A/HRC/19/7 the Government was currently considering a draft national policy on persons with disabilities and a draft disabilities bill. Additionally, it highlighted that girl children deserved protection from early marriage and noted that violence against women remained a problem. It suggested that prevention of HIV/AIDS infection became easier when sexual relations between same sex adults were legal. It made recommendations. 50. Brazil commended Trinidad and Tobago for its progress in achieving MDGs, such as the elimination of gender disparity in education. It noted that, in 2010, it had elected its first female Prime Minister and commended the introduction of strategies to increase the number of women in decision-making bodies. It expressed concern over the high incidence of violence against women and praised the establishment of the Victim Support Units. It also commended the country’s HIV/AIDS policy. It made recommendations. 51. Ghana applauded Trinidad and Tobago for its provision of free education from primary to tertiary levels. It also commended the wide array of social intervention schemes and legal frameworks, including the domestication of international conventions, in support of the weak in society. It noted the incidence of violent crime in the country. It made recommendations. 52. Regarding questions and observations on the death penalty, Trinidad and Tobago drew attention to the fact that, although no declaratory statement had been made by the Government on a moratorium on the death penalty, in fact, since 1999 there had been a functional moratorium on such penalties, none of which had been implemented since that year. It was added that a rich debate within the Government and society regarding the issue was continuing. Trinidad and Tobago noted that in a situation where violent crime was widespread it was a great challenge for a Government to risk giving the impression that it was not adequately combating crime. 53. Trinidad and Tobago acknowledged that violence against women remained an area of concern and that the Government was committed to dealing with the issue. Nevertheless, there were resource constraints, particularly regarding the ability to fund the mechanisms and facilities that afforded protection to women in such situations. Therefore, the gap tended to be filled by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with the support of the Government. It clarified that some victim support units had been established within police service. Moreover, awareness exits of the importance of sensitizing the police establishment on that issue. 54. Germany noted that Trinidad and Tobago had imposed a state of emergency in August 2011 in response to violent crime. It understood the country’s preoccupation with the high crime rate but noted concerns over unjustified violence during arrests. It asked how the country plans to step up efforts to ensure the observance of human rights standards by security forces. It noted an initiative for constitutional reform in order to render the death penalty legally feasible again and expressed concern over the criminalization consensual same-sex relations between adults. It made recommendations. 55. Uruguay noted the efforts of Trinidad and Tobago to achieve MDGs, especially its advances in the reduction of extreme poverty, free education, and the elimination of gender disparity in education. It expressed concern over stereotypes regarding men and women in society and family, and the presence of gender violence. It noted that the death penalty in the country was only applied in cases of homicide and treason and had been suspended since 1999. It noted the revision of the law that forbade corporal punishment. Uruguay made recommendations. 56. Slovakia commended Trinidad and Tobago for the establishment of the National Steering Committee for the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour. It also took note of the support rendered by the Government towards the organization of the regional workshop on establishing national human rights institutions in compliance with the 9