A/HRC/8/35 Page 10 technical and financial assistance and the nature of Gabon’s expectation on how technical and financial assistance will be addressed in the outcome of the review. 45. The Republic of Korea stated that the national report was mainly focused on the rights of women and children without taking stock of other civil and political rights. Citing the OHCHR compilation report, the Republic of Korea stated that the Human Rights Committee and certain special procedures have expressed concern in connection with arbitrary detention, the length of detention, access of detainees to lawyers and the arrest and detention of journalists. The Republic of Korea asked about the measures taken to respond to those concerns. 46. Chad recommended that the international community supports Gabon in implementing its vast programme launched for human rights promotion. Chad asked what practical mechanism Gabon has set up to reverse the trend of child trafficking. 47. Cameroon stated that it shares common ethnic populations and an ecosystem with Gabon. As host of a sub-regional centre for the promotion and protection of human rights, Cameroon asked whether Gabon is satisfied with the services this centre is supposed to provide, and whether the centre helped Gabon in the preparation of its report. Cameroon asked what collaboration Gabon might seek from neighbouring countries to address the issue of Pygmies and the plight of trafficking. Cameroon acknowledged the ministry of human rights, which is the only one in the region and hoped that such a ministry would be given sufficient resources. 48. Mauritania drew attention to several positive aspects of the national report, notably measures taken to strengthen the human rights of women and of children. The rights of the child are considered to be very important by Gabon, which is seeking to eliminate trafficking of children and to strengthen measures to ensure obligatory schooling. Mauritania asked whether Gabon is envisaging ratifying ICRMW. 49. Following the discussion/dialogue, the representatives of Gabon, in their responses, stated that since many of the questions asked were similar, they would gather together several answers. First, Gabon wished to reassure the international community of the Government’s readiness to receive special procedures mandate holders. Regarding international conventions that are not ratified, Gabon reaffirmed its determination to honour its commitment, and noted that ratification procedures are entered into as soon as a convention is signed. Unfortunately, these procedures are lengthy and require material and financial resources, which may serve to explain the delays noted. The representative noted that a commission had been set up to shorten the procedure to enter into treaties, which has already issued its conclusions. 50. Regarding the issue of freedom of expression, the representative noted that although national legislation is not yet in conformity with international standards, there exist a number of legislative and regulatory texts which aim to protect journalists. However, these provisions may be misinterpreted; once the perpetrators are denounced, they are immediately arrested and taken before the courts. 51. Ritual killings are a new trend in Gabon. Along with the international community, Gabon deplores them, while noting that statistics are not clearly established. As this is a new trend for which Gabon’s legislation does not provide, this scourge has been brought before Parliament and an Inter-Ministerial Commission has been set up to examine the possibility of new legislation on this issue.