A/HRC/8/36 Page 5 12. Pakistan noted Ghana’s impressive strides towards democratic rule and stated that its democratic model can be emulated in similar political and cultural situations. Pakistan noted the number of reforms introduced to nurture a human rights culture to improve the lives of children, women and marginalized segments of society. It identified addressing social and traditional mindsets that led to human rights abuses and poverty as well as girl child education as important areas of concern, and asked how the Government intended to deal with these issues and what specific steps had been taken to make cooperation between State institutions and civil society groups more productive. 13. India congratulated Ghana on its successful initiative aimed at increasing the enrolment of girl students in schools and requested more information about this success story. It noted with interest the People’s Assembly concept of 2001 which provides a platform for the ordinary men and women to interact with the President once a year. India requested information about the functioning of the judicial complaints unit that seeks to address judicial accountability and misconduct in the judicial service. 14. France asked if Ghana intended to formally abolish the death penalty or to turn the current de facto moratorium on executions into the de jure moratorium, and encouraged a public debate to explain that the abolition of death penalty would increase the image of good governance of the country. France asked what tangible measures Ghana intended to take to apply the law against domestic violence and if it intended to broaden this law by penalizing rape in marriage. It further asked about measures to put an end to so-called cultural practices such as “trokosi”, witch camps and FGM. It also asked if the provisions on violence against women were introduced in the criminal law. France recommended that the Government take the necessary measures to reinforce the campaign again these discriminatory practices and violence against women. 15. The Czech Republic welcomed the adoption of the Domestic Violence Act of 2007 and asked what measures have been adopted to ensure its effective implementation. The Czech Republic recommended strengthening of the funding for implementation of this act and of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit. It recommended the adoption of necessary steps to ensure that victims of violence were not obliged to pay costs of their medical examination and trials of alleged perpetrators took place in due time. In this connection, the Czech Republic recommended the strengthening of judicial structures, the adoption of measures against corruption in judiciary and the introduction of more education and training for police, courts and social services. It further asked what measures have been adopted against widowhood rites, FGM, ritual servitude of girls and violence against women perceived as witches, and particularly about assistance or reintegration schemes available to women in witch camps, and whether perpetrators of violence against women have been investigated and punished. It recommended that Ghana adopt legislative and other necessary measures, including awareness-raising campaigns, against these harmful traditional practices and stereotypes. 16. The Czech Republic also recommended that Ghana’s Criminal Code be amended to decriminalize sexual activity between consenting adults. 17. Tunisia welcomed best institutional practices in order to combat impunity in the police service and was also impressed by the efforts of the Government regarding training and the improvement of skills of law enforcement officials and noted with satisfaction the training cycle for police prosecutors. Tunisia also noted the establishment within the bureau of the Attorney General of a unit tasked to receive complaints and maintain a hotline to report alleged infringements of the law by police forces. Tunisia considered that all these positive developments can serve as model and encouraged Ghana to continue strengthening these achievements.