A/HRC/29/12 82. The United States of America commended Guinea-Bissau for the free and fair election process in 2014. It also commended the efforts made to implement the law against female genital mutilation or cutting, and encouraged continued efforts to prevent and to respond to all forms of gender-based violence. It remained concerned at the failure to prevent the worst forms of child labour and to address child trafficking. Although GuineaBissau had laws prohibiting human trafficking, the Government had not used those laws to prosecute suspected human traffickers. It made recommendations. 83. The Philippines commended Guinea-Bissau on the introduction of reforms in the defence and security sectors, which would strengthen the rule of law and help consolidate peace. The Philippines also welcomed the addressing by Guinea-Bissau of its youth unemployment and underemployment, in spite of its meagre resources. It called on the international community to extend technical cooperation and other assistance to GuineaBissau. It made recommendations. 84. With regard to organized crime, corruption and impunity, the delegation reiterated that, as part of the 2015–2019 programme of reform of the justice system, steps were being taken to combat those problems and to improve access to justice. The programme had five main objectives: the independence of the justice system, the transparency of the justice system, the effectiveness of the justice system, a justice system equipped with sufficient and appropriate human and material resources, and the reform of the legal framework. The latter point referred not only to national laws, but also to the harmonization of national legislation in order to bring it into conformity with international legislation and instruments. 85. In addition to that programme, the Government had renewed its collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and a unit to combat drug trafficking in airports would be set up that year. Guinea-Bissau had also worked with UNODC on combating corruption through a unit that would be set up with the assistance of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). 86. The Government was also taking steps to investigate the crimes mentioned by some delegations. However, the Government intended to conduct an inclusive dialogue for national reconciliation, so that the investigations did not undermine the progress made and so that they were conducted within a framework of reconciliation and transitional justice. 87. In the context of the harmonization of national legislation with Guinea-Bissau’s international obligations, legal provisions would be introduced to combat organized crime, since the concept did not exist in the country’s legislation. 88. With respect to access to justice, the Delegation of Guinea-Bissau stated that, during its first six months in office, the current Government had already begun building two regional courts, situated not in the capital but in regions of the country, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme. 89. Regarding the registration of births, a national campaign was planned offering all registrations during a period of one year free of charge in order to allow all unregistered births to be recorded. 90. Concerning trafficking of children and the commercial and sexual exploitation of girls, Guinea-Bissau recalled that the country had ratified International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions No. 138, concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, and No. 182, concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour. During the time Guinea-Bissau had enjoyed the effective support of an active ILO programme, many measures had been put in place to combat those problems. The delegation recalled the resulting establishment of a national committee on trafficking in human beings and of a national committee on combating child labour. The problem was the lack of resources. Guinea-Bissau had GE.15-07685 13