A/HRC/37/6 most disadvantaged people, and the setting of quotas on women’s access to senior civil posts. 97. Algeria underlined the progress that Gabon had made in its fight against human trafficking and poverty, in the prevention of torture, and in access to health care and education. It praised the initiatives to provide human rights training in various sectors. 98. Angola commended the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in 2014. It praised Gabon for its social assistance policies in the areas of health care and education. 99. Argentina congratulated Gabon on ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 100. Armenia commended the implementation by Gabon of the National Gender Equality and Equity Strategy and the improvements to the education system. It appreciated the commitments to ratify various legal instruments and encouraged Gabon to pursue measures taken in terms of combating human trafficking. 101. Australia noted the importance of reviewing the outcomes of the preliminary examination by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court of the post-election violence of 2016. It urged Gabon to rapidly proceed with legislative elections and fully respect the rights of all Gabonese citizens to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly in the lead-up to the new elections. 102. Azerbaijan congratulated Gabon on ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as recommended in the previous universal periodic review cycle. 103. Belgium commended Gabon for extending a standing invitation to the special procedures. It welcomed the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 104. Benin praised the inclusion of civil society, Parliament and the Senate in the preparation of the national report of Gabon. It encouraged Gabon to pursue the process already under way to ratify the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 105. Botswana noted the efforts to amend the Criminal Code, with the introduction of penalties for domestic violence and trafficking in persons, legislative and judicial measures to fight and discourage ritual murders and the amendment of the Children’s Code to become law. 106. Brazil welcomed the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It praised the continuous efforts to combat trafficking in persons, to promote gender equality, to fight poverty and to provide universal access to health care and education. 107. Burkina Faso hailed the high level of implementation of the 2012 universal periodic review recommendations. It encouraged Gabon to put into practice the measures mentioned in its national report. 108. Burundi praised the efforts made in the field of children’s rights, such as the capacity-building workshops and the elaboration of a Children’s Code. It noted with satisfaction the health-care scheme for all, and the efforts of Gabon to combat human trafficking and eradicate gender discrimination. 109. Canada commended the respect of religious communities in Gabonese society. It noted the implementation of a national study on gender-based violence, and encouraged Gabon to share the measures it intended to take to improve that situation. 10 GE.17-23556