A/HRC/32/9 currently under way to draft legislation on freedom of expression and protection of journalists. Paraguay had requested cooperation in that regard from the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Organization of American States. 98. In response to comments made by several delegations on the issue of an institutional framework for the promotion and protection of human rights, the Director General for Human Rights of the Ministry of Justice reported on several initiatives, such as the National Human Rights Action Plan and the drafting of a bill on the creation of the ministry of justice and human rights. The definition of torture and the definition of enforced disappearance in domestic legislation had both been brought into line with international human rights standards. A national team had been set up to search for and identify persons who had disappeared between 1954 and 1989. Since May 2013, research and investigations had been carried out into possible individual and mass graves. To date, a total of 34 remains of disappeared persons had been exhumed and a database of blood samples of family members had been created. Paraguay had been working on drafting a prison reform plan with a focus on social reintegration. 99. The Human Rights Director of the Supreme Court of Justice provided a brief update on the Marina Cue case. Paraguay had organized a symposium on corruption, and the judiciary had developed quantitative and qualitative indicators on access to justice within the framework of the implementation of the Brasilia Regulations Regarding Access to Justice for Vulnerable People. Turning to the issue of preventive detention, Paraguay reported on current initiatives for a reform of the penal system. In 2015, the Supreme Court had adopted principles on restorative justice in accordance with the Lima Declaration on Restorative Juvenile Justice. In addition, consultations were currently under way in an effort to harmonize the indigenous justice system with the ordinary justice system. 100. A representative of the National Institute of Indigenous Affairs thanked participants for the concern expressed by several delegations regarding the situation of the indigenous communities and the development of public policies for indigenous peoples in Paraguay. A bill was currently under consideration to upgrade the Institute to the level of Ministry. Efforts were also being made to address concerns about the health of indigenous peoples and to ensure that they had access to more participatory and inclusive education. Regarding land issues and in follow-up to recommendations from the previous universal periodic review, a system had been created for the registration of land titles that facilitated the identification of potential duplicity. In 2015, the National Council for Indigenous Education had been created. Information was also provided on the availability of community radios, prior consultations and the involvement of indigenous peoples in decision-making. 101. In conclusion, the head of the delegation thanked all the participating States for their interest in Paraguay. II. Conclusions and/or recommendations 102. The recommendations formulated during the interactive dialogue/listed below have been examined by Paraguay and enjoy the support of Paraguay: 102.1 Consider ratifying the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Uruguay); Ratify the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Djibouti) (France) (Ghana) (Montenegro) (Portugal); ** 12 The conclusions and recommendations have not been edited.

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents