A/HRC/31/17 in the nation’s history, the Government had formulated and approved a national policy for the protection of children in Sao Tome and Principe. The policy provided guidelines for preventive action, participatory activities and the punishment of persons responsible for any form of violence against or abuse or exploitation of children and was an instrument of key importance for the child protection system in Sao Tome and Principe. 106. In addition, the Government had stepped up its campaigns to raise awareness of trafficking in children throughout the country. For the first time in the nation ’s history, the Government had formulated and approved a national policy for the protection of children in Sao Tome and Principe. The policy provided guidelines for preventive action, participatory activities and the punishment of persons responsible for any form of violence against or abuse or exploitation of children and was an instrument of key importance for the child protection system in Sao Tome and Principe. II. Conclusions and/or recommendations 107. The recommendations formulated during the interactive dialogue/listed below have been examined by Sao Tome and Principe and enjoy the support of Sao Tome and Principe: 107.1 Continue to ratify the international conventions on human rights (Angola); 107.2 Strive to accede to core human rights instruments relevant to the enjoyment of human rights for all persons (Nigeria); 107.3 Consider ratifying or acceding to the core international human rights treaties (Ukraine); 107.4 Complete the ratification of key international instruments that Sao Tomé and Principe has signed, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Canada); 107.5 Ratify the main human rights instruments, in particular the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture (Costa Rica); 107.6 Ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its two Optional Protocols (Germany); 107.7 Ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its first Optional Protocol allowing individual complaints (Ghana); 107.8 Ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty (Montenegro); 107.9 Ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Armenia); 107.10 Accelerate the process of ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the __________________ ** The conclusions and recommendations have not been edited. GE.16-00396 15/25