A/HRC/44/13 17. The recent accession by Grenada to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, during the seventyfourth session of the General Assembly, in August 2019, was emblematic of the Government’s commitment to implementing accepted recommendations. Grenada remained fully committed to the incorporation of the Convention into its domestic legislation and had already sought technical assistance from the Convention against Torture Initiative in that regard. Additionally, Grenada intended to commence a discussion with the Initiative regarding all the issues relating to the Optional Protocol to the Convention, with a view to eventual ratification. 18. Grenada recognized the effect of foreign debt and other related financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of human rights and consequently had focused great attention on implementing strategies and policies aimed at debt sustainability. Those measures had had a positive impact in reducing debt, as shown by the fact that the proportion of public debt to the gross domestic product (GDP) had fallen from 108 per cent in 2013 to 62.7 per cent at the end of 2018. Moreover, preliminary figures suggested that for 2019 the proportion could range between 58 per cent and 61 per cent. In order to fully document and share its experience in reducing foreign debt, Grenada intended to respond positively to a request by the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights. 19. On 18 February 2018, a memorandum of understanding had been signed between the Government of Grenada and the public sector unions and staff associations outlining the principles that would govern the restoration of pensions to public officers of the Grenada public service and members of the Disciplined Forces of Grenada. Although the matter had been taken to court, the Government had proceeded to implement the memorandum of understanding by upgrading the payments received from the National Insurance Scheme to ensure that the total monthly income of retirees meeting the established criteria was equal to no less than 70 per cent of their last salary. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 20. During the interactive dialogue, 59 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 21. Germany congratulated Grenada for ratifying the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment and noted the establishment of the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and of the Special Victims Unit by the Royal Grenada Police Force. However, Germany remained concerned about the existence of the death penalty and about the discrimination, abuse and violations faced, in public and private life, by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. 22. Panama noted with satisfaction that gender equality had been incorporated and mainstreamed into the Constitution and public polices, and that social protection programmes focused on education, empowerment and development had been implemented. It welcomed the adoption of the law against trafficking in persons and the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan. Panama urged Grenada to cooperate with the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, in particular its special procedures. 23. Paraguay welcomed the progress made in respect of legislation, regulatory frameworks, national action plans and the high rate of women in Parliament. It also welcomed the adoption by Grenada of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment and the establishment of a national mechanism for reporting and follow-up, a recommendation made by Paraguay during the second cycle of the universal periodic review. 24. Peru acknowledged the progress made by Grenada, in particular regarding the participation of women in the public and political spheres. It highlighted the various social protection programmes that had been put into place to address poverty. 25. The Philippines noted the advances made in the implementation by Grenada of its human rights obligations since the second cycle of the universal periodic review. It recognized the enactment of the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act (Act No. 34 of 4