A/HRC/8/35 Page 11 52. The representative of Gabon highlighted that although children are protected, that labour laws regulate their work, and that child exploitation is forbidden, trafficking and exploitation of children are recurrent issues. Gabon recalled that regional consultations and technical workshops on the work of children have taken place and there have been attempts at developing guidelines against exploitation of children in Western and Central Africa. As a result of these consultations, a number of institutions, committees and other structures have been set up. Ultimately, care of these children is carried out in three different stages: withdrawal, administrative and psycho-social care, food and housing, as well as return to the country of origin or reinsertion in Gabon. 53. Regarding juvenile justice, a project for the revision of the Penal Code has been undertaken to establish special courts for minors, and the Government has decided to build a prison for minors outside of the capital, which will automatically lead to the creation of a juvenile tribunal to ensure compliance with international standards. 54. The representative noted that prisons in Gabon were built during the colonial period and most of them nowadays do not correspond to international standards. The State has taken measures to improve the conditions of prisons, such as the construction of health-care centers. In terms of legal measures, the representative noted the Decree of 17 October 2002 on the creation of the penitentiary body, which deals with measures to improve living conditions of inmates. A special adviser on prisons was created, and Government officials have undertaken visits to prison centers. As a result, the decision to build new prisons and to create educational facilities within them has been taken, so as to ensure better reintegration. The representative highlighted the need for technical and financial assistance in carrying out these projects. 55. On the issue of the promotion and protection of the rights of women, Gabon noted that a number of efforts had been made: women have the same rights as men and the gender approach has been fully integrated by the Government. Concerning HIV/AIDS, women are particularly vulnerable, with more than 50 percent of the people living with HIV/AIDS being women. According to a national report on the issue, in 2007, 55 per cent of the 6,373 individuals treated by antiretroviral drugs were women. The Government has set up several mechanisms to fight against this pandemic, such as free drugs for vulnerable categories. In addition, a number of measures have been taken to create a legal environment to preserve women’s freedom. 56. Regarding the issue of Pygmies, the representative noted that the Government has drawn up a plan of action to promote the rights of Pygmies, including a census and to ensure them birth certificates. Other measures taken were vaccination and education programmes, as well as the introduction of basic social services, with the support of UNICEF and UNESCO, whose efforts are relayed by national and international NGOs. The Government representative recognized that the steps taken were limited, but also highlighted the successes, such as identifying where Pygmies live, a difficult exercise because of their nomadic lifestyle, which also complicates the setting up of sanitary and educational structures. Another representative noted that Pygmies were part and parcel of the Gabonese society. While they are a minority, they live in harmony and are fully integrated: they are free to send their children to schools, free to marry with Bantu, have access to justice, can participate in elections and be elected. As a people, however, they would like to live in their natural environment, which may create obstacles to the efforts made by the Government, because the measures taken may be considered as a violation of their rights and an attempt to make them live otherwise. 57. The representative noted that Gabon had created the National Commission on Human Rights, the composition of which reflects the diversity of the nation, with a representative of the Senate, of the National Assembly, of the Bar, of the judiciary, of health-care workers, of the press,