A/HRC/18/2 644. Papua New Guinea was a young democratic country, founded on the principles of democracy, good governance and the rule of law. It recalled that its Constitution accorded all persons living in the country their basic rights and the fundamental freedoms that are commonly shared by humanity, irrespective of race, creed, religion or nationality. 645. Specific laws had been enacted to address the various human rights issues in the country. Papua New Guinea had also established institutional and administrative mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights. The establishment of the National Human Rights Commission, which should come into operation in 2012, was a milestone achievement. 646. International human rights treaties and conventions, including the Declaration of Human Rights, were compatible with the Constitution and relevant human rights laws in the country. Papua New Guinea was committed to fulfilling its commitments and obligations under the various international legal instruments, such as the international conventions pertaining to racial discrimination, the rights of the child and discrimination against women, and international covenants on civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights. 647. As a young country, Papua New Guinea faced many complexities that hindered its capacity to protect and promote human rights. Issues of capacity and resource constraints, as well as difficult geographical conditions, cultural diversity and lack of infrastructure seriously undermined the country’s efforts to implement its human rights commitments and obligations. 648. Papua New Guinea explained that these factors, as well as issues of capacity and resource constraints, were the major considerations that had led it to reject 32 of the recommendations received. Some of those recommendations pertained to the country’s laws on the death penalty, which could not be easily repealed by Parliament. Despite the existence of this law, it had never been enforced by Papua New Guinea. 649. The core work of the State pertained to the rights of women and children. In this regard, Papua New Guinea was pleased to inform the Human Rights Council that the Government had passed the first vote on a parliamentary bill that would provide for 22 seats reserved for women candidates in general elections. 650. Lastly, Papua New Guinea stated that the successful completion of the above process and eventual enactment of the law would pave the way for greater representation of women in the highest political decision-making body in the country. It would be a great achievement for the country in terms of women’s rights, gender empowerment and the equal participation of women in the development of the country. 2. Views expressed by Member and observer States of the Human Rights Council on the review outcome 651. Algeria welcomed the fact that Papua New Guinea had accepted 114 of 146 recommendations made, including the recommendation made by Algeria relating to efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. It recalled that it had made two other recommendations relating to adhesion to a number of international instruments (the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the two optional protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child) and on free and compulsory primary education. Algeria welcomed the fact that Papua New Guinea had accepted both. Algeria had not referred to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, as was stated in the French and English versions of the report of the Working Group, nor to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination as stated in the Arabic version of the same report. GE.12-17756 175