A/HRC/17/3 40. Spain welcomed Nauru’s intention to decriminalize sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex and encouraged it to continue its efforts to prevent discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation or gender identity. Spain made recommendations. 41. Canada commended Nauru for its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. In particular, it commended Nauru for steps taken to combat corruption, by enacting anti-money laundering legislation and closing its offshore banks, and for making the elimination of domestic violence a national priority. Measures taken with regard to the latter had included the establishment of a safe house for women and children victims of domestic violence, conducting awareness campaigns and instituting a Domestic Violence Unit within the Nauru Police Force. Canada welcomed Nauru’s participation in various regional mechanisms and encouraged further cooperation with international mechanisms. Canada made recommendations. 42. Azerbaijan noted that Nauru was not yet a party to key international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its Optional Protocol, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Convention against Torture, but welcomed the intention of Nauru to be bound by these instruments. Although Nauru had not yet ratified the Convention against Torture, its legislation was in compliance with it. Azerbaijan noted with interest the establishment of a Domestic Violence Unit and asked about measures taken to combat violence against women. Azerbaijan made recommendations. 43. France noted with satisfaction that Nauru was a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and that it had signed, although not ratified, most of the international instruments for the promotion and protection of human rights. France welcomed the fact that no execution had taken place in Nauru since its independence in 1968, and that Nauru had signed the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which aims at the abolition of the death penalty. France noted that Nauru could still improve its cooperation with the United Nations human rights mechanisms. France made recommendations. 44. Nauru thanked all delegations and welcomed the comments made. With regard to Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Nauru had committed itself to ratify the Convention. Nauru signed Convention on the Rights of the Child but still faced resource and capacity constraints to submit its initial report. Nauru requested UNICEF assistance and welcomed comments and recommendations made in this regard. 45. Nauru stated that there was a chapter on domestic and sexual violence in the new draft criminal code. This code will be considered soon by the Government before being tabled before the Parliament. This approach would be more effective for Nauru instead of having many different laws. 46. Freedom of information laws were also considered. They were widely supported and would be easily brought into place. 47. The suggestions made for a human rights based environment programme was something that Nauru was certainly interested to further look into. Nauru did not have the capacity to develop such programmes but welcomed ideas and suggestions in this regard. 48. Malaysia was encouraged to note that despite many challenges Nauru had demonstrated its commitment and determination in improving the socio-economic and human rights situation in the country. It welcomed the National Sustainable Development Strategy and its recent review, which aimed at achieving a positive future for Nauru and a 8