A/HRC/WG.6/5/L.5
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continue its efforts in promoting and protecting human rights, in particular these related to women
and children, and recommended that it continue efforts to combat all forms of discrimination which
may victimize vulnerable groups, such as indigenous communities and the disabled. It also
recommended paying special attention to the condition of persons in prisons and continuing its
capacity-building policy in the field of health-care services.
26.
The United States of America recommended that the Congo (a) allow for greater freedom of
expression for members of the press in advance of the election, including political reporting and
granting equal media access to and coverage of opposition candidates; (b) encourage civic
participation, including of civil society, in the electoral process; (c) finalize and enact the draft law
prohibiting all forms of trafficking; (d) develop formal procedures for identifying trafficking
victims among vulnerable populations such as females in prostitution, street children and Pygmies;
(e) train police and social workers to implement these procedures; (f) increase efforts to provide
care to trafficking victims and end the practice of jailing children found in prostitution and increase
efforts to raise awareness among vulnerable populations of the danger of trafficking.
27.
The United Kingdom recommended that the Congo (a) take steps to ensure prison conditions
are independently monitored, perpetrators of acts of torture are duly prosecuted and that detainees
have the right to a fair trial; (b) take all necessary measures to ensure the forthcoming elections are
peaceful, free and fear, and occur in a climate free of intimidation and where the right of assembly
is fully respected; (c) take further steps to address discrimination against women and vulnerable
groups including children, persons belonging to minorities and indigenous people; and (d) remove
the provisions that criminalize homosexuality.
28.
The Russian Federation asked for more information about the duties of the National
Ombudsman and the recently created Commission on Human Rights; how authorities are divided
between those bodies and how they can influence the decision-making process for the decisions
relating to improving the national system for the protection of human rights. It also asked if the
Congo is planning to adopt additional measures to ensure access to medical services for the
population in rural areas including the extension of the system of medical institutions and clinics to
remote areas. Noting the large numbers of indigenous peoples and that the Congo is planning to
adopt an appropriate programme of action and to introduce certain legislative initiatives, it asked for
more information in this regard.
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