A/HRC/18/2 human rights and humanitarian instruments to which it is a party, and its commitment to the abolition of the death penalty. 427. Sierra Leone welcomed the opportunity of being reviewed and, in particular, all recommendations made by States. A total of 129 recommendations had been made. The delegation had addressed 101 of those recommendations adequately and promised to submit the outstanding 28 recommendations to the stakeholders and the people of Sierra Leone for the proper determination of its response. 428. On returning to Sierra Leone, the delegation had presented its report to the President in cabinet, together with the recommendation for a nationwide consultation and presentation to stakeholders and citizenry. This was readily approved, with also the technical assistance of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (which is also the field office of OHCHR). Those consultations had been conducted in August 2011. 429. The consultations were planned and carried out by the Ministry of Justice and the Human Rights secretariat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Participants were drawn from a variety of groups: tribal heads, trades unions, prison officers, police, military, general citizenry, civil society and non-governmental organizations. The consultations were held in major cities, starting in the east and culminating in Freetown. 430. At the consultations, the report of the review was presented, reasons were given for the position already taken on recommendations, and an explanation provided on the need to hold interactive consultations throughout the country to discuss carefully the 28 outstanding recommendations and to determine Sierra Leone’s position on them. This approach was very successful, as the turnout in all the consultations was higher than anticipated and the feedback carefully considered so as to share the outcome with the Human Rights Council. 431. There were plans to hold a high-level consultation with cabinet ministers and the higher echelons of the civil service almost immediately following the delegation’s return to Freetown. 432. Sierra Leone provided its position on the recommendations. It had accepted recommendation 82.1, with the clarification that Parliament would have to consider the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights at the earliest. 433. Sierra Leone had accepted recommendations 82.2, 82.3, 82.4 and 82.14–82.25 in principle, subject to constitutional review. It reminded participants that the constitutional review process had been suspended and that it intended to continue it after the elections. 434. Sierra Leone had accepted recommendations 82.5, 82.6, 82.10, 82.27 and 82.28. It accepted recommendations 82.11 with a clear call for technical assistance in the implementation of the national gender plan and the national plan of action on Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), as well as in formulating a strategy to combat violence against women. It had also accepted recommendations 82.12 and 82.13 with a call for technical assistance. Recommendation 82.26 was accepted with the explanation that an existing board could do with technical assistance and training for carrying out its mandate and informing the public. Sierra Leone rejected recommendations 82.7, 82.8 and 82.9. 2. Views expressed by Member and observer States of the Human Rights Council on the review outcome 435. Algeria commended the constructive commitment of Sierra Leone in the framework of the universal periodic review and its rather spectacular acceptance of 126 GE.12-17756 141