A/HRC/38/10 58. Regarding cooperation with OHCHR, the Government had held frequent meetings with that entity with a view to reaching an agreement in the interests of all, allowing OHCHR to contribute to the strengthening of human rights in cooperation with national institutions and civil society organizations. Many of the 6,000-plus associations registered by the Ministry of the Interior and Patriotic Training were working to protect human rights. 59. Burundi had invoked its prerogative of sovereignty in withdrawing from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Having thoroughly analysed the situation, the Government had concluded that withdrawal from the Statute would neither jeopardize the independence of the judiciary nor prevent the prosecution of crimes at the national level, since the crimes in question were provided for under domestic legislation. The Government had committed to addressing such crimes. 60. Regarding the mobilization of resources, Burundi was a low-income country which nevertheless had great potential. The Government had asked its various partners to reconsider the positions they had taken regarding the imposition of sanctions. Burundi was undertaking good governance efforts in order to attain budgetary independence. Despite difficulties, the Government had continued to deliver a programme of free health care for children under 5 and pregnant women and a programme of free primary education. 61. Persons with disabilities were a priority for the Government. A law on the status of persons with disabilities, developed in cooperation with associations, had been adopted to improve the situation of all persons with disabilities. 62. The achievement of gender parity in the Government depended on education, so that it was necessary to promote education in order to gradually achieve that goal. Parity had been established in primary education and had almost been achieved in secondary education, while efforts were being made to ensure that women were better represented in higher education. Following the conclusion of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi, a minimum proportion of 30 per cent had been set for women’s participation in elective institutions and in the Government. 63. Many laws existed to combat impunity. The right to equitable justice was guaranteed under the Constitution. Notwithstanding limited resources, everything was done so that Burundians could have access to legal assistance. 64. Burundi had ratified the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others and the Government was working to ensure that no Burundian would fall victim to trafficking, including by concluding agreements with several countries. 65. The Government had made a great effort to protect the rights of the Batwa. That community was represented in the National Assembly and the Senate, as well as in the Ministry of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender to ensure the gradual integration of its members into the executive branch. 66. On the issue of stateless persons, the Nationality Act of 2000 was clear: any person born in Burundi was a Burundian. A National Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons had been established to handle any and all cases of statelessness. 67. The Independent National Human Rights Commission enjoyed A status in respect of the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles), which confirmed the Commission’s independence. 68. Early and forced marriages were not a concern for Burundi, since on that issue the country’s Family Code was extremely clear. The Government continued to actively support the global eradication of the phenomenon. 69. The State of Palestine encouraged Burundi to reassess its decision on ending its relations with OHCHR, and explore the possibility of reaching an agreement with the latter. 70. The Sudan welcomed the ratification of international human rights instruments and the measures taken in the field of education. 71. 6 Sweden made recommendations. GE.18-06283