A/HRC/12/2
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on alleged torture and enforced disappearances. It encouraged the Government to continue
collaborating with OHCHR and United Nations bodies and called upon the international
community to provide capacity-building programmes and technical assistance.
52. Cote d’Ivoire applauded the substantial progress made despite challenges, including the
programme to manage schools by local communities, efforts to welcome refugee children from
neighbouring countries and the creation of tribunals for children in 2001. It recommended the
Government seek from the international community, and especially from United Nations
programmes and agencies, support with a view to strengthening, if not already available,
capacity-building programmes and technical assistance, especially in human rights education,
child labour, security, assistance to families and communities to help them fight the effects of
poverty and HIV/AIDS, education and juvenile justice. It exhorted the State to deepen
institutional reform to promote human rights, increase assistance to IDPs and prevent new
displacements.
53. Spain recalled the primary responsibility of the State to guarantee security. It
recommended (a) establishment of a national commission for human rights, with sufficient
guarantees of independence and adequate material and human resources, which would work in
close cooperation with the United Nations. Noting discrimination against women in the
enjoyment of political rights and in education, Spain recommended (b) abolishing polygamy and
adopting a plan to fight the scourge of female genital mutilation, criminalizing this practice and
mobilizing public opinion against it, and adopting measures to reduce violence against women,
both rape and domestic violence; (c) the definitive abolition of the death penalty; (d) speeding up
measures to ensure reintegration into the community of minors giving up their weapons, making
it possible to comply with the agreements undertaken by the Government and the Union of
Democratic Forces for Unity with the United Nations; and (e) that these agreements be
concluded and implemented in the case of other remaining irregular forces.
54. Germany enquired about actions to curb violence against women, especially female genital
mutilation. It noted a prevalence of diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, and asked
about action taken. Stressing that IDPs often do not have access to adequate housing,
infrastructure, education and the health system, Germany asked about strategies to improve their
situation. Germany recommended that the State abolish the death penalty.
55. The Republic of Korea noted efforts to improve human rights despite challenges, the
decriminalization of press offences in 2005 and introduction of juvenile courts in 2001. It
remarked that the judicial system is undermined by arbitrary arrests, detention and delays in the
administration of justice, and impunity for serious human rights violations. Although there was a
significant decrease in extrajudicial executions by the armed forces in the north, concerns
remained about the large number of enforced disappearances, summary executions and torture. It
recommended (a) focusing attention more on the serious issues of combating impunity; that
human rights violations should be systematically investigated and those responsible for such
violations, without exception, should be prosecuted and punished; and (b) further strengthening
cooperation with the international community, including OHCHR and treaty bodies.
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