A/HRC/43/2 quotas for people with disabilities, increased by up to 4 per cent. It encouraged Kazakhstan to continue promoting its social plans and programmes, especially the educational policy. 691. Viet Nam thanked Kazakhstan for accepting its two recommendations on promoting gender equality, women's empowerment and the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It appreciated Kazakhstan for placing great emphasis on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the protection of the rights of women and children, especially from discrimination and domestic violence. Viet Nam stated that Kazakhstan had been demonstrating its strong commitments to promoting human rights by adopting major constitutional reforms and strengthening the legislative and judicial branches of the country. 692. Afghanistan noted with appreciation the support of Kazakhstan for its recommendations to continue its efforts to provide equal access to healthcare services. Afghanistan thanked for the explanation of the national legislation on non-refoulement and hoped that Kazakhstan would consider the recommendation to implement additional measures to protect failed asylum seekers and those not formally recognized as refugees from refoulement. 693. Belarus noted with satisfaction that Kazakhstan accepted the vast majority of the recommendations, including the ones made by Belarus on further strengthening national capacities on promoting and protecting human rights and on strengthening efforts in the sphere of social, economic and cultural rights in the context of delivering on the corresponding long-term state programmes. Belarus reiterated the successes of Kazakhstan, including in the area of education, healthcare, and social care for citizens and wished success in implementing supported recommendations. 694. Burundi noted with satisfaction the ratification in 2015 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and complemented the strategies adopted to reduce prison overcrowding. Burundi welcomed that Kazakhstan observed moratorium on the death penalty and congratulated the Government of Kazakhstan for the various measures taken to combat human trafficking, including the creation of an inter-institutional commission to that end. It commended the policies adopted by the Government to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and improve quality of judicial services. 695. China commended the efforts of Kazakhstan in the promotion and protection of human rights. China thanked Kazakhstan for accepting its recommendations and hoped Kazakhstan would continue to promote sustainable economic social development, improve people's life and protect the rights of vulnerable groups, including women, children, and persons with disabilities. China supported the efforts of Kazakhstan in combating terrorism and extremism. 696. Cuba acknowledged the large number of recommendations accepted by Kazakhstan, including the ones made by Cuba. It urged Kazakhstan to continue working on updating legislation and policies for the protection of children and youth as well as on gender equality and empowerment of women. 697. Egypt thanked Kazakhstan for the update submitted to the Council regarding the accepted recommendations. Egypt welcomed the legislative and administrative reforms aiming at intensifying sanctions on crimes of human trafficking, violence against children and corruption. Egypt commended the ongoing judicial reform in Kazakhstan and welcomed the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Government’s efforts aimed at gender equality and women representation in the parliament and political life. 698. The Islamic Republic of Iran thanked Kazakhstan for the presentation of the updated report. It encouraged Kazakhstan to continue its efforts to ensure social security and provide 108