A/HRC/15/7 economic offences. It supported efforts to combat poverty and appreciated National Vision 2020, which largely took into consideration the Millennium Development Goals. It appreciated the fact that the protection of women and children was supported, in particular by a ministerial department responsible for gender issues. It called on Lesotho to continue efforts to establish a national human rights commission in accordance with the Paris Principles. It appealed to the international community to fully support initiatives undertaken by Lesotho. 93. Ethiopia noted that democracy and rule of law had taken root in Lesotho. It noted the holding of free and fair elections in 2002 and 2007. It noted the establishment of a victim protection unit under Maseru magistrate courts, a high literacy rate, the provision of legal aid, the expansion of health services and the provision of special protection and assistance to people living with disabilities. It asked whether there was a statutory revision of customary decisions in situations in which there was a potential conflict between customary laws and human rights, and whether there was a statutory law regulating that relationship. It applauded Lesotho’s Vision 2020. It made recommendations. 94. The Democratic Republic of the Congo praised, inter alia, Lesotho’s schooling rate for girls, the representation of women in parliamentary institutions at both the national and provincial levels, and policies to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and retirees. It referred to the prevalence of AIDS and to the recurrent periods of drought, which had been accentuated as major difficulties by the current economic crisis. It highlighted the need for sustained assistance from the international community to ensure that the progress made in the area of human rights would not be called into question as a result of those difficulties. The Democratic Republic of the Congo made recommendations. 95. In response, the delegation of Lesotho refuted the references to the existence of the practice of female genital mutilation in the country, together with drug trafficking involving children. With regard to gender equality, Lesotho considered itself to be one of the best countries in the region. Concerning child labour and the practice of “herd boys”, the delegation referred to the bill that had made education free and compulsory, even in rural areas, while acknowledging that the practice was a deep-rooted cultural one. As regards a standing invitation to special procedures, Lesotho stated that the same process is adequately performed under the auspices of APRM and that it wished to avoid a duplication of efforts. With respect to juvenile training centres, the delegation stated that they provided education and shelter to young offenders who had no one to take care of. Concerning HIV/AIDS in rehabilitation centres, Lesotho referred to the strategic plan and the increase in the number of inmates coming forward for counselling and testing. The delegation concluded by thanking States for their constructive questions and recommendations. II. Conclusions and/or recommendations 96. The recommendations formulated during the interactive dialogue and listed below have been examined by and enjoy the support of Lesotho: 96.1. Apply the same spirit of protecting and promoting human rights, stressing human rights education, to the efforts undertaken to implement its National Vision 2020 (Senegal); 96.2. Continue working to attain the objectives stated by the country in its strategic framework Vision 2020 (Nicaragua); 96.3. Continue to strengthen its education policy, with international cooperation and technical assistance, enabling the required infrastructure to provide an inclusive education that meets the needs of its people, in conditions 14