A/HRC/15/10 poor respect for the rights of children with disabilities and the social discrimination prevalent against them. It also noted the recommendation made by the Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding the development or amendment of legislation to ensure that discrimination on the grounds of disability was prohibited. The Netherlands referred to the 2009 condemnation by the Security Council of cases of arbitrary detention, armed attack and intimidation. It asked about the follow-up given to the recommendations set out in the report of the Secretary-General on the conditions of detention. It made recommendations. 41. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland welcomed GuineaBissau’s intention to extend an invitation to special procedures and noted that the wellorganized elections in June and July 2009 had allowed people to express their choice of President. However, given the events of April 2010, the United Kingdom was concerned that the political situation remained fragile and asked what steps the Government was taking to ensure that security and military personnel understood their obligation to respect and protect human rights. The United Kingdom made recommendations. 42. The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya took note of the efforts made by Guinea-Bissau to promote and protect human rights. While noting that Africans were most affected by racial discrimination because of injustices perpetrated during the colonization, it called upon colonial States to live up to their responsibilities through compensation, reparation and public apologies. It made recommendations. 43. China expressed appreciation for efforts made by the Government to promote human rights. It also expressed understanding of the special situation in the country and the hope that the various parties would exercise restraint, focus on national unity and stability, and resolve their disputes through dialogue and consultation in order to restore order, so as to better protect human rights. China made one recommendation. 44. Slovenia was pleased to note that the Constitution of Guinea-Bissau guaranteed fundamental human rights and freedoms and allowed for the automatic application of international fundamental rights and norms. It asked the Government of Guinea-Bissau about the prospect of ratifying the human rights treaties that it had signed. Slovenia commended the Government for having adopted the Plan of Action of the first phase of the World Programme for Human Rights Education, focusing on national school systems, and encouraged it to continue to devote considerable attention to human rights education. Slovenia welcomed the Government’s determination to strive for national reconciliation and to combat impunity. Slovenia made recommendations. 45. In response to delegations’ questions, Guinea-Bissau noted with satisfaction that the vast majority of countries recognized that it was facing considerable obstacles to the establishment of the conditions required for credible and stable governance. 46. As to the ratification of international instruments, the delegation of Guinea-Bissau indicated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would, if necessary, request technical assistance to that end so that the Government could promptly begin the process of ratification of the human rights instruments it had signed. 47. The Guinea-Bissau authorities recognize the importance of reducing poverty, given its significant impact on the enjoyment of various human rights. The fragility of some institutions is essentially due to the lack of training for public officials, but corruption is also a factor. The Government is committed to fighting poverty in all its forms in order to guarantee the population’s basic human rights. A series of programmes and bodies have already been established to this end, including a dedicated ministry charged with fighting poverty and eradicating gender-related inequalities. Guinea-Bissau is also committed to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates through a programme piloted by the Ministry of Health. However, political stability and the support of the international community are vital if all these programmes are to succeed. 8 GE.10-14446