A/HRC/8/21 Page 5 (g) Tunisia does not execute persons sentenced to death. The Head of State has publicly announced that he will never sign a decision of death penalty. The files of those sentenced to death are periodically submitted to the procedure of death penalty commutation; (h) Tunisia has agreed in principle to allow Human Rights Watch to visit prisons. This is part of its cooperation with international human rights organizations, particularly the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), following an agreement signed in April 2005; (i) Tunisia decided to create an institution related to the General Human Rights Coordinator in charge of the follow-up to treaty bodies’ recommendations in order to promote their effective implementation. 7. The Minister also noted that the national report has been drafted following a broad consultation and involvement of all relevant stakeholders and various NGOs, including lawyers, journalists as well as others representatives of the civil society. In reply to questions that were put in advance, the Minister indicated, on the question raised by the United Kingdom on the contribution of civil society to the drafting of the report, that the list of relevant NGOs consulted was annexed to the State report. In reference to the questions on women’s rights, the Minister underlined the important amendment of the Personal Status Code in 1993 that abolished polygamy and repudiation and emphasized the equal rights of women and men and the importance of equality in the management of the family. The Minister also highlighted progress made in the field of education of girls, in particular in primary and secondary school. He also highlighted the efforts made to ensure the promotion and protection of women’s rights despite the efforts of some groups to achieve the opposite. Regarding Jordan’s question about gender equality and the opportunity of women to occupy posts of responsibility, the Minister stressed the fact that there is a high percentage of women in posts of responsibility, working as teachers (52 per cent), doctors (60 per cent), in the Government (15 per cent) and the Council (25 per cent) or in diplomacy (20 per cent). He further stressed that around 40 per cent of university students are women. With regard to its compliance with the CRC, the Minister noted that Tunisia seeks to ensure that every child fully enjoys life. He highlighted in that regard that the Committee on the Rights of the Child noted with appreciation the progress made toward the promotion and protection of the rights of the child. He further recalled that girls and boys are now allowed to marry at the same age (18) and that Tunisia is considering lifting its reservation to CRC. 8. The Minister also recalled that for many years, Tunisia has been recognized by international bodies, such as IMF, as an emerging economy and as a model country with regard to the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights. The Minister noted that Tunisia is a competitive country within the African region, with a wealth growth of 5 per cent despite negative economic conditions, and a rate of poverty that has declined in a significant way since independence. In reference to the death penalty issue, the Minister highlighted the de facto abolition of capital punishment. He further noted that there has been no death penalty sentence since 1999 and underlined the Head of State’s commitment to continue on this path. On the question put by the United Kingdom, Denmark, Canada, and Sweden on freedom of expression and opinion, including measures to eliminate restrictions to establish political parties and civil organization, the Minister recalled that there are nine political parties in Tunisia, six of which are represented in the Chamber of Deputies, participate in its legislative work and play a role of parliamentary control. The Minister further noted that some parties were not recognized simply because they have yet to be registered. He underlined that in order to encourage pluralism; the Tunisian Government commits to modify the election process to ensure a better representation in the Chamber of Deputies and in the municipal councils.