A/HRC/23/8 51. Sri Lanka welcomed the enactment of the Child Protection Act, guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It noted that progress had been made in the advancement of women and that women served in high-level positions in the Bahamas. It welcomed the measures taken regarding trafficking in persons, including the establishment of the Trafficking in Persons Task Force in 2012. It made recommendations. 52. Thailand welcomed the withdrawal by the Bahamas of its reservation to article 16 (1) (h) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, thereby ensuring equal property rights for both spouses in a marriage. It noted the progress made in preparation for accession to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It applauded efforts to overcome the challenges of trafficking in persons. Thailand expressed concern at particular legislation relating to women’s and children’s rights and referred to the treatment of female prisoners. It invited all countries to respond positively to requests for sharing good practices, assistance and technical cooperation to support enhancing human rights. It made recommendations. 53. Trinidad and Tobago noted the constraints of the Bahamas in relation to promoting and protecting human rights, but recognized its efforts therein, as evidenced by its ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It acknowledged the Government’s commitment and the services it provided to enhance the quality of life of its differently abled citizens. It made recommendations. 54. Turkey appreciated that the Bahamas considered human rights as an integral part of social development and commended the Bahamian education system and high Human Development and Gender Equality Index. Turkey also commended the legislative work of the Bahamas towards harmonizing key areas of education, judiciary and criminal execution with international standards and the withdrawal of its reservation to Article 16 (1) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Turkey made recommendations. 55. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland noted the efforts of the Bahamas to ensure that law enforcement forces observe, respect and protect human rights, to protect women’s rights and to combat violence against them. It urged the Bahamas to raise awareness of and to criminalize marital rape. It asked whether the Government had considered establishing a moratorium on executions as a first step towards abolition of the death penalty. It made recommendations. 56. The United States of America applauded the Bahamas for responding to concerns raised by several special rapporteurs and civil society representatives of poor conditions at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre; however, there were still reports that access to basic necessities and medical care was restricted and that physical abuse by officers was common. It appreciated efforts to combat discrimination, nevertheless harassment and violence against members of marginalized populations continued to surface. It commended the Bahamas for holding a human trafficking event, setting up a task force to handle specific allegations thereof and establishing official guidance protocols. It made recommendations. 57. Uruguay highlighted the fact that despite the abrogation of the crime of homosexuality, certain legal loopholes generated discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. It noted that, while courts recognized property rights in de facto unions, there was no legal mechanism regulating such unions. It invited the Bahamas to prohibit all forms of violence against children in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, including corporal punishment. It made recommendations. 10