A/HRC/15/60 literacy rates, the political empowerment of women, the improvement in health services and freedom of press were indicative of policy successes. The steps taken to establish a national human rights commission were laudable. 404. Nigeria commended Lesotho for its insightful comments on the Working Group report, which demonstrated the country’s readiness to continue to engage with the United Nations human rights system. It commended Lesotho also for the additional information provided on the protection of human rights, in spite of the numerous challenges, and on its acceptance and work towards the implementation of most recommendations made during its review. It called on the international community to support these efforts through technical assistance and capacity-building programmes. 405. Zimbabwe thanked Lesotho for its acceptance of most of the recommendations and to the work in progress with regard to their implementation. This was clear testimony of Lesotho’s full cooperation with the Council with a view to further enhancing and advancing the promotion and protection of human rights. Zimbabwe noted that, despite its limited resources, Lesotho had made tremendous progress in all fields that had helped consolidate human rights. Zimbabwe also noted with satisfaction that Lesotho had rejected recommendations which had been made in disregard for Lesotho’s culture and traditions, which were deeply rooted in the promotion and protection of human rights through the oneness of the Basotho. 406. Botswana commended Lesotho’s openness, objectivity and constructive engagement during the Working Group review, and congratulated the Government on providing responses to recommendations. It welcomed the fact that Lesotho had accepted the majority of recommendations and noted that a very good number was already being implemented, and wished it well in implementing them. Noting that Lesotho was a developing country that continued to face challenges in the implementation of its international human rights obligations domestically and internationally, it expressed the hope that the Government would benefit from the support of the international community in that regard. 407. Kenya warmly welcomed the delegation of Lesotho and thanked it for the reply to the recommendations made during the Working Group session. Kenya noted that Lesotho had made a great effort to accept most recommendations, which was a clear indication of its commitment to the promotion and protection of the human rights of its citizens. Kenya took note of the commitments made by Lesotho to improve human rights through the universal periodic review process, and congratulated it on the conclusion of its review. 408. South Africa commended Lesotho for having accepted the many recommendations made, and thanked its Government for the constructive approach demonstrated during the review process. South Africa regarded the recommendations as a contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights in the country, and would assist in the fulfilment of its human rights obligations. It recalled that many challenges facing Lesotho were caused by the current financial and food crisis and that continued work would be required in the provision of health services, especially to combat HIV/AIDS. It welcomed Lesotho’s continued fight against poverty and the steps taken to eliminate discrimination against women and to improve the living standards of the people of Lesotho. 3. General comments made by other relevant stakeholders 409. The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network addressed recommendation 98, paragraphs 2, 4 and 5, which called for the amendment of the penal code provisions criminalizing consensual sexual activity between persons of the same sex, and stated that the criminalization of consensual same-sex activity constituted a violation of established international human rights law and undermined public health initiatives. It referred to the statements of the Nobel peace prize winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and of the GE.11-17043 143