A/HRC/18/7 93. Mauritius acknowledged ambitious macroeconomic reforms and noted that climate change was a serious threat to small island States whose economies are heavily dependent on fishing industries and environment-based tourism. It called on the international community to provide Seychelles with support to mitigate the impact of climate change and piracy. Mauritius inquired about intentions to review the legal regime on ownership and licensing of the press and privately owned broadcast media. The Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission also being the Ombudsman, Mauritius noted a possible situation of overlap of mandates and inquired about plans to review the situation. It made recommendations. 94. Ecuador stated that the burden of reporting to treaty bodies had exceeded the capacity of Seychelles and appreciated the efforts it had nevertheless undertaken to comply with the universal periodic review. Ecuador acknowledged the high economic development index and urged Seychelles to continue taking all necessary measures to make sustained progress to contribute to the full enjoyment of human rights by its people. It made recommendations. 95. Slovakia commended the progress regarding the right to education, the commitment of Seychelles to child and maternal health and health care in general. It acknowledged that the Seychelles is party to major international human rights instruments and noted its vulnerability to natural disasters and its limitations in terms of financial and human resources, as well as the economy’s dependency on natural resources. It noted the measures to improve prison security and living standards. Slovakia made recommendations. 96. Djibouti noted the creation of the National Human Rights Commission as well as the Public Officers’ Ethics Commission to promote good governance. Djibouti appreciated the appointment of a woman as Ombudsman. It hoped that Seychelles would benefit from technical support and assistance from the international community to meet the challenges faced, in particular the vulnerabilities of the environment due to climate change. Djibouti made recommendations. 97. The delegation of Seychelles noted that the penal code established the age for criminal responsibility. Above the age of 7, the criminal mind was established on a case-bycase basis. In terms of special procedures for juveniles, the juvenile court comprised a specialized magistrate and competent lay persons selected on expertise. 98. Seychelles had non-custodial forms of punishment, including fines, suspended sentences and discharge on conditions. The decision-making power on when to apply them rested, however, with the judiciary. 99. The delegation explained the synergies of the Ombudsman’s role as the Chair of the National Human Rights Commission, in that the role broadened the Ombudsman’s mandate and provided the office with additional powers to investigate abuses by law enforcement agencies. II. Conclusions and/or recommendations 100. The following recommendations will be examined by Seychelles, which will provide responses in due time, but no later than the eighteenth session of the Human Rights Council in September 2011. 100.1. Ratify CED as soon as possible (Germany); 100.2. Consider, gradually, the ratification of the Optional Protocols to CRC and other instruments (Chile); 13