A/HRC/14/8 40. Brazil asked about the difficulties faced in the preparation of the national report. It highlighted Fiji’s submission of reports to three treaty bodies and encouraged the country to accede to other core human rights treaties. Brazil regretted the fact that democracy had not yet been restored, noting that the situation had given rise to acts of physical and psychological abuse against political dissidents and to the arbitrary detention of human rights defenders. It considered the Poverty Alleviation Programme and the National AIDS Strategy as encouraging evidence of the realization of the right to health. It commended the Government’s campaigns aimed at combating discrimination against people living with HIV. While welcoming the adoption of the women’s plan of action, it noted the indication of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women that the levels of the domestic and sexual abuse of girls and women remained high. It asked about actions taken to implement the Committee’s recommendation that laws on domestic violence and sexual offences and measures for the rehabilitation of the victims of such violence be adopted. Brazil made recommendations. 41. Norway expressed grave concern about the human rights situation and was deeply concerned at the extensive restrictions on the media. It also expressed concern about the precarious working conditions of human rights defenders, partly as a result of the Public Emergency Regulations. While welcoming the fact that Fiji was a State party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and commending the recent submittal of reports - although overdue - it expressed concern about reports concerning high levels of violence and sexual abuse aimed at girls and women. Norway made recommendations. 42. The Philippines understood Fiji’s challenges in the area of climate change and requested information about its impact on the enjoyment of human rights, as well as on capacity-building measures required. It noted that Fiji would need the continued support of the international community regarding the provision of free education and health services and public infrastructure. It also noted the Road Map for Democracy and Sustainable Development. It congratulated the country on having ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. It welcomed the establishment of institutional mechanisms for the promotion of gender equality. It made recommendations. 43. Spain considered that democratic and constitutional order should be re-established, with guarantees of political participation and the holding of democratic elections. It noted with satisfaction that the death penalty was no longer applicable to civilians. It was concerned at the persistence of the state of emergency and at its implied risks concerning the enjoyment of human rights. It regretted the arbitrary denial of pensions to individuals for simply having expressed an opinion against the Government. Spain made recommendations. 44. Italy inquired when Fiji would ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It expressed concerns about the censorship of media and about reported violations such as the intimidation, arbitrary arrest and deportation of journalists and the torture and ill treatment of detainees. Italy noted that the abrogation of the Constitution in 2009 could negatively affect the full enjoyment of freedom of religion or belief. Italy welcomed the abolition of the death penalty for ordinary crimes. Italy made recommendations. 45. China expressed sympathy to the people of Fiji, who had suffered from the effects of a severe hurricane the previous year. China encouraged the Government’s Road Map for Democracy and Social Development and its women’s plan of action. China noted that poverty and the unstable situation represented the main obstacles in the area of human rights, and called on the international community to continue to follow the situation closely, 8