A/HRC/14/9 33. The United States of America commended San Marino for its strong record in the area of human rights. It congratulated the country on its ratification of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto, whose implementation would enable San Marino to provide full access to the country’s buildings, as well as employment opportunities, to citizens and visitors with disabilities. The United States of America made recommendations. 34. Germany welcomed the use of alternatives to the deprivation of liberty with regard to young offenders. It also referred to a 2008 report by the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, which had highlighted the lack of a separate justice system for minors and the increase in crimes committed by young people in the country, and asked how San Marino planed to address those issues. Germany made recommendations. 35. Slovenia commended San Marino for its good human rights record and its best practice aimed at including in regular schools all children with disabilities, with the exception of severely disabled children. It asked for further information about measures taken to ensure that its domestic legislation was fully aligned with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Slovenia echoed the concerns of the Human Rights Committee regarding the obligation that San Marino citizens from 16 to 60 years of age serve in the military in the event of a general mobilization. Slovenia made recommendations. 36. Slovakia highlighted San Marino’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. Noting that the role of the ombudsman was played by the head of State, Slovakia made a recommendation concerning that issue. 37. Brazil recognized the commitment of San Marino to the full realization of human rights. It welcomed, inter alia, the law on violence against women and the criminalization of racial discrimination. Noting the increase in the number of foreign workers in San Marino, Brazil asked about the effects of certain legal provisions on the rights of nonnationals, in particular with regard to social benefits. While recognizing the existence of a comprehensive legal framework concerning the rights of the child, Brazil drew attention to the observations made by the Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding the importance of establishing statistical data on child abuse and neglect. Brazil made recommendations. 38. Spain highlighted the fact that San Marino had been one of the first countries in Europe to abolish the death penalty and recognized the Government’s achievements in terms of protecting persons with disabilities, including intellectual disabilities. Spain inquired about San Marino’s progress and plans regarding Human Rights Committee recommendations concerning a review of the procedure and the time limits for acquiring citizenship, the establishment of an independent monitoring mechanism and the implementation of a legal framework against discrimination. Spain made recommendations. 39. Italy asked for further information about steps taken by San Marino to integrate human rights education into the school system. It also asked whether the norm requiring a foreigner to present a financial guarantee in order to initiate a civil action had become obsolete. In addition, Italy requested further information concerning access to free legal assistance. Italy commended San Marino for its overall implementation of international human rights provisions. It made a recommendation. 40. China praised measures to protect vulnerable groups, recognizing in particular efforts to promote tolerance and non-discrimination and to provide social security for the population. China noted that certain laws in San Marino were not consistent with international human rights instruments to which it was party, and asked whether adjustments were planned. 7