A/HRC/8/39 Page 5 B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 8. During the ensuing interactive dialogue, 40 delegations made statements, praising Benin for the quality of their presentation and their national report. 9. Algeria noted with interest the efforts made by Benin in combating poverty and the priority axes in the microeconomic framework aimed at good governance and the ability of the poor to participate in decision-making process and in productive processes. While noting that the right to a decent standard of living is a legitimate concern which calls for sustained international support, it asked in what form Benin would like to see assistance being provided to it. It also asked what measures have been taken to achieve free and mandatory education and tackle the problem of illiteracy. Algeria recommended considering, with targeted international support, the extension of free education up to the secondary level; and continuing the information campaign in favour of admitting girls to school. 10. Brazil welcomed the establishment of new institutions aimed at protecting and promoting the rights of the child as well as the plan for strengthening the judiciary and the judicial system. With regard to the situation of child labour, Brazil noted that child domestic workers are frequently victims of cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment. It called on the international community to provide Benin with technical and financial support to improve the national machinery to protect human rights. It recommended to Benin to take steps to promote institutions and human rights bodies and to seek the support of the international community. With regard to water supply, Brazil asked what practical measures Benin is taking to increase the number of households with clean water supply in the next year, in line with the Millennium Development Goal target. 11. Belgium commended Benin on its efforts to improve the human rights situation, in particular by protecting children, and welcomed progress made in terms of school attendance. It indicated that Benin is one of the partner countries of Belgium since 2002. It noted that the level of malnutrition of children and reports of trafficking of children were issues of concern. It asked whether the world food crisis was likely to worsen the situation of the population and what measures Benin is planning to take to protect the population. Belgium recommended that Benin intensify its efforts to provide support and material assistance to the most marginalized and most underprivileged families to effectively guarantee the rights of children through a sufficient standard of living and the right to education. It also asked whether Benin is going to re-examine article 88 of the Criminal Code and recommended in that regard that Benin consider decriminalizing homosexual activities between consenting adults. 12. China welcomed the training courses offered to judges, trade union officials, civil society organizations and journalists, which are conducive to enhancing the legal and human rights awareness of people and also provide a useful point of reference for human rights education in developing countries. It noted with appreciation the various projects, plans and legislation formulated by the Government to protect vulnerable groups such as women, children and disabled persons. It also welcomed measures to eliminate illiteracy and to extend compulsory education and invited Benin to provide details on measures to improve prison conditions and to strengthen the protection of disabled persons and children. 13. Philippines noted that despite the challenges and constraints, Benin has made significant progress in improving the standard of living and the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms of its people. Increases were noted in the general enrolment rate for girls and boys and in the percentage of households with clean water supply. It asked further information about the village committees set up to combat trafficking of children and on the structure, composition, mandate and impact of these local and grass-roots committees. It also encouraged the establishment of a national