to 14, 40 and 43 dealt with the need to enact legislation and to set up mechanisms and structures to promote and protect women’s rights in line with the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and other international legal instruments, especially the protection against all forms of violence. To demonstrate the Gambia’s commitment to women’s rights, the Women’s Bill 2009 was enacted in April 2010, incorporating the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the rights of women in Africa. In addition, several other measures were being taken to promote women’s rights and children. They included the validation of the national gender and women empowerment policy in May 2010, which had an entire section dealing with measures and strategies to eradicate violence against women and gender-based violence. The strategies of the policy included a national study on the gender-based violence, to be conducted in 2010 and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). After the study, a national programme would be developed and supported by UNDP. Key institutions would be strengthened to keep proper records on gender-based violence, and supported by UNDP. The laws of the Gambia would also be reviewed, with a view to formulate a separate and comprehensive bill on gender-based violence. Women leaders would be trained on their roles and responsibilities, leadership and conflict resolution. The strategy further involved a review of laws, with a view to fully harmonize all international, regional and national commitments on the promotion, protection and empowerment of women. 593. The recommendations on female genital mutilation (28–30, 40–42 and 44) were discussed with key stakeholders, such as National Assembly members, religious leaders and women’s leaders. The outcome of the consultations revealed that legislation was not the answer now, although there was an urgent need for continued public education on the dangers of this practice and for a national study. Subsequently, a national steering committee had been set-up to review the WSU Kafo study to determine if it could be used GE.12-17781 137