A/HRC/18/2 336. The delegation stated that the recommendations concerning reporting commitments under international human rights treaties had been accepted. Further steps to ameliorate the implementation of the strategy to address the preparation and submission of outstanding reports to treaty monitoring bodies were being taken by the Government, and the work on the preparation of some outstanding reports had been initiated. Work had already started for the preparation of national reports to be submitted to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 337. Seychelles had accepted the recommendation that would allow special procedures mandate holders to visit Seychelles to monitor and report on human rights issues in the country. The standing invitation to the special procedures would be extended. 338. The recommendations on gender had been accepted, and there would be further clarifications in a more comprehensive statement to be posted on the extranet of the Human Rights Council. 339. The recommendations on domestic violence and protection of women and children had also been accepted. Statutory laws against domestic violence and for the protection of women and children were already in place, as were the mechanisms for review of these laws so as to make them more suited to the needs of protecting women and children. Moreover, the Government had approved the recommendation of the Department of Social Affairs to give full and due support and commitment to ensure the realization of the national gender-based violence strategy and of the funded plan of action, which was especially linked to the training of stakeholders, such as judiciary and the police, and to responding to the holistic needs of victims and perpetrators. 340. The delegation stated that Seychelles would not accept the recommendations concerning the age of criminal responsibility, although it was open to review them again in the future. The delegation added that section 15 of the Penal Code expressly provided that a person below the age of 7 was not criminally liable, while those in between the age of 7 and 12 would be liable if they knew that they should not do the acts giving rise to the offences. The delegation also stated that while the principle of limited liability depending on one’s mental capacity was universal, there was no universally accepted age of criminal responsibility. Seychelles considered that the relevant provisions in the Penal Code should remain as they were. Therefore, for the time being, Seychelles would not raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility. 341. Seychelles had accepted the recommendations on youth. The standards set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child referred to the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (the Beijing Rules). The Government of Seychelles recommended, as an immediate measure, that there be dissemination of these rules, in particular to the institutions and agencies directly involved in juvenile justice. In due time, the content of the Standard Minimum Rules would be separately submitted to the Executive so as to obtain its formal approval and guarantee their introduction and implementation. 342. The recommendations on the judiciary had been accepted. Further comments would be available in a more comprehensive statement to be posted on the extranet of the Human Rights Council. 343. The recommendations on sexual orientation had been accepted. The delegation stated that the Constitution of Seychelles made provision for all persons to be free from discrimination on all grounds. Article 27 of the Constitution stated that every person had a right to equal protection of the law, without discrimination on any ground, except as is necessary in a democratic society. The one provision in the Penal Code for “sodomy” did not directly discriminate homosexuals as it was intended to penalize the offence of sodomy as such. This provision had never been applied to anyone. The Government would decide 128 GE.12-17756