A/HRC/25/11 7. The Minister of Justice who was responsible for judicial reform, first gave an overview of the State’s geographical situation, its administrative organization, its economy and the succession of regimes that had governed it. He then outlined the institutional and legal framework for the promotion and defence of human rights in the Central African Republic, specifying that those institutions had always existed, although there had been some changes during the transition period. The Minister emphasized the importance of the Transitional Constitutional Charter, which had been adopted by the Transitional National Council and promulgated on 18 July 2013 on the basis of a broad consensus, and which incorporated all the provisions of the 2004 Constitution. The Constitutional Charter enshrined the principle of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary. 8. The delegation reaffirmed that the Central African Republic had acceded to international human rights instruments and cited the main ones ratified by the State. The establishment of a Ministry of Human Rights and Coordination of Humanitarian Action was an additional step forward that reflected the Government’s desire to ensure that individuals were protected. 9. The delegation outlined the main measures taken to give effect to civil and political rights, as well as the advances made through the new Criminal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure adopted in 2010, which included several provisions promoting human rights. The adjusted length of police custody and the provision concerning the presence of a doctor and a lawyer within the first few hours of custody constituted significant progress. 10. On 2 August 2013 the Head of State mandated to lead the transition had signed the instrument of ratification of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and had submitted it to the depositary. 11. With regard to freedom of the press, no journalists had been imprisoned since the political change that had taken place on 24 March 2013, and the transitional Head of State had publicly stated that no journalists would be imprisoned and no one would be detained for their opinions during his term of office. 12. The Government paid particular attention to the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons and had ratified several international and regional legal instruments. 13. A bill on compensation for victims of serious human rights violations was being drafted, following the establishment of a joint commission of inquiry to investigate human rights-related crimes, offences and other violations as well as damage to property. 14. A bill to simply abolish the death penalty had already been drafted; all that remained was to initiate the legislative process for its adoption by the Transitional National Council. 15. As to the realization of the right to culture in the Central African Republic, the delegation said that significant progress had been made with regard to culture and heritage, as a ministry for the arts and culture had been established in 2013. 16. Concerning the rights of vulnerable persons and solidarity rights, the Government’s political commitment to the elderly and persons with disabilities had been translated into legal instruments and framework documents, and measures taken with support from the NGO Handicap International, to enable those persons to participate fully in public life. 17. The Government of the Central African Republic had embarked on a series of legal reforms to promote and protect the women’s rights, including a bill on parity, revision of the Family Code s to bring it into line with international standards, and involving women in the conflict resolution process in accordance with Security Council resolution 1325 (2000). Women were still poorly represented in political life. 4 GE.14-10056