A/HRC/18/10 54. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was encouraged by Sierra Leone addressing what was at one point the world’s highest infant and maternal mortality rates. It acknowledged other progress made through the creation of a Human Rights Commission, the 2007 “Gender Acts” and the 2011 Disability Act. Challenges remained to improve access to justice; to address poverty; to bring the Human Rights Commission in line with the Paris Principles; to roll back discriminatory laws, practices and customs which entrench gender equality, and to prevent reoccurrence of conflict through promotion of national reconciliation. It encouraged the Government to address those issues as the country moved towards elections in 2012 and beyond. It made recommendations. 55. Italy noted the important steps taken for consolidating peace and enhancing political pluralism and the launching of reforms. It welcomed the free health-care programme to improve maternal and child health. Italy recognized the many challenges faced because of dire social and economic conditions it faced and the acknowledged problem of the increasing number of street children and youth violence. Italy referred to concerns expressed about the widespread harmful practice of FGM in the country, which severely harmed the individual and negatively affected women’s empowerment and development. Italy made a recommendation. 56. Sweden commended the criminalization of domestic violence, including sexual assault within marriage through the Domestic Violence Act 2007. However, it noted reports that domestic violence, including rape, remained a serious problem and very few offenders were prosecuted. It asked for elaboration on measures to reinforce women’s protection from domestic violence. It noted with appreciation efforts to reduce maternal mortality by introducing free heath care for birth delivery. Sweden noted that other causes of maternal mortality remained to be addressed such as early marriages, lack of reproductive health information, unsafe abortion and FGM, in particular. It inquired about the measures to improve health care in birth delivery. Sweden made recommendations. 57. South Africa welcomed the Presidential Apology of March 2010 and asked for information on steps taken to implement the call by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) for a comprehensive strategy with clear goals and timetables to modify or eliminate harmful negative cultural practices and stereotypes that discriminate against women. South Africa referred to acknowledged challenges such as the need to strengthen and nurture democratic institutions and mechanisms, the very high poverty rate, youth unemployment and ensuring gender equality. It encouraged the international community to provide technical assistance to overcome these challenges. It made recommendations. 58. The delegation of Sierra Leone pointed out that the Government needed to redouble its efforts for the elimination of the practice of FGM. The delegation would convey to the Government the international community’s views on FGM and assured the Council that policies were designed to attain that objective. 59. Regarding steps taken by the Government to curtail sexual, gender based and domestic violence, the delegation referred to the extensive publicity given to their negative effects and to the establishment of special courts before which offenders of such violence are given speedy but fair hearings. 60. On access to justice in the rural areas, the delegation referred to the amendment to the Local Courts Act which is in its final stages of consideration by Parliament. According to its draft provisions the administration of justice would be brought under the purview of the formal justice sector, which was headed by a female Chief Justice. The Government had created an environment within which legal services, including legal aid in particular, was extended to the smallest of communities. 10