A/HRC/14/8 been granted the sole power to appoint and remove judges. Courts had been prohibited from hearing cases challenging decisions made by the interim Government. Media continued to be censured and journalists harassed. Recent incidents involving the intimidation and persecution of critics of the interim Government, including church leaders, human rights activists, lawyers and judges, had demonstrated a total disregard for human rights. Australia made recommendations. 35. The Russian Federation expressed appreciation for Fiji’s participation in the universal periodic review process and considered it as a sign of the country’s readiness for dialogue and cooperation with the international community. Given the situation in Fiji, the Russian Federation did not consider it appropriate to go into details, but spoke generally in favour of the restoration of democracy on the basis of a constructive dialogue among the leading political forces and the free expression of public opinion. 36. The United States of America was deeply concerned about the interim Government’s decision to abrogate the Constitution and about the removal of the judiciary, noting that on 9 April 2009, the Fiji Court of Appeal had declared the coup and the interim Government unlawful. On 10 April 2009, the Government had abrogated the Constitution, imposed a state of emergency and ruled by decree. The Government had dismissed all members of the judiciary and replaced them with its own appointees. The United States also remained deeply concerned about increased censorship and intimidation of the media in Fiji: the public emergency regulations, which had curbed the freedoms of speech, the press and assembly, remained in place. Media censorship had begun immediately after the abrogation of the Constitution. Journalists who had refused to adhere to the public emergency regulations were being detained, threatened and intimidated by Government and security officials, as media outlets were banned from criticizing the interim Government. The United States made recommendations. 37. Germany shared the deep concerns expressed by most other speakers addressing the Working Group with regard to the dismissal of the judiciary and the heavy restrictions placed on the media in Fiji after the issuance of the Public Emergency Regulations. Germany asked about the measures that had been or would be undertaken to restore the independence of justice and the freedom of opinion and expression. Germany made recommendations. 38. Slovenia commended Fiji for having adopted a plan of action on human rights education and for having established institutional mechanisms for the promotion of gender equality. Slovenia was concerned about the Public Emergency Regulations and reports concerning the detention of human rights defenders. It requested information about measures taken to guarantee the enjoyment of their rights. It expressed concerns about reports concerning gender-based discrimination against women, requesting information about measures taken to eliminate violence against women. Slovenia made recommendations. 39. Slovakia was concerned about the Public Emergency Regulations, which had restricted freedom of expression, assembly and movement, had allowed security personnel to use excessive force such as torture and arbitrary detention, and had promoted a culture of impunity incompatible with international standards concerning states of emergency. It was also concerned about reports concerning the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. It referred to the request by the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the ILO Committee of Experts for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour and for the implementation of rehabilitation and reintegration programmes. It also referred to the fact that civil society was an important element of the national human rights mechanism. It made recommendations. 7