A/HRC/46/11 55. On the question from the United Kingdom and Luxembourg as to whether Andorra would consider addressing defamation in the civil code rather than in the Criminal Code, the delegation stated that Andorra did not have a civil code as such. That said, Andorra had adopted a law in late 2014 that guaranteed civil protection for the rights to privacy, honour and one’s own image, without prejudice to the pre-existing criminal protection. 56. Also in response to questions submitted in advance, the delegation of Andorra indicated that a 2014 law had legalized same-sex marriage (question posed by Iceland), and that all new judges and public prosecutors must, as a mandatory part of their initial training, attend at least two sessions on human rights (question from Indonesia). 57. Responding to a question posed by Portugal on the follow-up mechanism for recommendations, the Andorran delegation announced that an interministerial working group, with members from different government departments and the judiciary, had been established. It was this working group that had prepared the country’s submission under the universal periodic review and that would follow up on the implementation of the recommendations. 58. Regarding the statements made by Maldives, Honduras, France, Cyprus and Montenegro recommending that Andorra ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the delegation recalled that Andorra had ratified the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and therefore already received regular visits. Furthermore, several independent national institutions routinely visited the places in question, and the country had only one prison and three detention centres. 59. Nepal noted the extended mandate of the Ombudsperson in Andorra and welcomed the adoption of a strategic plan for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. It was encouraged by the legal reforms that provided protection for women and vulnerable groups in case of violation or discrimination. It commended the advances made in the protection of children’s rights. 60. The Netherlands welcomed the draft law on the individual and the family and the National Equality Plan. It was concerned about incidents of gender-based and sexual violence, and about reprisals against and intimidation of human rights defenders. The case of Vanessa Mendoza Cortés, who faced a prison sentence for a report presented to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, was particularly worrisome. 61. Pakistan acknowledged the extension by Andorra of the power of the Office of the Ombudsperson to act as the national human rights institution. Nevertheless, it shared the concerns of the treaty bodies that had called for the Ombudsperson’s mandate to encompass also discrimination against women and racial discrimination in the public and private sectors. Pakistan appreciated the action Andorra had taken to address gender-based violence and to enhance women’s empowerment. 62. Panama noted the significant steps taken to guarantee equal treatment and nondiscrimination, and to prevent and combat gender-based and domestic violence. It welcomed the ratification of the Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime, concerning the criminalisation of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems, and the Strategic Plan for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. 63. The Philippines welcomed the establishment of the Service for Victims of Genderbased Violence, its predecessor, the Interdisciplinary Team on Gender Violence, and the provision of additional human resources to the Department for Equality Policies. 64. Portugal welcomed the commitment of Andorra to the protection of human rights and commended in particular its ratification of the Convention against Discrimination in Education and its efforts to guarantee access to free, high-quality public education. 65. The Russian Federation noted the progress Andorra had made in implementing the recommendations from the second cycle of the universal periodic review, especially those concerning social rights, migrants’ rights, the protection of children and the fight against GE.20-17726 7