A/HRC/14/11 Republic of the Congo and Angola, also with the participation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for refugee-related matters. 54. Angola’s economy had previously been mainly dependent on oil, owing to the political situation faced by the country. Now Angola had begun to reverse that trend with the gradual rehabilitation of agriculture, industry and all other economic sectors, including tourism, so as to diversify the economy and reduce the country’s dependence on oil. 55. Canada commended the Government for having developed legislation and policies that promoted gender equality, and for having established a national strategy regarding domestic violence. Canada was encouraged by the engagement of the Angolan people and the peaceful atmosphere in which the previous year’s elections had been held. It welcomed the adoption of the new Constitution and expressed the hope that the Government of Angola would utilize its provisions to improve the well-being and democratic rights of all Angolans. However, it was disappointed that OHCHR had had to cease its activities in Angola as a result of Angola’s decision not to sign an agreement for human rights promotion and protection activities. Canada made recommendations. 56. Referring to inheritance and property rights, Ireland enquired whether the Government was considering the possibility of amending or altering legislation that was discriminatory towards women. It enquired about the actions taken to eliminate domestic and gender-based violence and about the status of the Domestic Violence Bill. Ireland requested information about the measures taken to protect human rights defenders in law and practice. Ireland made recommendations. 57. The United States of America commended Angola’s cooperation with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in 2008, but remained concerned that suspects had been subjected to torture while in detention, including incommunicado detention. The United States noted that defamation continued to be a criminal offence, that journalists continued to be harassed and that, in most areas, citizens could gain access only to Governmentcontrolled or pro-Government media organs. It remained concerned about the trafficking in women and children and stated that domestic initiatives to address that problem had so far proved ineffective. The United States also remained concerned about reports indicating that Congolese migrants being deported from Angola were subject to abuse, including rape, by its military and police forces. It made recommendations. 58. Portugal noted with appreciation the Angolan National Strategy to Prevent and Reduce Violence against Children and wished to receive further information about it. It also expressed appreciation for all the Government’s efforts to promote the right to education and welcomed the significant social housing projects. Portugal made recommendations. 59. Mexico welcomed the will of the Angolan Government to create a culture of human rights within the country. In view of the situation of vulnerable groups, Mexico asked for further information about the progress made in the reform of the criminal code and about measures taken to eliminate discrimination against minors with disabilities and to prohibit corporal punishment and the trafficking in minors, and measures aimed at the registration of children at birth. It also requested information about measures to promote and protect women’s rights. Mexico made recommendations. 60. Referring to alarming public reports, Germany asked how the Angolan Government was addressing the concerns raised as a result of the violence committed against deportees by Angolan security forces at the Congolese border. Germany made recommendations. 61. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland welcomed Angola’s commitment to the abolition of the death penalty. It stated that, as part of the process of joining the Human Rights Council in 2007, Angola had pledged increased support for and cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, GE.10-12527 9