A/HRC/32/6
action plan to protect and assist the victims. The plan provided for, among other measures,
the development of public awareness-raising campaigns to demystify beliefs and erroneous
perceptions about people with albinism. There were also joint actions in place between
Mozambique and the countries of the region aiming at preventing the trafficking of people
with albinism.
119. As for the transfer of pregnant girls to evening classes, the matter was being
assessed due to the sensitivity of the issue. A multisectoral group had been created to
consult with different segments of society.
120. On the protection of girls from sexual abuse, specific measures had been put in place
namely: penalization under the Penal Code of those who engaged in sexual acts with
minors; campaigns against sexual harassment and abuse of girls in school and community;
and imposition of sanctions against teachers or education employees who had sexual
involvement with students.
121. Relating to measures to combat early school dropout, the following measures had
been taken: expansion of the school network, with more schools situated near communities
to reduce the distance between home and school; provision of schoolbooks and education
materials for primary education; and provision of a fund to support disadvantaged and
vulnerable students.
122. On measures to ensure that pregnant girls and young mothers had the opportunity to
complete their education, they were encouraged to continue their studies through the
provision of opportunities for further study during pregnancy and after delivery.
123. With regard to elections, there was a revision of the Electoral Law, allowing greater
partisan representation, better oversight of elections and greater transparency. Civic
education campaigns were also undertaken.
124. To date, five general elections — presidential and legislative — had been held with
success in 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014, as part of the efforts aiming at deepening the
political and civil rights, as well as the democratic process. Furthermore, the
decentralization process was ongoing.
125. Regarding violence and abuse against the older persons, the protection of that
category of citizens was ensured by a mechanism providing assistance to family and child
victims of violence. Mozambique also had an institutional mechanism for considering
issues relating to older persons, the National Council for Social Action. Law 3/2014 on the
Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Elderly provided for fines for the illtreatment of older persons. The main challenges faced in this area were: the dissemination
of legal instruments protecting the rights of older persons; the translation into national
languages of the legal instruments that promote and protect their rights; and awarenessraising among practitioners of traditional medicine and community leaders in protecting
older persons.
126. Regarding the ratification of the Rome Statute in its 2010 version, in the light of the
unfolding political and legal developments, the country had opted for further studying that
instrument. Nevertheless, Mozambique assumed the principle of complementarity between
the Rome Statute and the domestic laws.
127. Regarding the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the
process for acceding to that Covenant was now at an advanced stage. In the foreseeable
future, a proposal for acceding to the Covenant would be submitted to the Cabinet for
scrutiny. Subsequently, that proposal would be submitted to the Parliament, which was the
competent body under the auspices of the Constitution for approving the proposal and
binding Mozambique to that instrument. It was hoped that this would take place within the
parliamentary session of 2016.
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