A/HRC/31/6 Torture, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto. 75. Afghanistan welcomed the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission, which was mandated to raise awareness about human rights and to conduct training programmes on international humanitarian law. 76. Algeria noted that, despite a lack of financial and human resources, Mauritania had shown commitment to human rights by establishing a national human rights institution and a national preventive mechanism to combat torture. 77. Angola expressed satisfaction at the ratification of the majority of international conventions and their optional protocols, particularly the Optional Protocol to t he Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. 78. Argentina congratulated Mauritania for ratifying the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2012, following the first review and the recommendations made by several delegations in that regard. 79. Armenia welcomed the engagement of the Government of Mauritania with civil society organizations, the Ombudsman and the OHCHR country office. Armenia encouraged Mauritania to further promote the right to education in the country. 80. Australia commended the legislation that had been adopted unanimously by the parliament in 2015 to strengthen the response of Mauritania to slavery. Australia noted that the death penalty had not been applied since 1987, but remained legal. 81. Azerbaijan appreciated the accession of Mauritania to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the adoption of the 2013 Act categorizing slavery and torture as crimes against humanity. 82. Bahrain praised Mauritania for acceding to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopting a national strategy to mainstream gender issues and bringing its legislation in line with human rights stan dards by categorizing slavery and torture as crimes against humanity. 83. Belgium noted the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. It commended Mauritania for having maintained the moratorium on the death penalty since 1987. 84. Benin welcomed initiatives to promote the rights of women and to combat violence against them, as well as the increased participation of women in politic al life. 85. Botswana encouraged Mauritania to do more to address slavery, discrimination and early and forced marriages. It appreciated the efforts made to address security and humanitarian issues. 86. Brazil appreciated the partial withdrawal of the reservation to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the adoption of a national strategy to abolish female genital mutilation. More needed to be done to eradicate discrimination and to safeguard the fundamental rig hts of refugees. 87. Burundi commended Mauritania for its efforts to combat slavery, particularly the creation of Tadamoun, which had a mandate to eradicate slavery, for its ratification of international human rights instruments and for the measures it had taken to reduce maternal and child mortality. 10/26 GE.15-22687