A/HRC/17/7 Consultative Council (Majlis el-Shura). Women participated in political life as members of the Cabinet and the State Office. 41. Oman stressed that it had been a State party to CRC since 1996 and to the two optional protocols since 2004. Oman had established a committee to oversee the implementation of the Convention and its optional protocol, and was drafting a law on the rights of children that would guarantee the protection of all rights of children and the provision of services thereto, including children born out of wedlock. 42. Oman noted that it had collected data on cases of disabilities, through the population censuses of 2003 and 2010. The 2008 Law on the Rights of the Disabled provided many rights, including the right to employment at a minimum quota of 1 per cent in the government administrative sector and 2 per cent in the private sector in enterprises with a number of employees exceeding 50 persons. Oman had 33 non-governmental centres working on a voluntary base and supported by the Government in order to provide the daily services to those with disabilities. Oman hoped to establish more centres of that type. 43. Under the Basic Law, school education was free of charge for all children living in Oman. This had also contributed to enrolment rates of over 90 per cent in primary schools, over 80 per cent at the preparatory level and almost 80 per cent in secondary schools. 44. Oman noted that it paid special attention to the education of children with disabilities and that there were three specialized schools, for the visually impaired, the deaf and the mute. Specialized teachers helped these children to attain better integration in the community. A national plan for the integration of children with disabilities in the public schools had been adopted in early 2000. 45. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea underlined the achievements of Oman in areas such as education and health. As recognized by UNDP, Oman was one of the world’s leading countries regarding progress made in education and health in recent decades. It noted that constant efforts were being made in the area of women’s empowerment, as demonstrated by increased numbers of women in major public posts. 46. France noted with satisfaction measures taken to promote human rights, particularly the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission. Acknowledging significant efforts to improve women’s status, France noted continued gender inequality regarding the ability to pass on citizenship, and the vulnerability of women and children to domestic violence. It also noted restrictions of the freedom of association and the freedom of expression, referring to censorship of newspapers and publications deemed politically or culturally offensive. 47. Spain acknowledged efforts made and urged Oman to continue consolidating the legal framework for the protection and promotion of human rights. It congratulated Oman on its determination to reach the second millennium development goal regarding the right to free education for all citizens and reduce the level of illiteracy in the country. 48. Jordan noted that Oman had made considerable progress in the area of economic, social and cultural rights for instance, in particular in the areas of health and education. Jordan also appreciated progress in the area of civil and political rights, including with regard to the freedom of expression and opinion and related developments in the legislative framework concerning the media. 49. Slovenia noted the progress of Oman in the areas of juvenile justice, forced labour, human rights education and human trafficking, and the fast decline in under-5 mortality. While commending the number of voluntary pledges, it noted a number of challenges in the area of civil and political rights, including discrimination and violence against women, and regarding the rights of children and migrant workers. 8