A/HRC/38/9 38. The Bahamas was the very first country within the Caribbean region to develop International Civil Aviation Organization machine-readable travel documents for refugees (as defined under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees). 39. Amendments to the Immigration Act were being finalized, which would, on the one hand, increase penalties for persons who harboured or employed undocumented workers but which, on the other hand, would also provide clear legal remedies to undocumented migrants by limiting the time frames in which they might be administratively detained by an immigration officer pending deportation. 40. One of the responsibilities of the National Reporting Cooperating Mechanism was to engage with the Vision 2040 National Development Plan. That Plan provided a road map for the country’s future development and included a comprehensive policy framework that would guide government decision-making and investment over the next quarter century. 41. The Bahamas concluded by reassuring Council members of its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 42. During the interactive dialogue, 54 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 43. Armenia appreciated the steps taken by the Bahamas in order to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, in particular awareness-raising activities and victim-protection programmes. It noted the remaining challenges in the area and encouraged the Bahamas to take further measures in that regard. 44. Australia commended the Bahamas for its recent steps aiming at progressing human rights, including to promote gender equality through a constitutional amendment. It remained concerned at the scale of violence — particularly sexual violence — perpetrated against women. 45. Azerbaijan appreciated the measures taken by the Bahamas to implement the recommendations made during the second cycle of the universal periodic review. It noted with appreciation the approach centred on the Sustainable Development Goals that the Bahamas had deployed on measures designed to advance human rights, in particular the Vision 2040 National Development Plan. 46. Barbados noted the significant effort that the Bahamas had made to further strengthen the legal and institutional framework for human rights within its administrative and financial capabilities. It noted the progress made in enhancing protection for children through the establishment of the National Committee for Families and Children. It also noted the efforts made by the Bahamas in approving a national strategic plan to eliminate gender-based violence. 47. Belgium acknowledged that positive steps had been taken by the Bahamas with respect to the implementation of recommendations accepted during its second universal periodic review. It was convinced that further progress could still be achieved to increase the protection of human rights in line with the international human rights treaties. 48. Benin welcomed the diverse measures and initiatives that the Bahamas had taken with respect to the enjoyment of human rights after its previous universal periodic review in 2013. 49. Brazil commended the Bahamas for its commitment to fight corruption and increase transparency in the conduct of public affairs. It recognized the challenges that the Bahamas faced in ensuring the progressive achievement of economic, social and cultural rights, and encouraged the adoption of comprehensive policies in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 50. Canada welcomed the positive steps that the Bahamas had taken, including accession to two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2015 and ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It recognized the steps that the Bahamas had taken to address gender-specific human rights concerns. 5