A/HRC/24/10 81. Australia was concerned about post-electoral violence in Djibouti and allegations of politically motivated arrests in its wake. It acknowledged Djibouti’s criminalization of FGM and noted its implementation of FGM awareness campaigns, but remained deeply concerned by its continued prevalence. It made recommendations. 82. Azerbaijan appreciated the Government of Djibouti’s efforts to protect women, children and disabled persons against discrimination. It commended its strengthening of bodies involved in the promotion and protection of human rights, including the National Human Rights Commission and the Ministries of Health and for the Promotion of Women. It made recommendations. 83. Bangladesh commended Djibouti’s adoption of a law to end discrimination against women in pension as well as its programmes to fight poverty and unemployment, and its National Strategic Action Plan for Children. It noted progress in institution-building despite severe economic constraints and challenges, and indicated that the international community must complement government efforts. 84. Belgium congratulated Djibouti for establishing a joint programme between its ministries and the United Nations office to implement accepted recommendations. It welcomed Djibouti’s peaceful elections, but was concerned about restrictions in freedom of expression and demonstrations. Credible sources report deterioration in conditions for exercising these rights. It made recommendations. 85. Benin appreciated its introduction of the principle of banning torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatments within its criminal and criminal procedure codes. It stressed the importance of adopting measures promoting education, health, food and housing. It invited Djibouti to continue efforts to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. 86. Botswana welcomed Djibouti’s many institutional and policy reforms in the area of human rights, including the National Strategic Action Plan for Children, the National Gender Policy and its specialized administrative and juvenile courts, among others. It made a recommendation. 87. Brazil noted that Djibouti has implemented several measures, including abolishing the death penalty, appointing an ombudsman, establishing special jurisdictions for minors and a National Strategic Action Plan for Children. It also noted its ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and hoped that implementation of its Criminal Code would be effective in fighting FGM. It made recommendations. 88. Burkina Faso noted initiatives to implement recommendations received during the first UPR cycle. It encouraged Djibouti to strengthen the public sector involved in the promotion of human rights, the national body charged with statistics and the interministerial committee charged with preparing reports, as well as the National Human Rights Commission. 89. Burundi congratulated Djibouti for establishing institutions including an ombudsman and its National Human Rights Commission based on the Paris Principles. It commended it for adopting a National Strategic Action Plan for Children and a framework for combating FGM through the enactment of legislation to further repress this practice. It made recommendations. 90. Canada asked Djibouti to detail possible reasons for the continued high number of instances of FGM, despite its measures to implement the national strategy on this issue, as well as which new measures will be adopted to accelerate the process of eliminating this practice. It made recommendations. GE.13-15502 11