A/HRC/40/15 92. Ethiopia commended the progress made since the second cycle of the universal periodic review in adopting human rights laws and regulations, which had included reforming the National Human Rights Commission, and several texts on human rights. 93. France stated that the human rights situation had seen encouraging signs, with measures for equality between men and women, the adoption of the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the reform of the National Human Rights Commission. 94. Gabon welcomed the implementation of national policies on health, justice, education, the improvement of living conditions for the population, the empowerment of women, and combating all forms of discrimination against women. It welcomed the cooperation with regional and international human rights mechanisms. 95. Georgia noted with satisfaction the adoption of the law granting the National Human Rights Commission independence from the executive, and welcomed the steps taken to implement the recommendations from the second review regarding the protection of the rights of women and children. 96. Germany commended the efforts to revise the Criminal Code, which had prohibited child marriages and female genital mutilation and penalized crimes such as human trafficking. Germany remained concerned about effective improvement of the human rights situation of children, as more needed to be done. 97. Ghana welcomed the commitment to improving access to health services and the adoption of the National Health Policy, the National Strategy for Universal Health Coverage and the National Strategy on Community Health. It also welcomed the reform of the National Human Rights Commission to ensure its independence, and the National Strategy to Combat Gender-based Violence. 98. Honduras commended the ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the adoption of new legislation strengthening the national human rights institution, reinforcing the legal framework for combating trafficking, and prohibiting early marriages. 99. Iceland noted real progress through the adoption of the law reforming the National Human Rights Commission, the Criminal Code, the law prohibiting child marriage and the law prosecuting the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts. It was concerned about the death penalty still being applied, despite a moratorium. 100. India welcomed the efforts to reform the National Human Rights Commission, and the initiative of the National Development Plan 2017–2021 to improve education and alleviate poverty. It noted the efforts to improve the performance and resilience of the national health system to reduce maternal mortality and the infant mortality rate. 101. Indonesia commended efforts to reform the National Human Rights Commission, and the amendments to the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure to bring them into line with the relevant human rights conventions. 102. The Islamic Republic of Iran appreciated progress in the promotion and protection of women’s and children’s rights, as well as initiatives taken to eradicate poverty through its National Poverty Reduction Strategy and the adoption of the National Development Agenda. 103. Iraq welcomed the ratification of a number of international treaties and the adoption of a number of laws, policies and national strategies related to human rights. 104. Ireland welcomed the reform of the National Human Rights Commission. It regretted the decision to reinstate the death penalty for people convicted of acts of terrorism. It was deeply concerned by efforts restricting civil society space. 105. Italy welcomed efforts since the second cycle of the universal periodic review, in particular the adoption of a new criminal code and a new code of criminal procedure and the new provisions prohibiting female genital mutilation and child marriage. 10 GE.18-22801