A/HRC/10/84 Page 8 application of such customary law. Mexico also appreciated that, in domestic legislation, should a law be open to more than one interpretation, preference will always be given to the interpretation compatible with its international obligations, in particular in the field of human rights. Mexico recommended that these features be singled out in the report on the State review as good practices in the field of human rights. It noted that some of the major challenges facing Tuvalu concern, inter alia, non-discrimination, children’s rights, freedom of religion, cases of statelessness, corporal punishment and inheritance. It noted that Tuvalu has only ratified two human rights instruments, and recommended that consideration be given as a matter of priority to the ratification of at least the two international covenants on civil and political, and economic, social and cultural rights, respectively. Mexico recommended that a standing invitation be extended to human rights special procedures, and that it incorporate in its legislation, at all levels, including in the Constitution, provisions banning discrimination on grounds of sex and gender. Furthermore, Mexico recommended that Tuvalu reform the Penal Code to cover offences as sexual abuse against minors and eliminate corporal punishment. It also expressed the wish that Tuvalu ensure that the necessary resources are made available to the Ombudsman, established under the Paris Principles in 2006, as soon as possible, so that it can begin functioning. 30. Japan applauded Tuvalu for its efforts to protect the rights to education and access to health care, ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and many international human rights commitments, including the Beijing Platform of Action. Japan noted that Tuvalu had not yet ratified several major human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention against Torture and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Japan hoped that Tuvalu would ratify these treaties expeditiously and recommended that it make good use of technical assistance from OHCHR to do so. It welcomed the State’s submission of its initial report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and its efforts to guarantee the provisions of the governing Convention with corresponding domestic legislation. Japan asked for more information about measures in place to improve the human rights situation of women and eliminate existing discrimination. Regarding human rights education, especially on educational activities to promote freedom of religion and expression on the outer islands and capacity-building for police officers, Japan asked about measures taken as well as what efforts were planned for the future. 31. The Czech Republic thanked the State for its responses to advance questions, especially concerning the institutional framework and awareness-raising programmes. On this occasion, it recommended that Tuvalu (a) issue and implement a standing invitation to all special procedures. With regard to the protection of the right to privacy and non-discrimination, it recommended (b) the decriminalization of consensual same-sex activity between adults and the adoption of measures to promote tolerance in this regard, which would also facilitate more effective educational programmes for the prevention of HIV/AIDS. The Czech Republic recommended that Tuvalu (c) effectively strengthen its human rights institutional framework and further promote concrete programmes to raise awareness on human rights. 32. Germany recognized the efforts and accomplishments made regarding the promotion of human rights in Tuvalu. It referred to the State’s national report and the initial statement that women’s rights are not adequately protected by domestic law. Germany referred to the mention that discrimination on the grounds of gender is not prohibited by law but that the Government is considering amending the Constitution. Germany recommended that Tuvalu stay firmly committed to the issue and further discussion leading to an amendment of the Constitution to