A/HRC/19/2 females and males over 55 years of age and, as a result of strict procedures and controls, it had not been administered for more than a decade. 383. The United Republic of Tanzania made a distinction between caning and corporal punishment; caning was administered to pupils and students for acts of gross indiscipline. The Education Act prescribed a strict framework for its administration. The caning of miscreant students in schools was viewed as a legitimate form of punishment, a constant reminder for pupils to adhere to education guidelines and regulations. 384. Regarding the recommendation on setting the minimum age of marriage for boys and girls at 18, the State pointed out that the Law of Marriage Act had been the subject of a protracted debate on gender equality, specifically the rights of women and girls; on the one hand, culture, traditions and religion and, on the other, the rights of some sections of the society, especially women and girls, were considered. A Government white paper had been prepared in order to obtain a balanced position on this matter. 385. The Government was also determined to review its laws governing freedom of the press. The bill on cabinet papers for both the media and newspapers concerning mainland Tanzania were in their final stage. With regard to Tanzania Zanzibar, the process for enacting the right to information bill was still at an early stage. The Human Rights Council would be updated on this process in a timely manner. 386. The United Republic of Tanzania informed the Human Rights Council that the recommendation on respect for the right to assembly in the constitutional review process enjoyed its support, and the Constitutional Review Act No. 8 of 2011 contained provisions for the right to assembly and participation in the process. 387. During consideration of its national report at the session of Working Group in October 2011, the United Republic of Tanzania had clarified its position on indigenous peoples, indicating that it was a term that was not applicable to Tanzania, as all Tanzanians of African descent were indigenous to the United Republic of Tanzania. The Government, however, recognized the vulnerability of some marginalized communities, and it had been responsive to their needs and would continue to be so. 388. Bearing in mind the resource and time implications for the submission of a midterm report on the implementation of universal periodic review recommendations, the United Republic of Tanzania would continue to report regularly to the Human Rights Council and the treaty bodies, as and when necessary, just before its next periodic review in 2016. 2. Views expressed by Member and observer States of the Human Rights Council on the review outcome 389. Cuba noted that the United Republic of Tanzania had achieved the Millennium Development Goal relating to universal primary education five years before the deadline of 2015. Economic empowerment funds have been created to benefit those marginalized by the conventional banking system, and plans aimed at disadvantaged persons had been implemented to normalize real estate and companies. Plans to raise awareness about water and sanitation, food, environmental health, sexual and reproductive health, and the promotion of public health, were also being implemented at the community level. Positive steps had been taken in the areas of the rights of women and persons with disabilities. Cuba recommended that the report of the Working Group on the United Republic of Tanzania should be adopted. 390. Algeria highlighted the commitment of the United Republic of Tanzania to the universal periodic review in its support for the majority of the recommendations made. It appreciated the acceptance of Algeria’s recommendations on the intensification of its programme to combat poverty, the ratification of the International Convention on the 190 GE.13-14768