A/HRC/43/6 123. Children with disabilities in rural areas, particularly girls with disabilities, were in the process of being identified. Five teachers with relevant specialized skills in teaching children with disabilities and with capacities in Braille and sign language had been assigned to each of the regions. A policy of including children with mild and moderate disabilities in mainstream schools had been adopted. National mechanisms had been established to coordinate the implementation of supported universal periodic review recommendations. Those mechanisms were the interministerial task force that was also responsible for treaty body reporting and the National Human Rights Commission. The National Human Rights Commission would also have the responsibility of monitoring the implementation of the recommendations issued by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission upon the completion of its work. The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission was not permitted to grant amnesty to persons who were alleged to have committed acts that constituted crimes against humanity. 124. Since taking office, the Government had organized three free, fair and transparent legislative and local government elections under the auspices of the Independent Electoral Commission. More than 200 candidates had contested 53 seats in the legislative assembly, 400 candidates had contested 120 local council seats and 38 candidates had contested 7 mayoral and chair seats in municipalities and administrative regions across the country. The record participation of ordinary Gambians in the political process was mainly due to the new permissive political environment and the drastic reduction of monetary deposits payable by candidates to secure their participation in the elections. In addition, concrete steps had been taken with regard to electoral law reform. While the Government recognized that the ongoing constitutional review process would deal with more fundamental aspects of the electoral process, a conscious decision had been taken to engage all stakeholders of the political process in a consultative, inclusive and participatory legislative review exercise so as to ensure an inclusive, fair, transparent and level playing field in future elections. Those consultations were ongoing and the Elections Act was expected to be revised in 2020. 125. The fear of government had all but dissipated. People were freely expressing themselves without fear of arrest or intimidation. Civil society organizations had been allowed the space to operate freely. Reports of arbitrary arrests by security forces had significantly decreased, as had reports of detention without trial, enforced disappearance, and State-sanctioned murder or torture. 126. The delegation reaffirmed the commitment of the Government to uphold the highest standards of human rights. The objective was to ensure a gradual realization of all human rights with a view to building a modern democratic State anchored in respect for the rule of law, human rights and democratic pluralism. The Gambia would continue to count on the support and goodwill of the international community and would continue engaging with bodies such as the Human Rights Council. II. Conclusions and/or recommendations 127. The recommendations formulated during the interactive dialogue/listed below have been examined by the Gambia and enjoy the support of the Gambia: 127.1 Ratify international legal instruments on human rights that Gambia is not yet party to (Niger); 127.2 Continue to review and accede to international human rights treaties and conventions (State of Palestine); 127.3 Continue the practice of becoming party to international instruments in the field of the promotion and protection of human rights (Azerbaijan); 127.4 Ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Togo); 127.5 Ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Denmark); 127.6 Ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (France); 10

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