A/HRC/42/12 8. In order to combat poverty and extreme poverty, Costa Rica had implemented a number of innovative tools, such as the Multidimensional Poverty Index, to measure the different types of deprivation suffered by families living in poverty. It had also adopted the National Strategy for Poverty Reduction, which used a multisectoral and inter-institutional approach to guarantee access to a comprehensive set of programmes and services. 9. Regarding the situation of persons deprived of their liberty, Costa Rica had promoted the use of alternative measures to detention, including electronic monitoring. As a result, it had reduced prison overcrowding from 48.1 per cent in 2016 to 31.1 per cent in 2018. 10. The current Cabinet was the first in the country’s republican history to be composed of an equal number of men and women. In addition, the most recent legislative elections had resulted in the highest representation of women in the Legislative Assembly in the country’s history. In 2018, combating violence against women had been declared a national priority and all State entities had been requested to initiate or strengthen programmes to that end. In an effort to combat domestic violence, the judiciary had created an integrated victim support service platform that included psychological, medical and legal assistance services, all of which were provided free of charge. 11. With regard to access to health, the inclusion of the human papillomavirus vaccine for all 10-year-old girls had been approved. The number of teenage pregnancies had decreased in recent years; further reducing that number was one of the goals of the National Strategic Plan for Adolescent Health. The use of emergency oral contraception had been approved; it would be available without the need for a medical prescription. The application of therapeutic abortion was still pending and Costa Rica hoped to ensure its effective application and the issuance of the technical guidelines regulating it in 2019. 12. Regarding the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, the symbolic act of raising the flag of diversity for the first time at the Presidential Palace in 2014 had been followed by at least 12 executive decrees and directives that allowed samesex couples to access social security, pension inheritance and equal treatment in health centres and prisons. Following the advisory opinion issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in response to a consultation by Costa Rica, from May 2020 civil marriage for same-sex couples would become a reality in the country. The Electoral Court had issued an administrative order to allow transgender persons to change their name on their identity documents, in accordance with their gender identity. The Government had issued the same order for all other official documentation. The Presidential Commissioner for issues related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, created in 2018 within the Office of the President of the Republic, coordinated the initiatives of the Government in that field. 13. The Legislative Assembly had approved a number of laws to enhance human rights protection in the country, including a law to increase from 10 to 25 years, starting from the age of majority of the victim, the statute of limitations for sexual offences against children; a law on access to justice for indigenous peoples; a law strengthening the legal protection of girls and adolescent women in situations of gender-based violence associated with abusive relationships; and a law promoting the personal autonomy of persons with disabilities. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 14. During the interactive dialogue, 85 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 15. Pakistan appreciated the efforts of Costa Rica to combat domestic violence and noted the establishment by the judiciary of an integrated victim support service platform. It welcomed the National Strategy for Poverty Reduction, also known as the Bridge to Development strategy. 16. The Republic of Korea noted with satisfaction concrete policies on gender equality, education and public health. It hoped that Costa Rica would continue addressing the remaining challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 3