A/HRC/37/10 65. Concerning the prison population, the delegation indicated that the number of prisoners had decreased from 7,247 in 2012 to 6,297 in 2017 (out of a national population of more than 10 million). There were 119 minors, including 7 girls, and 243 women, including 26 mothers of young children, held in prisons in Benin. The separation between the male/female and adult/minor quarters had been ensured thanks to the organizations and strategic partners that had provided assistance to Benin on separation measures. 66. Of these prisoners, 60 to 70 per cent were incarcerated on a temporary basis and few would be subject to criminal sanctions. Benin had just adopted a decree to separate prisons from correctional facilities. A prison agency had recently been created to deal exclusively with prison establishments. 67. The delegation added that the Beninese Human Rights Commission was also being set up. 68. In addition, the Beninese Criminal Code, currently under consideration by the National Assembly, would contain material relating to crimes against humanity and torture. 69. The delegation then recalled that the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, had been ratified. The Supreme Council of Justice was going to adopt a decree commuting the death penalty to appropriate penalties. 70. Also on the subject of the ratification of treaties, the delegation recalled that the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women had been ratified. 71. The delegation affirmed that prosecutions had been carried out and sentences handed down for impermissible actions against vidomegon children. 72. With regard to cultural or ritual mutilation and infanticide, the Government was not aware of any cases that had not resulted in prosecutions. In addition, an awareness-raising campaign had been launched in traditional places of worship where children were provided with education and health care, and irregularities observed were punished. 73. Namibia commended Benin for the progress it had made in implementing the recommendations of its second review, despite the various challenges regarding capacity faced by the country, and encouraged it to continue implementing the Government Action Programme 2016–2021 with emphasis on its third pillar on improving the living conditions of the population. 74. Nepal welcomed the adoption of the law creating the Human Rights Commission and encouraged Benin to make it operational as early as possible. It commended Benin for the launch of a national policy to protect children and related action plan, steps taken towards the abolition of the death penalty and protecting women’s rights and economic, social and cultural rights. 75. The Netherlands welcomed the efforts to improve prison conditions and abolish the death penalty. It encouraged Benin to develop a concerted strategy to reduce prison overcrowding and remove the death penalty from all national legislation. 76. Nigeria welcomed the creation of the Human Rights Commission, a national authority to combat corruption and the regional offices of the Ombudsman. It also welcomed the improvements in prison conditions and the efforts made to bring national legislation into line with international standards. 77. Pakistan welcomed the efforts made towards the eradication of poverty, ensuring women’s rights and combating violence against women. It appreciated the adoption of the Children’s Code and the national policy to protect children and its action plan. 78. Portugal thanked Benin for its report and welcomed the establishment of a programme of “child-friendly” courts. 79. Qatar welcomed the ratification by Benin of a range of international instruments and the setting up of human rights bodies. It commended initiatives that had been undertaken to facilitate the population’s access to health services. 8 GE.17-23482