A/HRC/8/19 Page 4 a complaint, they have access to the judiciary in accordance with the law. Bahrain added that protecting society against terrorism does not affect human rights defenders as their action does not come under the definition of terrorism; (f) that freedom of the press is assured in accordance to the constitution and relevant laws. In addition a new draft law on freedom of the press is the subject of consultation; (f) that the Constitution guarantees equality between men and women; (g) that corporal punishment is prohibited in schools and a new draft law on the child interest is being considered; (h) that capital punishment, while in the book, is hardly applied as its application is limited to most serious crimes and usually is commuted to life imprisonment; (i) that migrant workers are protected by labour law and that female domestic workers are governed by the civil law in accordance with their contracts. A new draft law is being considered on this issue. The Government has taken several measures to prevent and punish possible violence or abuse of female domestic workers including adopting the law against trafficking in persons; (j) that a draft law on citizenship is being debated to avoid the negative effect which could result from not granting nationality to the children of Bahraini mothers who are married to non-Bahrainis; (k) that the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court was signed and Bahrain is in the process of studying the issue of ratification; (l) that a national human rights institution would be established soon, in accordance with the Paris Principles. The institutions which are already operating in a specific field are the Supreme Council of Women and the National Committee on Childhood; (m) that any proven cases of forced marriage will be dealt with in accordance with the law; (n) that Bahrain has already pledged to considering those international human rights instruments which have not yet been ratified; and (o) that the Constitution provides for the full independence of the judiciary and ensures the equality of everyone before the law as well as judicial remedies. 7. Bahrain asked whether good practices and experiences could be shared in the areas of protecting human rights in counter-terrorism activities; preventing occasional abuse of freedoms of speech, expression, assembly and association to promote xenophobia, hatred and incitement to violence; and protecting and preventing violations of rights of children, women and workers. 8. The State had also formulated a draft action plan on implementing Bahrain’s voluntary pledges to the Human Rights Council, its voluntary commitments contained in the national report and the outcomes of the UPR. Following the outcome of the present review, Bahrain will hold a national consultation to discuss ways of implementing the recommendations of the UPR and include them in the action plan. Bahrain is committed to monitoring and evaluating its implementation and will report annually thereon both to the Human Rights Council and at the national level. 9. Bahrain informed the Working Group of its draft action plan to implement its pledges, voluntary commitments and UPR outcomes. Bahrain informed also that in November 2007, the Cabinet approved the creation of a national human rights institution, which is expected to be formed during 2008. Bahrain is actively studying the need for a National Human Rights Action Plan. Bahrain committed to reviewing all existing international human rights instruments with a view to ratifying them as soon as possible. For this purpose, Bahrain will seek international cooperation and assistance to strengthen its capacities. Bahrain also reiterates its commitment to review existing reservations made upon ratification, with a view to ascertaining the feasibility of withdrawing such reservations. Thus, for example, Bahrain has already withdrawn its reservation to article 20 of CAT. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs created an Inter-Ministerial Task Force to study and make proposals to the appropriate authorities regarding ratification and national legislative incorporation of human rights instruments. These will focus on human rights treaties such as the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the Conventions on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Protection of Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the Convention against Corruption and the United Nations