A/HRC/31/17 20. A number of steps had been taken to that end. The most important of those steps had been the adoption of the law on the judicial system; the creation of the position of investigating judge and establishment of a pretrial, investigative phase as a discrete phase of all legal proceedings; the drafting and adoption of criminal legislation and criminal procedure laws; the creation of the position of sentence enforcement judge; the adoption of the law on legal assistance and legal counsel; the adoption of the law on domestic violence; the establishment of a single administrative window for businesses; and various improvements to registry and notarial services, including their computerization. 21. With regard to international instruments, Sao Tome and Principe had ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the African Charter on Human and Peoples ’ Rights. 22. Although Sao Tome and Principe had not yet ratified the other conventions, the delegation indicated that the State had adopted legal, institutional and administrative measures to guarantee all persons living within its territorial jurisdiction a free and dignified life in line with the principles of human rights. 23. The delegation added that the Government and its partners — particularly the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa — had begun the process of establishing a national human rights institution in accordance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles). In April 2014 a seminar had been held in Sao Tome for that purpose, bringing together representatives of government bodies, civil society and United Nations agencies to consider which model for a national human rights institution was best suited to the national context. 24. The delegation reported that, while remaining mindful of the specific characteristics of the country, on 22 and 23 August 2015, during one of its ordinary meetings, the Council of Ministers had discussed the possibility of establishing an ombudsman’s office and that legislation establishing the office was currently being drafted. 25. The delegation considered that the Constitution guaranteed the protection of all civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for the State’s citizens. 26. With regard to the promotion of women’s rights and gender equality, the delegation reiterated that the Government had ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. It had also adopted both legislative and institutional measures in that field, thus demonstrating its commitment to eliminating all forms of discrimination against women and promoting gender equality. 27. The delegation stated that a national strategy for the promotion of gender equality and equity had been adopted and that the National Institute for the Promotion of Gender Equality and Equity had been mandated to oversee the promotion and implementation of government policy for the advancement of women, gender equality and equity throughout the country. 28. With regard to the protection of children, the delegation recalled that Sao Tome and Principe had ratified the main international treaties: specifically, the Convention on the Rights of the Child; the International Labour Organization (ILO) Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138); the ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182); the ILO Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81); the ILO Forced GE.16-00396 5/25