A/HRC/32/16 83. Ireland called for urgent action to implement accepted the recommendations that had yet to be implemented. It regretted that consensual same-sex relations remained criminalized and that laws were being used to detain and prosecute journalists. 84. Israel noted the ongoing review of the constitution, the adoption of new laws, the approval of national plans and the measures taken to combat HIV/AIDS. 85. Jamaica noted the impact of the Ebola virus disease crisis and commended Sierra Leone for its courageous commitment to human rights in the midst of grappling with the disease. The rebuilding task would be a huge effort. 86. Japan expected Sierra Leone to progressively implement its post-Ebola recovery plan. It was concerned by police harassment of human rights defenders and noted the existence of female genital mutilation and domestic violence. 87. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic noted the acceptance of a large number of recommendations from the first review and the steps taken to implement them. It commended Sierra Leone for efforts to promote human rights. 88. Lebanon commended the joint efforts on combating the Ebola virus disease taken by Sierra Leone with international cooperation, and positively assessed the engagement of the Government in the constitutional review, in such plans as the Agenda for Prosperity and in the reduction of poverty. 89. Lesotho noted the extent to which the Ebola outbreak had disrupted efforts to enhance human rights and the paucity of resources and called on States to extend their support to Sierra Leone to overcome these challenges. 90. Libya noted the genuine desire of Sierra Leone to cooperate with human rights mechanisms and welcomed the efforts made to ensure follow-up to the recommendations from the previous cycle and the enactment of legislation in this regard. 91. The Government noted the call for increased gender parity and affirmed its commitment to affording women and girls equal opportunity. Regarding female genital mutilation, the Government had increased dialogue with traditional leaders and nationwide consultations on the practice. Alternative sources of income for practitioners had been offered. The delegation clarified that visibly pregnant schoolgirls had not been banned from attending schools: they attended school and took examinations, but in private classes set for their special circumstances. The Government had established a children’s commission and child protection departments in every local council in the country. A child justice strategy had also been developed and was taking steps to separate juveniles from adults in detention centres. 92. The Government had enacted the Access to Information Bill and the Independent Media Commission Act. Records showed that, since 2007, no journalist had been convicted and jailed. Sierra Leone had also created an enabling environment for free public speech. The delegation reiterated that the Constitutional Review Committee, among other issues, would address the citizenship issue. 93. Madagascar paid tribute to the determination of the Government in honouring its commitments through the implementation of numerous reforms related to human rights in the legislative, institutional and normative areas. 94. Malaysia noted the legal and constitutional reforms that had been undertaken and efforts to enhance women’s empowerment. It recognized the challenges to promote human rights in the aftermath of the Ebola virus disease outbreak. 12