A/HRC/28/6 84. Denmark noted that, despite acceding to CAT in 1985, the Gambia had not taken steps towards ratifying that Convention. It highlighted the CAT Initiative, launched in 2014, which targeted the universal ratification and implementation of the Convention, which might be useful in taking the matter forward. 85. Djibouti welcomed the delegation of the Gambia and congratulated it on its national report. It noted with satisfaction the efforts made to strengthen human rights protection, particularly in the sphere of national education, and wished the Gambia success in its objective of the full realization of human rights. 86. Egypt appreciated the steps taken to empower women through the National Gender and Women Advancement Policy, and the legislation to protect the rights of children. It commended the measures taken to reduce poverty and noted action to combat trafficking in persons, ensure access to justice and protect persons in vulnerable situations. 87. Ethiopia commended the identification of priority areas, including access to justice, gender-based violence, maternal and infant mortality, the rights of children and FGM. It noted the programmes to reduce poverty and address the root causes of unemployment. It considered the efforts to protect children from sexual exploitation in tourism to be encouraging. 88. France asked how decisions by ECOWAS concerning torture, extrajudicial executions and disappearances, and human rights resolutions adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights were being heeded. It also asked what stage the bill to establish a national human rights institution had reached, and what were its planned arrangements? 89. Gabon welcomed cooperation with international human rights mechanisms and efforts to implement the recommendations from the first cycle of the UPR. It appreciated measures to build schools in order to promote and protect the right of all Gambians to education. It called on the international community to offer its assistance to the Gambia. 90. Germany urged improved cooperation with international and regional human rights systems and the implementation of recommendations outstanding from the first cycle of the UPR. It expressed concern at amendments to the Information and Communication Act restricting freedom of expression and access to information. It called on the Government to protect those rights. 91. Ghana acknowledged gains in access to education, notably the building of more schools and increased enrolment levels, particularly for girls. It noted the Domestic Violence Act and the Sexual Offences Act, which provide protection for victims of domestic violence and criminalized all forms of sexual assault, exploitation and harassment. 92. Referring to the ratification of conventions, the delegation of the Gambia stated that the National Assembly had accepted the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and its Optional Protocol, and that they were in the process of ratification. 93. Responding to questions about the refugee issue, the delegation stated that a Refugee Commission had been established and was fully funded by the Government. Moreover, it stated that not only were refugee children in the Gambia given access to education, but also, through a memorandum of understanding signed between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Ministry of Health, refugees, asylum seekers, persons of concern and their families were provided with medical care in all health facilities. 94. Turning to the detention issue, the delegation confirmed that diplomatic missions were both allowed and encouraged to access their citizens in detention. Moreover, the 12