A/HRC/16/2 645. Morocco congratulated Jamaica on the impressive progress made towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals. It acknowledged the efforts made to protect children and women against exploitation and ill-treatment and to ensure the respect of the rights of the elderly and persons with disabilities. Morocco expressed satisfaction that Jamaica had supported two of its recommendations, namely, to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and to reflect on ways and means to address the problems relating to the high rate of violent crime, worsening security, the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters and global economic instability. 646. Cuba congratulated Jamaica on its efforts and action undertaken to implement the recommendations it had received. It expressed particular appreciation for Jamaica’s acceptance of the recommendations made by Cuba aimed at the continuation of its strategies and plans for socio-economic development and to ensure public health and quality education for its people. Despite the challenges faced by Jamaica as a developing country in its socio-economic advancement, it had made important achievements, such as meeting the Millennium Development Goals relating to extreme poverty reduction, malnutrition and hunger. Cuba also acknowledged Jamaica’s progress in the areas of universal primary education and access to public health, including reproductive health. Cuba assured Jamaica of its continuing support and cooperation. 647. The United States of America appreciated Jamaica’s support for recommendations on the implementation of the recommendations made by the Jamaican Justice System Reform Task Force and looked forward to continued progress on justice reform, especially on increasing respect for the rule of law and human rights in the police. It appreciated Jamaica’s commitment to start a public information campaign to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and strongly supported recommendations made to repeal the sections of the Offences against the Person Act, which criminalized same-sex intercourse. It urged Jamaica to reconsider the recommendations to investigate incidents or acts of violence with suspected motivations on the grounds of sexual orientation, and to take measures to ensure that lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual persons may participate fully in society without fear of attack or discrimination. 3. General comments made by other relevant stakeholders 648. COC Netherlands and the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays were encouraged by Jamaica’s adoption of the recommendations to train law enforcement officials and to conduct public campaigns to combat discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Citing the recent incident in Montego Bay in February 2011, they stated that LGBT people continued to be the victims of human rights violations by both non-State actors and State actors, such as the police. It was hoped that Jamaica would demonstrate leadership in the fight against intolerance for lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual Jamaicans. They encouraged the Government to take bold steps towards the decriminalization of consensual same-sex activities. They asked that, within the current review of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, a more inclusive clause on non-discrimination be considered for adoption. 649. Amnesty International welcomed Jamaica’s commitment to carry out independent investigations into the deaths that occurred during police operations in Tivoli Garden in 2010, and encouraged it to support the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry into the incident. Amnesty International expressed its belief that the ratification of the Convention against Torture and the Optional Protocol thereto would enhance Jamaica’s commitment to prevent and punish violations by the security forces. It expressed disappointment with Jamaica’s rejection of the recommendations regarding the death penalty. While encouraged that there had been no executions since 1988, Amnesty GE.11-17059 197