A/HRC/16/2 428. The addendum presented by Panama comprised answers, observations and comments on the recommendations received, as well as its position on pending recommendations. The addendum also contained a section on the implementation of universal periodic review voluntary pledges and commitments. 429. Regarding ratifications, on 22 February 2011, the National Assembly adopted four instruments: the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons; and the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. 430. Accession to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families was still under study. The Government had held meetings with the OHCHR regional office and sought the opinion of experts on the extent of the obligations of these two instruments in order to make an informed decision. 431. The Government had also established a task force on ILO Convention No. 169, which had concluded its work and favoured its ratification. 432. Panama was already implementing the recommendation requesting the alignment of national laws and policies with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The delegation gave examples of national legislation and policies protecting the rights of women, including the campaign “Maltrato Cero”, Law No. 4 of 1999 prohibiting gender discrimination, and the bill against femicide. As a result, women’s participation in the labour market had considerably increased, although it remained a challenge. 433. On the issue of discrimination, the Government was considering the possibility of amending Law No. 16 of 2002 to enhance and strengthen the competencies of the national commission against discrimination. Measures of protection for Afro-Panamanians were also under study, including a plan of action. Panama had also accepted the recommendation on the Yogyakarta Principles, as long as they did not infringe on the Constitution or the human rights international obligations of Panama. 434. The delegation recalled that, in relation to the Bocas del Toro incidents of July 2010, the Government had established a dialogue process on Law No. 30/2010, with the participation of the main social stakeholders, governmental agencies and representatives of the National Assembly. The process had concluded with six new laws on the environment, public procurement, the Penal Code, the Labour Code, the national police and commercial aviation. In addition, the Government had set up a special commission of inquiry on the incidents, which concluded its work and had presented a report to the President of Panama. Furthermore, the Government had created an office of permanent dialogue that had taken a series of measures to assist the victims or persons affected by the incidents. 435. The Supreme Court had granted constitutional status to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The delegation also presented several programmes aimed at combating child labour and its causes, and school dropouts, including the programme “Red de Oportunidades”, from which 63,245 families in extreme poverty benefited. Regarding the legal responsibility of children, those aged between 12 and 14 years would not be sent to jail and would be put in the charge of the national secretariat for children, adolescents and family. The delegation recalled that corporal punishment was banned by the Penal Code. However, since Panama did not have a specific law on this matter, it was considering enacting one. On the basis of observations made by treaty bodies, Panama had embarked upon an ample process of consultation to draft a bill that would raise the minimum age of marriage for women and men. 164 GE.11-17059