A/HRC/18/7 83. Seychelles stated it would actively consider extending an open and standing invitation to the United Nations special procedures. This would require submission to the Government for approval. 84. In recalling that Seychelles held no permanent mission in Geneva, the delegation expressed support for proposals made in the context of the open-ended intergovernmental working group on the review of the work and functioning of the Human Rights Council to address the special needs of small delegations. 85. Regarding ICCPR, the delegation stressed that the response of the Government to the provisional conclusions of the Human Rights Committee was to be submitted by end May 2011 and that the national report would be submitted before April 2012. 86. On freedom of expression in the context of the upcoming May 2011 presidential elections, the delegation underlined that opportunities for political broadcasts were available to all candidates with equal air time and that all could hold political rallies and freely express their opinions. 87. The delegation stated that due consideration would be given to changing the statute of the National Human Rights Commission to the extent that it was found not to be in conformity with the Paris Principles. 88. It noted that assistance was required in all spheres in the light of limited human resources, including to draft laws and to ensure conformity with international standards, to formulate the national reports to United Nations treaty bodies and to assess national human rights bodies and ensure compliance with international standards. 89. Costa Rica noted with concern the impact of external factors, including climate change and piracy, and their effect on the enjoyment of human rights. It recognized the major challenges and limitations Seychelles faced and appreciated its actions to address them, especially the education and training in human rights, and encouraged Seychelles to continue on that path. It shared concerns regarding the submission of reports to treaty bodies, noting that the obligation required significant investment in human and economic resources. It made recommendations. 90. South Africa wished to receive further information on the steps taken to ensure that the National Human Rights Commission conformed to the Paris Principles. It noted the strategy of Seychelles to address the issue of outstanding reports to treaty bodies. It referred to the concern expressed by the Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding the possibility for children between the ages of 8 and 12 to be prosecuted for criminal offences under certain conditions. It made recommendations. 91. Morocco welcomed the achievements Seychelles has made on the Millennium Development Goals. It expressed the view that Seychelles should benefit from international assistance to overcome its economic vulnerability. Morocco stated that strengthening international cooperation in combating piracy and adverse effects of climate change would be much recommended. It welcomed the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Public Officers’ Ethics Commission. It wished to know to what extent those mechanisms met international standards, including the Paris Principles, and what measures were taken to ensure that the tasks of these institutions were being optimized. It made recommendations. 92. China stated that Seychelles provided all its citizens with basic free health care and 10 years’ of compulsory education and had taken effective measures to reduce poverty and protect the rights and interest of vulnerable groups. China took note of the fact that, constrained by the level of development and inadequacy of human resources, Seychelles faced difficulties in protecting and promoting human rights. China called upon the international community to provide constructive assistance to Seychelles. 12