A/HRC/8/39 Page 7 which would be better able to combat impunity and corruption, including by putting an end to exaggerated pre-trial detention. 19. France commended Benin on efforts in the field of human rights and on the moratorium on death penalty, and enquired whether Benin plans to formally abolish it. Concerning the rights of women and children, it asked what measures Benin is planning to take in order to strengthen the struggle against traditional practices like FGM and infanticide of witch children. It also noted that practices contrary to the rights of women and children are still too numerous, such as forced marriages and various forms of marital violence, and asked how Benin is planning to combat more generally discrimination against women and if it plans to establish marital rape and forced marriages as criminal offences. It recommended that Benin take the necessary steps to strengthen its fight against discriminatory practices and violence against women. 20. Latvia noted an increase of investments in the national education programmes and indicated that UNICEF noted that the national education budget increased from 20 to 30 percent in 2007, as well as efforts to achieve gender parity in education. It emphasized the contribution of national education programmes to the improvement of civil society and the progressive development of human rights. It encouraged Benin to continue along these lines and enquired about future plans in this direction. Considering the positive cooperation with special procedures in 2007, it asked whether Benin would consider extending a standing invitation to all special procedures. 21. Denmark noted with appreciation the positive influence in the region while highlighting the remaining challenges, such as torture and violence against women. It noted with interest the comments made by the delegation concerning Benin’s efforts for the protection against torture. Denmark recommended that Benin urgently amend its criminal law to comply with international relevant standards, and ensure that no statement obtained under torture or duress be invoked in proceedings and that orders from a superior may not be invoked as a justification for torture. Furthermore, it noted concerns expressed by the Human Rights Committee and the Committee against torture regarding police custody and torture and cruel and inhumane or degrading treatment. Denmark therefore recommended that Benin display greater firmness in preventing abuses of police custody, torture and ill-treatment and brings criminal proceedings against the perpetrators of such violations. Also, while appreciating the commitment expressed by Benin towards the implementation of the Optional Protocol to CAT, it recommended that Benin, following the recommendation of the Committee against Torture, establish without further delay an effective and independent national preventive mechanism. It also drew attention to the need to seriously address the issue of forced marriage, which persists in spite of the provisions of the new Family Code. Denmark therefore recommended that Benin reinforce measures to ensure that women are no longer subjected to forced marriage. This could be supported by developing and implementing comprehensive educational measures on the provisions of the Persons and Family Code and on other relevant laws. 22. The Holy See welcomed that since 2004 no sentence of capital punishment has been executed and recommended that Benin continue its efforts to completely abolish the death penalty, respecting thus the right to life. While noting that trafficking in children remains a visible phenomenon, it requested further information on additional measures envisaged to eliminate this phenomenon. Regarding the issue of infanticide of so-called witch children, it recommended that Benin develop an awareness campaign to address traditional beliefs that are harmful to the rights of children, especially their right to life. It also asked which supplementary measures were envisaged to defend the right to life of the child, in particular newborns.