A/HRC/16/8 adoption of legislation prohibiting discrimination in employment and guaranteeing equal pay for work of equal value. In this regard, Portugal noted the policy of introducing an “equality mark” for companies that promoted equality at work, and requested information about the impact of that measure. Portugal inquired about Andorra’s intention to follow up on the recommendation of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance that Portuguese-language lessons be offered during school hours. It made recommendations. 63. Latvia noted with satisfaction Andorra’s firm commitment to protecting and promoting human rights and its generally good human rights record. It was pleased to learn, as a result of the delegation’s presentation, that Andorra was prepared to extend a standing invitation to special procedures of the Human Rights Council. It made a recommendation. 64. The United States of America expressed appreciation for the presentation of the Andorran report and for Andorra’s deep commitment to human rights. The United States observed that, in order to strengthen its human rights record, Andorra must address the rights of those individuals detained while awaiting trial, in particular foreigners, whose cases often experienced prolonged delays. The United States noted the difficulties faced by workers in forming and joining unions and by the difficulties experienced by unions in exercising their right to bargain collectively and to strike. The United States made recommendations. 65. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Institutional Relations said that on 20 October 2010 the Andorran Government had adopted the regulations on the performance of medical tests prior to the issuance of residence permits. The aim was to offer a personalized, flexible and transparent service that guaranteed not only the rights and freedoms of the individual but also the rights to work, health and decent housing, while also protecting the health of the public at large, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). Now that the regulations had been adopted, the Government would refuse residence permits only to individuals with an illness defined in the WHO International Health Regulations when they posed a risk to public health or when the illness was incompatible with the job they were applying for. By adopting the regulations, the Government had ended a practice that raised questions about the observance of immigrants’ basic rights. 66. Since 1996, Andorra had closely followed the work of the first Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict, Mr. Olara Otunnu. Andorra had participated in the exhibition on guns organized by the office of the Special Representative, the Department for Disarmament Affairs and UNICEF. Andorra’s commitment was apparent from its voluntary contributions since 2002 to the Programme for Children and Armed Conflict and from its signing, in 2008, of the Principles and Guidelines on Children associated with Armed Forces or Armed Groups (the Paris Principles). 67. The Andorran Government was currently negotiating a protocol to amend its agreement on cooperation in education with Portugal, which would provide for two hours a week of Portuguese lessons in primary school and three hours a week in secondary school, and for Portuguese to be an option for the baccalaureate. 68. Ms. Mata, State Secretary for Equality and Welfare, said that corporal punishment of children was banned in the home. Article 114 of the 2008 Criminal Code, entitled “Illtreatment in the family” — in other words, domestic violence — protected spouses, children, parents and grandparents by providing for prison sentences of between 3 months and 3 years. The reform of the Criminal Code thus enabled the courts to intervene if a child was abused. 69. In addition, a procedure to be followed in cases where children were at risk had been drawn up by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Employment. The aim was to protect 12