A/HRC/17/2 552. Sao Tome and Principe also referred to the initiatives taken in conjunction with UNDP to strengthen the judiciary (recommendations 64.51 and 64.52). 553. With regard to the recommendation to extend an invitation to special procedures (recommendation 64.27), a visit of a mandate holder had been planned for September 2011. 554. Sao Tome and Principe concluded by reiterating that, except for the recommendations to ratify the Rome Statute, all the recommendations had been accepted and many of them were in the process of implementation, which demonstrated its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. Sao Tome and Principe requested the assistance of the international community for the fulfilment of its commitments. 2. Views expressed by Member and observer States of the Human Rights Council on the review outcome 555. Cuba welcomed Sao Tome and Principe’s commitment to the review, and thanked it for the additional information provided. Cuba highlighted the importance given by Sao Tome and Principe to the promotion and protection of human rights, despite the negative effects of the financial crisis on the macro-economic situation of the country, including the increase in public debt. Economic constraints had limited the capacity of Sao Tome and Principe to address shortcomings in health and educational services, and in food supplies. Despite these difficulties, Sao Tome and Principe had managed to minimize the negative impact of the crisis while continuing to provide health and education services to its population. Cuba commended Sao Tome and Principe for accepting most of the recommendations made, including those made by Cuba. 556. Timor-Leste referred to the acceptance by Sao Tome and Principe of the majority of the recommendations made, which demonstrated its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. It praised the openness of Sao Tome and Principe in acknowledging the challenges it faced. Timor-Leste echoed the call made by Sao Tome and Principe to the international community to provide assistance to meet the country’s challenges. Timor-Leste encouraged Sao Tome and Principe to continue to strengthen its cooperation with the international community and United Nations human rights bodies in the implementation of the recommendations accepted. 557. Algeria welcomed the determination of Sao Tome and Principe to take a constructive approach to the universal periodic review mechanism after accepting a large number of the recommendations received. It praised the Government’s efforts in every area covered by the recommendations, in particular with regard to combating poverty, the promotion of the rights of women and children and accession to certain international human rights instruments, despite the constraints it faced, particularly in the area of development. Algeria renewed its appeal to the international community to continue to provide assistance to Sao Tome and Principe in accordance with the priorities identified by the country. 558. Morocco highlighted the fact that Sao Tome and Principe’s efforts to implement the universal periodic review recommendations showed a genuine desire to move forward, under an overall strategy to strengthen transparency and accountability at every level of Government, in favour of the protection and promotion of human rights. It referred to the constraints faced by Sao Tome and Principe in terms of the accumulated social and economic shortcomings due to the scarcity of its resources. The international community must bear in mind that the human rights situation in this country could only be assessed in accordance with the duties of the State, but this must also be placed in a context characterized by poverty impairing the effectiveness of its development strategies and hence the promotion of human rights. GE.12-13630 167