A/HRC/34/13 120. The Government was cooperating fully with the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan created by the Human Rights Council. The members of the Commission had visited Juba and the Government was expecting them to visit the country again before November 2016. South Sudan was committed to cooperating with all human rights mechanisms of the United Nations. It looked forward to being at peace with itself, its neighbours and the world. 121. As a large country with limited resources, it needed support and assistance in combating impunity. The Chief of Staff had given standing orders to all military commanders to prevent the recruitment of children into the armed forces. 122. Acts of sexual violence committed by members of the armed forces had been tried in the ordinary courts, except those committed during armed combat. The objective of the National Security Service Act was to organize and discipline the members of the Service. It had been claimed incorrectly that civilians had been detained by members of the Service, the explanation being that military detention centres might be used when ordinary places of detention were full. Most existing legislation would be reviewed. The Government was open to proposals for improvement. 123. The Government was working on the elimination of harmful customary practices. A man accused of beating his wife or children might claim that he was merely disciplining them according to custom. The practice of paying for a bride with cows was still common. Persons under 18 years of age were minors according to the law, but they sometimes had to be protected from their own families’ preference to have them working and contributing to the family income rather than attending school. Families themselves had to be educated, over time and with assistance, on the rights of the child. 124. Concerning the attack on the Terrain Hotel in July 2016, the criminal investigation was complete and the establishment of a special court for trying those responsible had been recommended. A number of suspects were in detention. 125. Freedom of expression was curtailed only by the need to prevent hate speech, such as statements provoked by ethnic hatred, and defamation. In every other way, journalists and members of the public could say and write whatever they chose. II. Conclusions and/or recommendations 126. The recommendations formulated during the interactive dialogue/listed below have been examined by South Sudan and enjoy the support of South Sudan: 126.1 Continue to consider becoming party to the remaining core human rights instruments (Ethiopia); 126.2 Remove from its law and practice all civil and criminal provisions constituting discrimination against women and girls (Paraguay); 126.3 Adopt a comprehensive law addressing all forms of violence against women and girls (Belgium); 126.4 Fully implement the signed peace agreement designed to end the nearly civil war in South Sudan (Iceland); 126.5 Fully implement the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, notably its provisions on accountability for ** The conclusions and recommendations have not been edited. 12