A/HRC/11/18* 25. A number of delegations congratulated the delegation of Bangladesh for its comprehensive presentation and for the national report, with its detailed and useful information about the country’s achievements and challenges. A number of delegations stressed that Bangladesh had reached out to relevant stakeholders in preparing the national report. Delegations welcomed the establishment in 2008 of a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), with a mandate inter alia to receive allegations of human rights violations and to review the overall human rights situation in the country. Bangladesh was also commended for being a party to most core international human rights instruments and for its micro-credit schemes. 26. A number of delegations welcomed the successful holding in 2008 of free and fair parliamentary elections and the formation of a democratically elected government, events that demonstrated Bangladesh’s firm belief in democracy, heralded the return of democratic rule and constituted an essential element for the democratic transition. 27. A number of delegations welcomed the significant advances in the field of primary education, being mandatory and free of charge. Schoolbooks are free of charge. Annual allocations for education amounted to 15 per cent of the general budget, with impressive gains in the high net enrolment rate and the positive enrolment ratio of girls to boys. Bangladesh was commended for achieving the MDG related to gender parity in primary and secondary education, and for the decrease in girls’ school drop-out rates. 28. A number of delegations welcomed the progress achieved in the field of human rights despite the major challenges that Bangladesh, one of the most densely populated countries, faced because of economic and environmental difficulties. 29. Algeria recommended that Bangladesh pursue its efforts within the Human Rights Council on the issue of climate change and human rights. Noting the considerable efforts made for women’s rights, Algeria enquired about the challenges faced and the measures taken to overcome social difficulties impeding the realization of women’s rights. Algeria recommended that Bangladesh, with the assistance and cooperation of the international community, pursue its efforts for the realization of rights of women and women’s empowerment as an important sector of society that can contribute significantly to the development of the country. Algeria welcomed the major efforts made to reduce poverty and improve living conditions. It recommended that Bangladesh, with the assistance and cooperation of the international community, pursue its efforts, despite constraints, to combat poverty, particularly among women, including material and non-material poverty (in terms of exclusion). 30. United Arab Emirates commended the efforts made by Bangladesh to provide the necessary legislative framework to protect human rights, enshrined in the constitution and national laws, by giving full regard to international instruments. They also praised the steps taken to promote the right to education and requested clarifications about the initiative of non-formal education. 31. Cuba stressed the serious commitment of Bangladesh to human rights, and the huge efforts made to combat hunger and poverty and guarantee basic needs, particularly in the areas of food, housing, education and health, especially in times of financial crisis. Cuba highlighted the priority given to the rights of women, particularly regarding their participation to economic, political and social life, and the importance given to the rights of the child. It recommended that Bangladesh pursue (a) its positive efforts to promote and protect the right to education, including the education of girls, and (b) its positive efforts for the promotion and protection of the rights of women. 32. Saudi Arabia commended the new government’s numerous initiatives to reform the Constitution and review national laws to bring them in line with international instruments. Vaccination campaigns had been successfully carried out, reducing child and infant 6 GE.09-16252