A/HRC/33/14 7. The delegation recalled that the 2005 Constitution established an independent Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration with a mandate to investigate complaints concerning alleged violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The delegation provided details regarding the current work of the Commission and progress made to ensure that it had sufficient resources. It noted that the Commission had developed a five-year strategy and was working on the Human Rights and Public Administration Bill 2011 to ensure full adherence to the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles), as accreditation by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (formerly known as the International Accreditation Committee) was one of its priorities for 2016. 8. The delegation underscored that Swaziland had enacted comprehensive protective legislation for children in 2012 (Child Protection and Welfare Act 2012). That legislation sought to provide protection for children from abuse and to promote their welfare and best interests. Additionally, the Act recognized emerging challenges brought on by a high HIV prevalence, leading to many children being orphaned, and incorporated international instruments on child rights into domestic law. 9. Furthermore, the Government had ensured free primary education for all Swazi children, as enshrined in the Constitution and the Free Primary Education Act, 2012. Even though secondary education was still not free, the Government supported vulnerable children by paying their fees through a grant under the Deputy Prime Minister’s portfolio. The delegation provided information on improvements in enrolment rates, indicating that Swaziland was on track to achieve universal primary education as specified by Millennium Development Goal 2. 10. Regarding the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women, the delegation noted that, in addition to the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, the country had undertaken commitments under a number of other instruments, including the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. The Deeds Registry Act had been amended in 2012 to give effect to the right of women married in community of property to own land and have it registered in their own names. Additionally, the Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence Bill seeks to address all forms of sexual violence against women and children. As the previous Parliament had been dissolved in 2013, before the bill had been promulgated into law, the bill had lapsed and the process would be started anew. Nonetheless, the Government was making all efforts necessary to accelerate its enactment by Parliament. 11. Additionally, the Government had made significant strides in policy and legislative reform in addressing the challenges of gender-based violence, as evidenced by the approval of the national gender policy of 2010 and the enactment of the People Trafficking and People Smuggling Act. The delegation noted that, in 2013, the High Court had declared the common-law rule that married women had no capacity to litigate without the assistance of their husbands to be inconsistent with the constitutional right to equality. 12. On the rights of refugees, the delegation indicated that the Ministry of Home Affairs was responsible for protecting refugees and asylum seekers. The Ministry had a refugees department that formed part of a tripartite team, which included the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Additionally, the Government had drafted a refugees bill, which would give effect in domestic law to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1969 Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. The delegation provided details of measures taken to protect refugees in the country. 4