A/HRC/8/43 Page 10 Police Public Complaints Authority in 2002. It urged the Government to continue to improve their capacity and to provide them with adequate resources to carry out their important functions. 32. Cuba expressed admiration for Zambia’s progress in economic and social rights, particularly in education and health, adding that being a developing country with financial and material difficulties has not been an obstacle to Zambia’s decisive protection of the human rights of its people. It congratulated the Government’s determination and efforts to attain the MDGs, its good legal framework and human rights institutions, and its progress in enrolling girls in schools. It asked what measures and actions Zambia had taken to achieve these results as a useful guide for other countries facing disparities in gender in the education system. It recommended that Zambia continue its efforts in economic, social and cultural rights to further build upon the progress it has already made. It also recommended that Zambia share its experiences and good practices, which have enabled them to obtain significant results in the field of education, particularly in the access of girls to education and training. 33. Malaysia recognized the progress in the promotion and protection of human rights despite the challenges and constraints faced. It commended Zambia on the policy measures made to advance the right to health in the Fifth National Development Plan 2006-2010 and Vision 2030. It requested information on the efforts to address the high level of maternal mortality and child mortality. It also noted the policy direction of the Government to provide education for all by 2015. The substantive increase in the enrolment at public universities in 2005 reflects the emphasis on education, and in this regard, it asked about efforts made or planned by the Government to achieve its objective to provide free and compulsory basic education by 2015. 34. Italy referred to the concern of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights about the persistence of customary practices which lead to violations of women’s rights. It recommended that Zambia take all appropriate measures to improve the situation of women’s rights on the ground and retain in the draft constitution currently under discussion both the provision on equality before the law regardless of sex and the provision prohibiting any law, culture, custom or tradition that undermines the dignity, welfare, interests or status of women. It also recommended that Zambia develop a national strategy for human rights education in the school system in accordance with the Plan of Action 2005-2009 of the World Programme for Human Rights Education, including the review and revision of curricula and textbooks, the training of teachers, and the practice of human rights in the school community. 35. Norway praised Zambia for its active and constructive engagement with the Council. It noted that while there are many media outlets in Zambia, few engage in political reporting or analysis, even though Zambia deems itself a multi-party democracy. The so-called Defamation Act, prohibiting defamation of the Head of State and carrying a sanction of three years’ imprisonment, was said to contribute to this situation as it was often interpreted to apply to the Government in general. It asked if Zambia has taken or will take steps to change the Defamation Act in the Penal Code in order to broaden the space for exercising the freedom of expression and recommended that Zambia consider taking such steps. It noted that a process to adopt a new bill on freedom of information had been stalled for more than two years and asked why the adoption was not moving forward and at the same time recommended swift adoption of the bill on freedom of information. While Zambia enjoys an active civil society, strict regulations in the proposed NGO Bill, such as a registration procedure which allows extended control by the Government, were issues of concern. Norway asked about the current status of this proposed bill. 36. The delegation of Zambia responded to the questions raised, in particular on the issue of the death penalty and same-sex relationships, and stated that the laws in any country are reflections of