A/HRC/14/6 police force and in conditions in detention centres, the enactment of the Women’s Bill and efforts to address issues in the areas of justice, education and poverty reduction. Malaysia also made recommendations. 87. Cameroon commended the Government for its achievements in the areas of education, health and social security, given the particularly difficult circumstances. It noted the legislative and regulatory measures taken and challenges faced in promoting civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. It encouraged the Gambia to implement all the rights recognized in the Constitution and to ensure respect for the rights of women, children and other vulnerable sectors of the population. It appealed to the Human Rights Council and the international community to lend their assistance. 88. Argentina highlighted the signing of the agreement between the Gambia and the International Committee of the Red Cross aimed at the incorporation of international humanitarian law into military training. Argentina made recommendations. 89. Recognizing the challenges faced by the Gambia, Ghana encouraged it to continue to honour its international obligations with available resources and, where necessary, to seek technical and other assistance in building its capacities. Ghana applauded the training of more police officers, especially on human rights issues, and the updating of the police force training manual. Ghana made recommendations. 90. Lebanon commended the Gambia’s efforts to actively combat poverty through the adoption of a comprehensive strategy and its implementation of the objectives set out in the Millennium Declaration. It encouraged the country to continue those efforts despite the challenges faced. It also noted concrete legislative efforts to promote human rights. Lebanon made recommendations. 91. Mali commended the Gambia for the facilities provided to all the members of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and applauded the country’s efforts to promote human rights. Mali encouraged the Gambia to persevere despite the lack of resources, and asked the international community to support the efforts aimed at improved human rights protection. 92. In its concluding remarks, the delegation of the Gambia reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the freedom of expression, but added that that right was subject to restrictions necessary for the promotion of national security, morality and the rights of other persons. Cases of the perceived infringement of press freedom had occurred in which the persons involved had provided malicious or false information, in breach of Gambian laws. The delegation stressed the need to consider the issue within the socio-cultural context of the Gambia. 93. With regard to questions about religious freedom, the delegation stated that that right was expressly protected by law and the Constitution. There had been no incidents of religious intolerance in the history of the Gambia, and various religious, cultural and ethnic groups coexisted in peace and harmony. Those who believed that their freedom of religion had been violated could petition the court for redress. 94. Regarding children’s rights, the delegation stated that, in addition to the legislation cited above, the Gambia had special courts to hear cases involving children and was working to expand them across the country. The Department of Social Welfare and the police were also active in promoting and protecting the rights of children. 95. Concerning the National Intelligence Agency, the delegation stated that it was governed by law and that efforts were under way to conduct training to ensure that officers were familiar with human rights instruments. It acknowledged challenges in that regard, but, by the next universal periodic review, it would be able to provide information about improvements to the situation. 13

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