A/HRC/32/13 any grounds. Finally, the delegation noted that the Gender and Law Manual had been published in 2013 to guide the judiciary on interpreting the laws in a manner consistent with human rights obligations. 55. On the issue of the detention of persons for more than 24 hours without charge, the delegation stated that 24 hours gave time to the police to investigate the alleged offence of which a suspect was accused in accordance with the Penal Code and the Constitution. 56. Pakistan commended measures to strengthen the National Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman, the legal and judicial system and the rights of women, such as the national action plan on gender-based violence, measures relating to the rights of persons with disabilities and the rights of migrant workers and measures against human trafficking. 57. The Democratic Republic of the Congo congratulated Seychelles for providing housing to its citizens, especially through programmes concerning social housing and aimed at allowing citizens to own their own housing. It noted that the Ombudsman also being president of the National Human Rights Commission did not guarantee the independence of those institutions. 58. Denmark welcomed the fact that Seychelles had accepted recommendations to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment during its first universal periodic review and hoped that steps were being taken towards that goal. It noted that the initial report of Seychelles to the Committee against Torture was long overdue. It highlighted that the Convention against Torture Initiative stood ready to assist Seychelles on those issues. 59. Djibouti commended the literacy rate among women but was concerned at the social obstacles young pregnant women were facing in continuing their schooling. Persons with disabilities did not have adequate access to health care, information, education and decent work. It referred to the finding of the Committee on the Rights of the Child that children with disabilities were not fully integrated in the school system. 60. Egypt commended progress on the rights of children, women and persons with disabilities, political participation, education and health. It acknowledged the Seychelles Human Rights Treaty Committee and implementation of a legal and policy framework on human trafficking. It was encouraged by the development of a national action plan on human rights. 61. Ethiopia commended the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons Act, the Food Act and the Local Government Act. The submission of treaty reports and the establishment of the Seychelles Human Rights Treaty Committee, amid its financial and expert constraints, demonstrated political commitment. Ethiopia called upon the international community to provide financial and technical assistance. 62. Fiji noted that Seychelles faced unique human rights challenges as a small island developing State. It would be important to make a linkage on how the consequences of climate change had an impact on the rights of the citizens of Seychelles. Fiji was concerned about overreliance on pretrial detention and the increase in the prison population. 63. Germany commended Seychelles for its engagement with international human rights mechanisms and its willingness to further improve the legislative framework for human rights. 64. Ghana recognized the 2014 Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons Act, and was concerned that corporal punishment, contrary to its prohibition in the Children’s Act, was still prevalent in homes, penal institutions, day-care centres and schools. 9