A/HRC/22/5 children and the Special Rapporteur on the right to education to visit the country. Latvia made a recommendation. 45. Malaysia was encouraged to note progress made in the implementation of recommendations from the first review of Gabon, in particular in the areas of health, education, women and children, and social, political and human development. It was encouraged by the ratification of a number of international human rights instruments and the cooperation it has shown with international human rights mechanisms. It highlighted in particular the operationalization of its National Human Rights Commission in 2011. Malaysia made recommendations. 46. Mauritania commended Gabon for its engagement in the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as for its adhesion to various international human rights instruments. It appreciated the political, legislative and administration measures undertaken by Gabon to implement recommendations from their first review under the universal periodic review mechanism. Mauritania encouraged Gabon to pursue efforts for the promotion of human rights with the assistance of the international community. 47. Mexico recognized legislative measures undertaken to prevent the trafficking and sale of children, the promotion of the inclusion of diverse ethnic groups in decision-making positions and to abolish the death penalty. It commended recent progress and the implementation of recommendations from the first review, as well as the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission. Mexico made recommendations. 48. The delegation said that Gabon could not be held responsible for child trafficking since that practice had no part in the country’s traditions and culture. However, other countries did use Gabon for child trafficking. Gabon considered trafficking in persons to be a violation of human rights and strongly condemned slavery. Gabon continued to cooperate with the Human Rights Council and had received a visit from the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, from 14 to 18 May 2012, so that she learn about the measures taken in terms of prevention, cooperation at borders, security, identity checks, victim protection, the return of victims, investigations and prosecutions. The delegation stressed that Gabon welcomed immigrants and condemned child trafficking. 49. With regard to freedom of the press, Gabon ensured that the press enjoyed freedom of expression and was aware that such freedom was essential to any democracy. Democracy as practised in Gabon was open to the discussion of ideas, clashes of opinion and a variety of points of view. The Constitution protected the freedom of the press, provided that public order was upheld. 50. Ritual crimes were not recognized as offences in Gabon’s criminal legislation. In one year, Gabon had made considerable efforts to organize mobile court hearings to unearth cases dating back to the 1980s and to try all murders and similar crimes. The exercise would be continued in November 2012. 51. Gabon had introduced stiffer penalties for the crime of marital rape, which primarily affected women, in order to deter offenders. 52. Regarding forced marriage, Gabon recognized that traditional marriages had no legal value. The recommendations made to Gabon in 2008 referred mainly to sex discrimination. Gabon prohibited discrimination in general, particularly discrimination related to sex, and had taken appropriate measures, including legislative measures, to guarantee women’s exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal footing with men. It was in that spirit that, with the Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation for the Family, Gabon had launched a project aimed at legalizing traditional marriages. The objective was to pass legislation on traditional marriage that would enable women, who were so often neglected by tradition, to fully enjoy their inherent dignity. 8 GE.12-18722