A/HRC/8/48 Page 7 public officials and participation of civil society in the promotion and protection of human rights, including through international and regional cooperation. It also recommended that Tonga favourably consider ratifying the core international human rights treaties within a reasonable period of time and participating more fully with international human rights mechanisms, especially special procedures of the Human Rights Council. It also valued wide-ranging political reform in the country. 24. Algeria expressed its wish to see a permanent representation in Geneva of the group of the Pacific Islands. It recommended that Tonga continue to uphold the core values contained in the Tongan constitutional and customary history in its work to ensure full compliance with human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Tongans. It noted that UNDP reported that women have equal access to education and health, and are not far apart in employment, although gender equality is still problematic in land holding inheritance law and in electoral politics. It noted that in government departments, women do not enjoy a balance with men, although in 2005 the first woman was elected as member of Parliament. As recommended already by CERD, Algeria recommended that Tonga enact laws to protect women in employment free from any form of discrimination. It commended Tonga on its high literacy rate and achievements in higher education. It recommended that Tonga continue to promote its ambitious goals in education and improve the ratio of women in leading positions in the country. Algeria also encouraged Tonga to create, if not a national human rights institution, at least one at the level of the group of islands it belongs to, so that they may more effectively improve their human rights performance and implement their human rights obligations. 25. New Zealand commended Tonga on its willingness to engage actively in dialogue and to share its experience with others in identifying and overcoming human rights challenges. It noted that the Constitution of 1875 is currently undergoing reforms to provide for a more democratic and accountable form of government. It asked whether a code of conduct for the media is under consideration and about the setting up of the Anti-Corruption Commission. It also asked if more work is required to ensure the protection of civil and political rights in law and in practice. Furthermore, it noted the efforts made by Tonga to combat violence against women and recommended that Tonga ratify CEDAW as part of the follow-up to the UPR. It recognized the legal constraints of Tonga when commenting on accusations of heavy-handed treatment of prisoners by defence and police personnel during the riot of 2006, but asked if defence and police personnel are receiving any human rights training. It recommended that Tonga advise potential donor agencies of the type of technical assistance that would help to meet its treaty body reporting obligations. 26. Italy noted that while Tonga’s Strategy Development Plan 8, entitled Looking to the future, building on the past, encompassed human rights issues and aims at their full respect, Tonga is not a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) or the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and recommended that (a) Tonga consider the ratification of the two Covenants; and (b) ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Italy commended Tonga on the moratorium on executions in place since the 1980s and (c) encouraged the Tongan Government to consider a complete abolition of the death penalty. 27. The United States of America enquired about the status of security forces who were accused of physically abusing detainees arrested following the November 2006 riots, and asked if the security forces have been held accountable for these abuses. It recommended that Tonga launch a credible investigation into reports that surfaced following the riots and prosecute offenders.