6. The Commission welcomes the presentation of the initial and combined report by the Government of Gabon with a view to fulfilling its obligations under Article 62 of the African Charter. The Commission commends the Gabonese Delegation for its frank and constructive dialogue with the Commission during its presentation of the initial and combined report of the Gabonese Republic. I. Positive Aspects The Commission: 7. Commends the efforts made by Gabon in preparing and presenting its periodic report in accordance with the provisions of Article 62 of the African Charter; 8. Commends the Gabonese Republic for having established a national commission for the preparation of human rights reports, and an inter-sectorial commission responsible for preparing human rights reports which is also accessible to civil society organizations; 9. Notes that the Constitution of the Gabonese Republic takes into account the majority of the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the African Charter; 10. Notes that the Gabonese Republic has ratified or acceded to most of the relevant regional and international instruments on the promotion and protection of human rights, including: - The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child; The OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa; The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights; The African Youth Charter; The International Convention on Civil and Political Rights; The International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; The Convention on the Rights of the Child; The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; The Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; The International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination; The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women; The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all 2

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