A/HRC/38/12 34. The Government would continue to review treaties and give consideration to the signing of treaties and optional protocols within the limits of its capacities to live up to the reporting obligations. 35. There continued to be no national consensus or bipartisan support for the abolition of capital punishment at the time. Barbados highlighted that there remained a de facto moratorium on the application of the death penalty since there had been no executions in Barbados since 1984. 36. On the issue of the mandatory death penalty, legislation was being reviewed to provide for the abolition of the mandatory imposition of the death penalty and preparations were being finalized for its submission to Cabinet prior to its introduction to Parliament. The Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Bill, 2014, was the focal point of efforts to address the removal of the mandatory imposition of the death penalty. The object of the Bill was to amend section 2 of the Offences Against the Person Act so as to abolish the mandatory imposition of the death penalty for murder. 37. Barbados intended to improve on its human rights reporting record and had already started doing so. The National Human Rights Coordinating Committee was the Barbadian form of a national mechanism for reporting and follow-up. Even with the creation of the Committee, certain constraints regarding human resources and finances remained as significant hurdles to timely implementation, reporting and follow-up. 38. The establishment of a national human rights institution was being considered by the interministerial National Human Rights Coordinating Committee. It was expected that recommendations would be made by that body on the form and steps to be taken that would result in the establishment of a national human rights institution. 39. The Government reiterated its commitment to pursuing the promotion of human rights at home and abroad and working with States and all other stakeholders in that most important exercise. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 40. During the interactive dialogue, 52 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 41. Indonesia welcomed the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the adoption of the Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) (Amendment) Act, 2016, the creation of the Partnership for Peace programme and measures to combat domestic violence in Barbados. 42. Ireland commended Barbados on the adoption of the Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) (Amendment) Act and the establishment of the Family Conflict Intervention Unit, noting with concern the high prevalence of gender-based violence. It encouraged Barbados to decriminalize consensual homosexual relations, to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons from discrimination and provide the special procedure mandate holders with a standing invitation. It noted with regret that the legislation to abolish the death penalty remained pending. 43. Italy praised Barbados for its efforts to fight domestic violence and sexual harassment by adopting new legislation and ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, in particular its Protocols. 44. Jamaica commended Barbados for its progress in education and housing as well as police training. It noted with appreciation the work of the Bureau of Gender Affairs to eliminate gender discrimination and domestic violence, the launch of the National Youth Parliament and the proclamation of the Safety and Health at Work Act. 45. Libya applauded the establishment of the National Human Rights Coordinating Committee and measures taken in the area of human rights outlined in the national report. It welcomed the plans to set up family courts in Barbados. 5