A/HRC/24/5
disabilities, vulnerable groups and the elderly and to combat torture and gender violence.
Angola encouraged Cape Verde to continue in its endeavours to further develop capacity in
the promotion and protection of human rights and to call on OHCHR and the international
community to support these.
105. Argentina congratulated Cape Verde on the ratification of the Rome Statute and on
the adoption of the National Strategy for Older Persons. Argentina made recommendations.
106. Australia agreed that the mandate and functional capacity of the National
Commission for Human Rights and Citizenship should be strengthened in compliance with
the Paris Principles. It commended the constitutional review process, particularly progress
made in gender equality. It encouraged full implementation of the updated National Action
Plan to combat gender-based violence in 2013. Australia made a recommendation.
107. Belarus noted with satisfaction the range of international obligations undertaken by
Cape Verde, the Government’s determination to implement the recommendations of the
first UPR cycle and update its legislation for the social protection of the population, and its
progress in improving literacy levels. Belarus made recommendations.
108. Benin welcomed the ratification of several international and regional human rights
instruments and steps taken to strengthen the national human rights system, including the
development of a framework to facilitate cooperation with regional and national human
rights mechanisms. It also welcomed efforts to promote gender equality, support domestic
violence victims and create an Ombudsman.
109. Mozambique, noting that Cape Verde had ratified most of the African human rights
legal instruments and the United Nations human rights treaties, highlighted its ongoing
commitment to ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights, despite the impact of the
international economic crisis. It encouraged its accession to the Convention against
Discrimination in Education.
110. On the issue of the Ombudsman (Provedor), Cape Verde indicated that its creation
was a priority and that high-level political action had been taken to ensure that it was
achieved soon. With regard to abuse of young persons by police, it stated that the law
criminalized torture and that in a number of cases investigations had been carried out and
that both criminal and administrative procedures had been initiated. The State did not
tolerate such situations.
111. On the issue of trafficking, it was recalled the Cape Verde had been party to the
Palermo Protocol since 2004 and that the Criminal Code was currently being revised so that
the crime of trafficking should be included as a result. Similarly, Cape Verde had made
efforts to protect migrants and its national strategy on migration aimed at the integration of
migrants in society. National NGOs had often provided support to migrants who arrived in
the country. Some of those had returned but many, when conditions were met, were
regularized.
112. Finally, it was highlighted that in Cape Verde children were protected from all types
of sexual abuse both by civil and criminal law through the relevant provision of the Civil
and Criminal Codes. That included cases of abuse in school settings, between students and
teachers, which had at times been addressed in the courts. Regarding corporal punishment,
Cape Verde recalled information provided and added that such situations had, in some
cases, been addressed before the courts. Measures to raise awareness of the population had
also been adopted.
113. In conclusion, Cape Verde reiterated its strong commitment to human rights. It
indicated that, at the national level, the administration and society would need to develop
further cooperation and partnership strategies in action taken to promote human rights.
Cape Verde added that it would soon issue an open and standing invitation to all Human
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