A/HRC/25/12 18. In terms of raising public awareness about the struggle against discrimination, for several years the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports had been involved in a number of publicity campaigns. Prevention programmes were likewise taking part in the effort to combat any form of discrimination: for example, as part of their work to combat sexually transmitted infections, they dealt with the exclusion of persons living with AIDS. Every year Monaco celebrated International Women’s Day, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and Universal Children’s Day. 19. With regard to the participation of women in decision-making, the head of the delegation said that generally speaking, there were many women in senior posts in the Monegasque administration and in the judiciary. There was also a woman Minister for Public Works, the Environment and Urban Development. 20. Concerning non-discrimination in employment, he said that rights in the field of employment were exercised without distinction, with the exception of rights related to nationality or place of residence, and there, it was a matter not of discrimination but of priorities specifically based on the limited number of citizens of Monaco, who constituted a minority in their own country. Regarding social security for workers, he emphasized that the relevant legislation and regulations created no distinctions among beneficiaries based on their nationality. 21. With regard to disabilities, he noted that in 2006, the Principality of Monaco had appointed a delegate with responsibility for persons with disabilities. The Government had made significant efforts in recent years to facilitate access to public facilities, to the city and to public transport for persons with disabilities. 22. Concerning domestic violence, he noted that Act No. 1.382 of 20 July 2011 on the prevention and punishment of specific forms of violence had been adopted for the very purpose of strengthening the protection of women, children and persons with disabilities. 23. In education, he explained that courses in history and civics were based on the fundamental principles of human rights, education in which was compulsory in the Monegasque national curriculum. 24. Despite the particularly difficult international context, the Government sought to maintain its commitment to international solidarity with the most disadvantaged groups (women, children, persons with disabilities) and those severely affected by conflict. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 25. During the interactive dialogue, 40 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 26. The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomed the statement of Monaco and expressed concern over a number of human rights violations, including the distinction between native and naturalized Monegasques, which introduced a form of discrimination regarding the rights associated with citizenship. It noted that Monegasque legislation had created various groups of foreigners with different rights and protection according to their nationality. It made recommendations. 27. Ireland noted that Monaco had signed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and acknowledged its commitment to cooperate with the Court on a case-by-case basis. Ireland considered that the ratification of the Rome Statute would be a timely reaffirmation of the commitment Monaco had made to fighting impunity. It noted that the criminalization of defamation was a disproportionate restriction on freedom of expression. Ireland made recommendations. GE.14-10028 5