A/HRC/19/2 3. General comments made by other relevant stakeholders 596. The National Human Rights Commission welcomed the universal periodic review process, which had allowed for an assessment of the human rights situation and provided recommendations to strengthen the ongoing process towards democracy. The Commission had actively encouraged the Government to promote a culture of human rights. It had participated in the universal periodic review follow-up mechanism established by the Government, and had supported the implementation of the recommendations as well as of those it had made in its latest report concerning allegations of torture. The Commission cited as priorities the fight against impunity and corruption, the protection of civil liberties and the imperative of development, stressing that human rights were indivisible and universal. It reiterated its invitation to the international community to continue to support the difficult and sometimes dangerous efforts made by Commission members to turn Togo into a place of peace and justice. 597. The Association for the Prevention of Torture welcomed Togo’s support for the recommendations on the prevention and prohibition of torture in the framework of its universal periodic review and for the Government’s announcement of 13 measures concerning the implementation of the recommendations by the National Human Rights Commission relating to allegations of torture perpetrated during an attempted coup d’état in April 2009. It encouraged Togo to implement those recommendations and to complete, as soon as possible, the reform of the Criminal Code in order to ensure that torture would be defined in conformity with article 1 of the Convention against Torture and that perpetrators would be punished appropriately. The Association also welcomed Togo’s engagement in the creation of a national mechanism for the prevention of torture, and hoped that the new mechanism would be independent and effective. The realization of this engagement would represent a best practice that other countries could take as an example. 598. A statement delivered by the Istituto Internazionale Maria Ausiliatrice, also on behalf of the International Volunteerism Organization for Women, Education and Development, Mouvement international d’apostolat des milieux sociaux indépendants and the International Organization for the Right to Education and Freedom of Education, welcomed Togo’s constructive engagement with the universal periodic review, its adoption of a plan of action based on its recommendations, and its decision made in 2008 relating to free primary education. It questioned the reliability of official statistics. It welcomed the acceptance of recommendations to strengthen the education system and to eliminate discrimination against the disabled. It noted the lack of planning policy, poor educational infrastructures, the lack of teachers, the overcrowding and poor management of schools and the related proliferation of private schools. It recommended the registration of all children at birth, a global education reform based on reliable data and integrating on equal footing disabled children, and steps to implement article 376 of the Code of the Child, and to punish violence against children. 599. Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l’homme welcomed Togo’s engagement in the universal periodic review, especially its willingness to eradicate torture and to improve the judicial and prison systems. It called for prompt implementation of the recommendations and the ratification of the Rome Statute and of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It also welcomed the revision of the Criminal Code and the reinforcement of the remits and the capacities of the National Human Rights Commission. The organization also urged Togo to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and to extend a standing invitation to the special procedures of the Human Rights Council. 600. Rencontre africaine pour la défense des droits de l’homme welcomed Togo’s engagement with the universal periodic review and its cooperation with civil society actors. 222 GE.13-14768