A/HRC/39/16 legal provisions. Moreover, Cuban judges were independent in their functions and owed obedience only to the law. 23. Cuba had strengthened the protection of workers, including non-State actors, enabled full employment and the incorporation of young people into work, protected women and strengthened social security and assistance. II. Conclusions and/or recommendations 24. The following recommendations will be examined by Cuba, which will provide responses in due time, but no later than the thirty-ninth session of the Human Rights Council: 24.1 Ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Austria) (Japan) (Liechtenstein); Consider ratifying the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Côte d’Ivoire); Ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Niger); Consider ratification of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights respectively (Cyprus); Consider ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (El Salvador); Consider ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Chile); Ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Mexico) (Nepal) (Paraguay) (Slovakia) (France) (Portugal) (Australia); Ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as previously recommended (Poland); Ratify without delay the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Germany); Consider ratification of the International Covenants on Human Rights (Peru); Finalize the process of ratification of the main international covenants, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Spain); 2 24.2 Quickly proceed towards ratification of both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, without reservations (Norway); 24.3 Consider ratifying the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Greece); 24.4 Ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and establish a legal and institutional framework that guarantee the free exercise of the rights enshrined in it, including the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and peaceful association, and sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Costa Rica); 24.5 Ratify and implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Croatia); 2 The recommendation, as read out during the interactive dialogue, was: “Finalize the process of ratification of the main international covenants, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, as well as other instruments, such as the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment”. 5