A/HRC/12/2
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human rights of internally displaced persons; and (c) taking further measures to combat maternal
mortality and give specific follow-up to the recommendation of the Committee on the Rights of
the Child’s concerning the availability of free medical assistance to pregnant women.
20. Nigeria noted progressive reforms regarding the Criminal Procedure and Labour Codes,
non-governmental organizations, women and girls, persons with disabilities and establishment of
the national human rights commission. Nigeria recommended (a) continuing to strengthen its
Court of Justice with a view to its carrying out its constitutional role without fear or favour; and
(b) continuing its extensive reforms with a view to addressing institutional shortcomings and
weaknesses, and developing an integrated agenda of human rights and public security as well as
development agenda towards poverty and illiteracy eradication. It asked that international help
be extended to strengthen national human rights institutions.
21. Djibouti welcomed, inter alia, initiatives leading to a national reconciliation plan; measures
to combat interference in freedom of expression; efforts to promote the rights of vulnerable
groups and the establishment of quotas in the civil service for persons with disabilities. It
encouraged the Government to continue combating all forms of discrimination. Djibouti
recommended considering ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the
Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (CRC-OP-AC) and the Convention on the
Political Rights of Women, and that the international community provide technical and financial
support to allow the State to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and overcome
economic difficulties exacerbated by the current financial crisis.
22. Italy commended the State for its de facto moratorium on executions. It recommended
(a) seizing the opportunity raised by the ongoing review of the Penal Code to consider
abolishing capital punishment and acceding to ICCPR-OP 2. Noting concerns expressed by the
Human Rights Committee and the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Italy recommended
(b) modifying legislative provisions that may discriminate against women and in particular
speeding up the process of bringing the Family Code in line with international instruments;
(c) enhancing awareness-raising campaigns to combat and eradicate female genital mutilation
and other traditional practices harmful to young women; and (d) guaranteeing the right to
education of all children and taking effective measures to substantially increase the rate of
attendance in primary schools. Enrolment in primary education and the negative trend of
attendance in primary schools caused concern.
23. Sweden appreciated the Government’s commitment to human rights. It expressed concern
about serious violations in the north between 2005 and mid-2007, when hundreds of civilians
reportedly were summarily executed and thousands of homes destroyed. Sweden recommended
that the Government increase efforts to investigate and prosecute the individuals known to be
responsible for those violations; ensure that victims are guaranteed remedy, including the right to
compensation and reparation; and continue efforts to improve the protection of the civilian
population. Welcoming the law on reproductive health and efforts to mobilize public opinion
against female genital mutilation, Sweden recommended prohibiting female genital mutilation
and taking further steps to prevent and address the occurrence of the practice.
24. Portugal welcomed the ratification of most core international human rights treaties and
recommended that the State consider signing the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) at the opening ceremony for signature in
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