A/HRC/22/8 90. Sri Lanka noted several national agencies aimed at alleviating poverty and praised the Zero Hunger, Security, Justice and Peace and Fiscal Pacts. It welcomed the educational programmes embracing equal access to education; health initiatives for the poor; its commitment to promoting equality of indigenous peoples’ rights; and its prioritization of the promotion and protection of women and children’s rights. It made recommendations. 91. Sweden recognized the advanced Guatemalan legal framework on child protection, although sexual exploitation, forced labour, chronic malnutrition and adolescent pregnancies remained major concerns. Sweden welcomed positive steps regarding violence against women, including the adoption of laws and establishment of femicide courts, but noted that levels of violence and impunity remained high. It congratulated Guatemala for acceding to the Rome Statute. Sweden made recommendations. 92. Switzerland emphasized that impunity remained a major problem in Guatemala and that public security was not guaranteed. Switzerland was concerned by discrimination against the indigenous population and that, despite certain progress in the normative framework, violence against women remained widespread and human rights defenders were subject to threats and attacks. Switzerland made recommendations. 93. Thailand commended the Guatemalan Government’s serious promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples, its ratification of CRPD and its establishment of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities. Thailand supported policies to combat gender-based violence and promote gender equality, but was concerned by the high number of women subjected to domestic violence. Thailand made recommendations. 94. Trinidad and Tobago noted Guatemalan efforts to improve living standards and to promote and protect human rights through national pacts. It praised the all-inclusive consultative process implemented to prepare the national report and the State’s accession to the Rome Statute and CRPD and the Convention on Cluster Munitions. It made recommendations. 95. The United Kingdom welcomed the establishment of task forces on specific issues as a step toward long-term, sustainable resolutions and the recognition of the needs of indigenous people in proposals to reform the Guatemalan Constitution. It was concerned by instances of gender-based violence and attacks against human rights defenders. It made recommendations. 96. The United States of America was encouraged by Guatemalan increasing efforts to investigate and prosecute human trafficking, although those investigations had not focused on possible official complicity. Remaining concerns included the worst forms of child labour, labour law administration and enforcement deficiencies and the safety of members of vulnerable groups. It made recommendations. 97. In closing remarks, Guatemala gave thanks for the received recommendations that were in accordance with governmental policies and stated that therefore Guatemala accepted the majority thereof. A reply had been given to most of the questions posed in the preliminary interventions of the delegation, as well as in the document transmitted to the States replying to their advanced questions. 98. It highlighted that: (a) In order to legally regulate consultation with the indigenous peoples, in conformity with ILO Convention No. 169, the Cabinet of the Government had received ILO representatives and high officials of the Government of Peru – which was the only country having a law and rules in that regard. Guatemala expected that its regulatory law would be enacted soon; 13