A/HRC/36/14 69. Bulgaria appreciated that further work was under consideration to enhance mass media plurality and broaden access to different forms of media, to strengthen freedom of expression and freedom of the media as key principles in the Constitution. 70. Canada urged Poland to take further measures to enhance the scope of protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and to prevent acts of discrimination. 71. Chile welcomed measures, including legislative reforms, to combat gender violence, but was concerned about the implementation of the reforms to the Constitutional Court and the increase in xenophobia, racism and discrimination. 72. China noted that some children in rural areas did not have equal access to highquality education and that Poland still faced challenges in guaranteeing the rights of women and national minorities. 73. Côte d’Ivoire urged Poland to strengthen further its legal framework to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights in the country, notably for minorities, migrants and asylum seekers. 74. Croatia commended the improvement of criminal legislation as regards sexual offences and the protection of child victims. It welcomed the appointment of the equal treatment coordinators and the adoption of the Programme of Roma Integration. 75. Cyprus welcomed the measures taken to enhance the protection of the rights of minority groups and encouraged Poland to continue its efforts to eliminate domestic violence and combat racism, xenophobia and hate crimes. 76. Czechia welcomed the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty and the signature of two other international human rights instruments. 77. Denmark attached importance to the successful completion of the dialogue between Poland and the European Commission within the rule of law procedures and the concerns raised by the Venice Commission and the Council of Europe on the rule of law. 78. Egypt commended Poland for the legislative amendments it had made to fight violence against women, the reduction in the wage gap between men and women and the efforts to protect and support women. 79. Estonia encouraged Poland to continue its work to eliminate the use of corporal punishment in various places, consider further actions to prevent and eliminate violence against women and ensure favourable legislation towards women’s rights. 80. Finland encouraged Poland to take steps towards making positive progress regarding combating discrimination and ensuring full participation of civil society and to strengthen the rights of all individuals, including minorities. 81. France welcomed the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty and of the Istanbul Convention. 82. Georgia appreciated the ratification of various international treaties and measures to improve prison conditions. It welcomed the submission of a midterm implementation report and encouraged Poland to continue that practice. 83. Germany welcomed the accession by Poland to several international human rights instruments, but remained concerned about controversial legislation regarding the judicial system and the media. 84. Greece welcomed, inter alia, the appointment of equal treatment coordinators in each ministry and in the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, and the establishment of a national prevention system against torture. 85. Guatemala was concerned about reports of the lack of consistency in the actions of the border police and lack of mechanisms to identify vulnerable persons. 8