A/HRC/24/5 26. In addition to legislation that defined the general rules for the enforcement of custodial sentences, in 2009 the internal regulations of the Central Prison of Praia were approved, which were also provisionally being applied to other civil prison establishments. The regulations fully incorporate the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. 27. It was added that particular attention is given to detainees aged 16–21 who, in addition to being separated from other detainees, were also provided with personalized assistance, participated in group work with technicians and benefited from particular attention to favour their chances of social reintegration. 28. Cape Verde explained that preliminary draft legislation on the enforcement of custodial and other sentences was currently being prepared with a view to amending current legislation. The preliminary draft would strengthen the existing rights of detainees and create new obligations for prisons by requiring additional measures to ensure that the enforcement of sentences and security measures focuses more closely on the of detainees. 29. Cape Verde then provided information on various issues related to sentencing and prisons including: rights to exercise of religious activities and the rights of and services available to detainees relative to health care, hygiene, job training or alphabetization and retraining courses made available for prisoners with a view to their reintegration. It was highlighted that, in addition to family visits to prisons visits by outside observers, such as NGOs or religious entities and the press are permitted. 30. Action taken to ensure the respect for gender equality, protection of rights and elimination of gender-based violence was then described. 31. It was noted that one of the first initiatives by Cape Verde as an independent State was the signing and ratification of CEDAW without reservations. Successive Governments had endeavoured to ensure the full implementation of public policies for the promotion of gender equality. Cape Verde considered that the results had been very positive. It highlighted, among other advances, that that the proportion of women in the executive branch had increased from 0 in 1975 to 60 per cent in 2008, the proportion of women in Parliament increased from 1 per cent in 1975 to 18 per cent in 2006, and that net enrolment rate of girls in secondary education had progressed from 18.3 per cent in 1975 to 64 per cent in 2007. 32. It referred to the existence of various institutions and actions adopted in support of the rights of women and women’s issues including: the development of the national plan for combating gender-based violence and the inter-agency support network for victims of domestic violence; the Programme of Action for the Promotion of Gender Equality (2011– 2012); and the action of Cape Verdean Association of Women Jurists. 33. It was also recalled that, in 1979, Cape Verde had ratified International Labour Organization Equal Remuneration Convention No. 100 (1951) and Convention No. 111 (1958) concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation, which incorporated into domestic law the general principles of equal remuneration for men and women and non-discrimination in employment on the basis of sex. It then referred to various provisions in the Constitution and legislation to ensure freedom from discrimination, equal treatment and protection for women. 34. Regarding gender-based violence, Cape Verde indicated that the Gender-Based Violence Act focused on three primary objectives: providing greater protection to victims, increasing the penalties for perpetrators and raising public awareness. The Act called for the establishment of a network of civil society organizations, the Sol (Sun) network which ensured coordination between NGOs, the national police, health centres, hospitals and community law centres, had been established in five municipalities on five of the country’s 6