A/HRC/13/6 23. The delegation refuted the current application of the Kanun, which was applied in certain parts of Albania in medieval times, noting rather the need, in certain rural or poor areas, to improve enforcement of the laws. 24. Bahrain noted important steps taken by Albania for the protection and promotion of human rights, particularly the ratification of international and regional instruments and efforts for promotion of gender equality. Bahrain requested further information on measures the Albanian Government undertook to eliminate gender discrimination. 25. The United States of America noted the establishment of a Media Monitoring Board to oversee media matters during elections, but also noted that this body was neither sufficiently robust nor effective during the recent parliamentary elections in June 2009. It recognized Albania’s actions to end exploitative child labour, including changes to the penal code to categorize exploitative child labour as a crime, the signing of a five-year memorandum of understanding with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to eliminate child labour and the launching of phase two of the Child Labour Monitoring System. It made recommendations. 26. Italy noted concerns expressed at the persisting phenomenon of corruption in public administration and lack of the independence of the judiciary. While commending Albania’s efforts to enhance the efficiency of the civil service and fight corruption, Italy asked how the Government intends to address these concerns. It also noted the lack of specific detention facilities for minors who have to serve their sentences together with adult detainees. Italy further welcomed the ongoing efforts to ensure effective gender equality such as the adoption of a law reserving a quota of at least 30 per cent of posts to women in public administration. Italy expressed confidence that the Albanian authorities will speed up the adoption of the law on domestic violence and to establish a monitoring mechanism for the implementation of gender equality policies both in the public and private sectors. It made a recommendation. 27. The Czech Republic welcomed Albania’s good cooperation with human rights mechanisms and the adoption of the National Strategy on Children’s Rights. The Czech Republic made recommendations. 28. The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya noted that the adoption of a series of laws to ensure human rights protection, and welcomed the establishment of an Ombudsman as an important step towards protecting citizens against abuses. It made a recommendation. 29. Austria noted that traditional concepts of justice known as Kanun persisted in some parts of the country and collided with norms of national and international law. Examples include a low status of women, domestic violence against women and children and honour killings. It also noted that most children in institutional care came from a poor and rural family background, and that children in institutional care typically left at the age of 14 to 15 often facing social stigmatization, poverty and inadequate access to quality education. Austria made recommendations. 30. Mexico noted the legal and institutional progress in several areas, including promotion of gender equality, protection of rights of minorities, persons with disabilities and children, combating domestic violence, torture and trafficking in human beings, and establishment of an ombudsman institution. Mexico made recommendations. 31. Spain recognized the legislative and constitutional reform undertaken since the regime change in the 1990s, particularly the re-establishment of the freedom of religion and belief and the adoption of a democratic constitution in 1998. It welcomed the substantive legal framework and the abolition of the death penalty for all crimes. It enquired about the Government’s intention to sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-CESCR) and the results yielded by 7