A/HRC/13/16 priority basis. It enquired about plans to overcome the lack of media freedom. The United Kingdom made recommendations. 16. Canada raised concern about the problem of transparency of the November 2009 presidential elections. It mentioned that progress made did not correspond to the level of growth. Canada noted regression in health and education areas and expressed concern on extreme poverty. While noting that corruption and mismanagement had contributed to limited investment, Canada welcomed the initiative for transparency in the extractive industries. It welcomed the legal framework to address trafficking in children and expressed concern over reports of child exploitation. Canada expressed concern over restrictions on independent media and over reports of arbitrary detentions, often accompanied by torture, of opposition members. Canada made recommendations. 17. France inquired about measures envisaged to prevent recourse to torture by security and law enforcement forces as well as to ensure the effective application of the 2006 law on the prevention and punishment of torture. It welcomed measures regarding women’s access to economic, social and cultural rights and asked about initiatives to combat violence against women. France inquired about amendments to the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Law, which are both incompatible with the constitution and international treaties. France made recommendations. 18. Australia welcomed steps to better protect economic and social rights, including free primary education and progress on some women’s and children’s rights. It noted with concern reports of sexual abuse, child trafficking, child prostitution, force marriages and discrimination against women and vulnerable groups. Australia was deeply concerned regarding the use of torture and welcomed legislative efforts to prevent torture and ill treatment. It asked about plans to remove reservations to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and accede to its Optional Protocol. It was concerned regarding forced evictions and supported that Equatorial Guinea seeks technical assistance to help prioritize the promotion of good governance, access to basic services, gender equality and reform of the justice system. Australia made recommendations. 19. Germany noted reports about culture of impunity of perpetrators of human rights violations and the contributing factors to this situation, including the lack of an independent judicial system, corruption, ineffectiveness of habeas corpus guarantees and lack of distinctions between the various State security bodies. Germany asked about how the Government had responded to these issues, particularly to the practice of secret detentions without contacts with lawyer and family. Germany made recommendations. 20. The Democratic Republic of Congo noted that Equatorial Guinea has experienced quite remarkable socio-economic development over the last few years and that achievements are apparent in virtually all areas. It inquired whether codified law and customary law could co-exist without difficulty and asked under what circumstances either system would apply. The Democratic Republic of Congo indicated that child trafficking is a concern for Equatorial Guinea, affecting all of its neighbors, and asked whether there was a regional policy to effectively combat it. The Democratic Republic of Congo made a recommendation. 21. Mexico congratulated Equatorial Guinea for constitutionally guaranteeing fundamental liberties and recognized efforts made to improve institutional infrastructure through laws to protect vulnerable groups, in particular the law criminalizing exploitation and trafficking of minors. It asked about efforts to harmonize international, national and customary laws and on the application of legislation guaranteeing the right to association 5