A/HRC/24/15 measures taken to fight inequality between men and women, improve living conditions and combat harmful traditional practices. It made recommendations. 86. France welcomed the Government’s ratification of OP-CRC-AC and its joint monitoring, with civil society, of the implementation of UPR first cycle recommendations. It made recommendations. 87. Regarding the ratification of some international instruments to which Cameroon was not yet a party, the delegation pointed out that the signature and ratification of all the international human rights conventions had been a constitutional commitment since 1996. It recalled that the fact that some instruments had not yet been signed and/or ratified was the result of internal and legislative procedures, rather than reluctance on the part of the Government. The delegation noted that Cameroon had signed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and that its cooperation with the International Criminal Court was exemplary. 88. With regard to its standing invitation to special procedures mandate holders, the delegation recalled that, each year, Cameroon received special rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and that they were all welcome. However, the Government was occasionally surprised that invitations sent were not taken up. One year ago, Cameroon had reiterated its invitation to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit the country. 89. The delegation also stressed that it shared the concerns expressed by speakers in relation to women’s rights. It nevertheless began by stating that Cameroon was the country of equal pay for men and women and that there was a majority of women in universities and grandes écoles. Women were also present in all State sectors and, during the last senatorial elections, political parties had included 30 per cent of women in their lists. Despite those achievements, the delegation recognized that female genital mutilation was an unacceptable human tragedy arising from both cultural and economic factors, that awareness-raising was necessary to end such practices and that excisers should be given the opportunity to retrain. 90. The delegation stated that efforts were being made to restrict illegal child labour in cotton plantations. 91. On the issue of detention, the delegation reiterated that the standards applicable in prisons were not always consistent with international standards but that efforts were being made to improve conditions of detention, despite budget constraints. 92. Gabon welcomed Cameroonian cooperation with international mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights, in particular its ratification of multiple texts at international and regional levels. It commended Cameroon for its work favouring certain human rights categories, for establishing several dedicated national institutions and for strengthening the rule of law and good governance through policies and action plans designed to guarantee individual rights and public freedoms. 93. Germany recognized the Cameroonian Government’s constant efforts to strengthen human rights and commended it for ratifying OP-CRC-AC. It made recommendations. 94. Ghana welcomed the establishment of an interministerial implementation monitoring body, and its ratification of several international and regional human rights and humanitarian legal instruments. It recognised its measures to eradicate harmful traditional practices and FGM. However, it shared the concerns of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women regarding stereotypes of women’s roles and responsibilities, and discrimination in land ownership. It called on the international community to support with capacity-building and technical assistance. GE.13-15472 11