A/HRC/27/5 88. The Congo welcomed, inter alia, efforts to provide free primary education and in the area of health, and the adoption of a National Strategy on Combating Sexual and GenderBased Violence. 89. Costa Rica commended the legislative initiatives taken by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to protect vulnerable groups, and action to prevent human trafficking and violence against women and children. It encouraged the State to strengthen the NHRC. 90. Côte d’Ivoire welcomed measures taken to support the education and health-care sectors, reform of the judicial system with a view to guaranteeing access to justice for all, and action aimed at countering gender-based violence. 91. Croatia welcomed the adoption of the plans of action to combat the recruitment and use of children by the armed forces. It expressed concern with gender-based violence and urged the Government to allocate resources to reduce child mortality. 92. Cuba commended the efforts undertaken to implement recommendations from the first review, notwithstanding the challenges faced. It noted plans for the rehabilitation of school facilities, an increased budget for education and the reduction of poverty. 93. The Czech Republic acknowledged the complex security challenges faced by the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It welcomed the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. 94. Djibouti took note of efforts for constitutional and institutional reforms and appreciated the steps being taken to ratify a number of international instruments. 95. Ecuador acknowledged the efforts to implement previous recommendations on education and commended the accession to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol and measures to access health care. 96. Ghana commended the accession to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. However, it was concerned by the challenges facing the national judicial system, including the severe shortage of judges. 97. Estonia encouraged the Government to implement the provisions of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to appoint members to the NHRC and to adopt a bill abolishing the death penalty. 98. Ethiopia commended the process started by the State under review to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the introduction of free primary education and the adoption of a national strategy to combat sexual and gender-based violence. 99. Finland welcomed the Government’s commitment to facilitating access to justice and fighting impunity. It asked how civil society could contribute to the process of establishing specialized mixed chambers in the national judicial system. 100. France welcomed the convening of a high-level panel on sexual violence against women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and urged the authorities to redouble their efforts in that regard. 101. Gabon welcomed the priority accorded to education, health, access to safe drinking water and persons with disabilities. It encouraged the country to promote increasingly effective action against sexual violence. 10 GE.14-07547