A/HRC/23/8 43. Peru acknowledged the commitment of the Government of the Bahamas to social development and to respect of the human rights of the country’s population. It highlighted the implementation of the Swift Justice programme, aimed at facilitating cooperation between institutions and judicial bodies, and national discussion encouraging meetings and public consultation on various issues affecting society. It made recommendations. 44. The Philippines noted that the withdrawal of the reservation to Article 16 (1) (h) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was a giant step forward towards the eventual elimination of discrimination against women. It hoped that the Bahamas would further strengthen the normative framework for migrants’ rights in society. It welcomed intensified efforts to combat human trafficking and the establishment of the interministerial committee on trafficking in persons. The Philippines made a recommendation. 45. Portugal welcomed the ratification by the Bahamas of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the withdrawal of its reservation to article 16 (1) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. It noted that the Bahamas had rejected the recommendation to abolish the death penalty in the first UPR cycle. Portugal recalled that the Bahamas had stated during the first cycle its intention to repeal laws authorizing judicial corporal punishment and requested information on steps taken to ensure children’s right to legal protection from all corporal punishment. It made recommendations. 46. Singapore recognized the challenges faced by the country as a small island developing State and the progress made towards the Millennium Development Goals despite that. It noted the Government’s provision of free education from kindergarten to grade 12. It noted also the efforts to combat trafficking in persons, including the establishment of the Trafficking in Persons Task Force. It made recommendations. 47. Slovakia commended the Bahamas for withdrawing its reservation to article 16 (1) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, for its accession to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and for launching initiatives to combat violence against women, such as the campaign “Domestic Violence is Everyone’s Business”. It also noted the reported increase in the rate of primary education enrolment. It made recommendations. 48. Slovenia noted that the Bahamas was combatting discrimination through the training of educators. It welcomed the fact that guidance counsellors provided education programmes to raise awareness among students of human rights, particularly regarding gender-based and racial discrimination. It welcomed the country’s ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It made recommendations. 49. South Africa commended 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. It was encouraged by progress made in preparation for accession to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and, in that regard, would appreciate further information on the review of the draft legislation on disability. It noted the commitment of the Bahamas to combating discrimination through education. It made recommendations. 50. Spain welcomed the delegation of the Bahamas and appreciated the participation of the country in the current process. It acknowledged efforts made in the field of human rights and commended particularly the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It made recommendations. 9