A/HRC/11/16* many important human rights instruments, it recommended it continue its practise of acceding to the main international human rights instruments. It also recommended that Djibouti continue to pay attention to the question of access to education at all levels and enhance its quality and continue to implement factual programmes to secure the right to food and health. 47. The Netherlands welcomed the Government’s pro-active attitude to human rights and its close cooperation with OHCHR. It asked whether invitations would be extended to special rapporteurs such as those on the right to food and the right to education and to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. While commending the establishment of a Ministry for the Advancement of Women, Family Welfare and Social Affairs, the Netherlands expressed concern that women continue to be subjected to domestic violence and harmful traditional practices, such as the still widespread FGM. It recommended that Djibouti more actively enforce its law prohibiting FGM and take other pro-active measures to combat that practice. It also recommended taking all necessary actions to protect and improve the situation of children and taking the steps needed to promote freedom of expression and freedom of association in all its forms. 48. Benin noted that Djibouti has ratified the main instruments of human rights and international humanitarian law and invited other States to support Djibouti’s efforts to strengthen respect for human rights. It requested information about measures taken to combat poverty, particularly among the more vulnerable segments of the population, namely women and children. It recommended that Djibouti endeavour to prepare and submit reports to the treaty bodies on time. 49. South Africa welcomed the Government’s reform in various areas and noted Djibouti’s collaboration with the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, in particular its efforts to address the issues of children comprehensively as recommended by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. It recommended that Djibouti consider instituting measures to strengthen its institutional and operational capacity in the administration of justice, including the establishment of a juvenile justice system, training of judicial and law enforcement officers who deal with juvenile cases and the development and strengthening of legislative measures to ensure prompt investigation and prosecution of sexual offences against children. It also recommended reinforcing efforts to set up regional assemblies to take services closer to the rural communities. Lastly, it encouraged Djibouti to reinforce its efforts even further and called upon the international community and particularly OHCHR to assist Djibouti by providing technical assistance for the implementation of recommendations from treaty bodies. 50. The Syrian Arab Republic highly commended the important steps Djibouti had made to improve its citizens’ human rights despite facing difficult circumstances over a number of years as a developing country in need of all possible assistance in achieving development. It welcomed the policies on reform of the health sector as part of the Governments’ strategy to promote and protect the right to health. It inquired on the measures taken to reduce morbidity and mortality among the general population and to improve mother-and-child health. It recommended Djibouti continue its efforts to upgrade and develop human resources in the health sector and improve health coverage in the country. It also recommended Djibouti continue its efforts to increase the number of neighbourhood primary and secondary schools and strengthen higher education and its efforts to curb illiteracy among women. 51. Angola welcomed in particular the efforts made to improve conditions in prisons and strengthen the administration of justice. Further progress in those two key areas was important and Angola recommended that Djibouti allocate increased human and financial resources to strengthening the independence of its judicial system. Angola noted that education had been a top priority in Djibouti for the past decade and hoped that the 12 GE.09-15263