A/HRC/16/18 37. Morocco appreciated measures taken to ensure the right to education for all citizens, and particularly the national plan for education 2003-2015. Morocco requested information on efforts to spread a culture of human rights through school education as well as training for government, judicial and security personnel. It valued legal protections of the freedoms of opinion, association and the media. 38. Pakistan noted with satisfaction that, despite cultural and religious diversity, no group was excluded or discriminated in their daily lives. It noted that the aggression by Israel had hampered the Government’s capacity to promote and protect human rights. Pakistan stated that Lebanon’s commitment to human rights was evident through its accession to most of the international human rights instruments. It made recommendations. 39. The Islamic Republic of Iran noted that despite many constraints, Lebanon had reached progress and achievements in the field of human rights. It commended Lebanon for its efforts in the protection of human rights, namely improvements in the institutional and legislative area, rights of children, women and refugees. Iran made recommendations. 40. In responding to statements made, the head of delegation noted that the preparation of the national report was the responsibility of the country and reflected its vision and position. It was not up to the judgment of any other party in terms of language used. He also noted that instability was the result of repeated Israeli attacks and that the best way to solving this problem was to address its root-causes, namely the foreign occupation of parts of the Lebanese territory and the lack of a just and durable solution to the Palestinian question.3 4 41. Concerning the citizenship law, an amendment was under consideration so as to correct the current discrimination between men and women in acquiring citizenship. Free courtesy residence was granted for three years to the husband and children of a Lebanese woman married to a foreigner. Society was still divided on the conditions to grant citizenship, due to the unique composition of Lebanese society. This made it difficult to withdraw the relevant reservation to CEDAW. Concerning personal status laws, the reasons for discrimination were due to a lack of a unified personal status law. Individual were governed by their own respective religious laws. While the government had previously prepared a draft law for civil marriage, this had not been adopted, as all religious groups had rejected it. 42. Concerning gender equality in social security, the National Commission for Women had requested parliament to submit a draft law concerning the equal allotment of social security particularly for sickness, health and family allowances. A draft law on domestic violence had been recently adopted and was in the final stages of adoption in the Cabinet. Concerning political participation, a law to specify a gender quota was also under discussion in Parliament. 43. Lebanon had adopted a law on persons with disabilities establishing a National Committee for the Disabled and providing a number of services for people with special needs. The ratification of the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities was now 3 4 8 Israel noted that the meeting was supposed to discuss the human rights situation in Lebanon, which was under the responsibility of the Government of Lebanon. It stated that remarks made felt outside the scope of the UPR and requesting that those remarks regarding Israel be struck from the report of this working group. In response, Lebanon noted that the delegation did not wish to provoke any person in the room, but observed that one statement referred to internal affairs in Lebanon in a manner that was unsuitable within the United Nations. It called for the deletion of all language that was not in line with the terminology used in the United Nations. The head of delegation noted that he was simply exercising his right of reply to what was said in the Council.