A/HRC/17/4 37. Nigeria welcomed Rwanda’s efforts to consolidate peace and stability through the enactment of various laws, and the establishment of the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide. It noted with appreciation the progress made in access to education and health, and respect for the rights of women, children, and persons with disabilities. Nigeria recognized various challenges and constraints hindering Rwanda’s efforts in protecting human rights and attaining the MDGs. It made a recommendation. 38. Austria commended Rwanda for the developments in the protection of social and economic rights, and the progress made in fighting corruption, as well as for the abolishment of the death penalty, and the reform of the justice sector. It was concerned, however, about prison overcrowding, the lack of separation of pretrial detainees and convicted offenders, the length of pretrial detention, and the limited possibilities for rehabilitation in the area of juvenile justice. Austria requested information on measures taken to address these concerns. Austria was also concerned about restrictions imposed on the press and journalists under the 2009 Media Law, and requested information on measures envisaged to tackle those problems. Austria made recommendations. 39. India commended Rwanda for its efforts to reshape a new and inclusive society. India referred to Rwanda’s A-status national human rights commission and its cooperation with the African Peer Review Mechanism and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. It requested Rwanda to provide more information on food insecurity, internal displacement, deforestation and declining agricultural productivity. 40. Cambodia noted with appreciation the efforts and progress made by Rwanda to develop programs aimed at social and economic transformation, including Vision 2020 and the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy. It recognized the challenges that Rwanda faced, and the efforts needed to ensure long-lasting peace and stability and to advance democracy. Cambodia made recommendations. 41. Mauritania noted with appreciation Rwanda’s commitment to protecting human rights, as well as the measures taken, such as the creation of an advisory council for governance and a task force for the preparation of reports to the treaty bodies. Mauritania commended Rwanda for the adoption of its Vision 2020 plan and Poverty Reduction Strategy, and for its commitment to achieving most of the MDGs before 2015. Mauritania highlighted Rwanda’s achievements in promoting gender equality, including the high representation of women in Parliament. It also referred to Rwanda’s main challenges, such as demographic growth, and made a recommendation. 42. The Republic of Moldova noted that despite measures taken to combat violence against women, various forms of violence against women still existed. It referred to the observations of the Human Rights Committee with regard to discrimination against women, especially in the Civil Code and the Family Code. The Republic of Moldova made recommendations. 43. Niger welcomed the participatory approach to the preparation of the national report. It noted with appreciation Rwanda’s efforts to shape a new and inclusive society, free of discrimination. Niger also appreciated the adoption of policies in the area of health, education and agriculture, and the introduction of the new law on equal representation of women in decision-making. Niger made recommendations. 44. Canada underlined Rwanda’s achievements in post-conflict reconstruction, its promotion of women’s rights and the improvement in access to education and health. Canada expressed concerns about the restrictions imposed by the Media Law on freedom of expression, the scope of the Genocide Ideology Law and its possible misinterpretation and abuse, the allegations of manipulation in the registration of political parties, and the alleged political interferences in the administration of justice. Canada welcomed the efforts made to review the law governing NGOs, and made recommendations. 8