A/HRC/41/8 18. The National Mechanism for Preparation of Reports and Follow-up to Recommendations was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was composed of 32 national and municipal institutions, with the National Human Rights Institution and Ombudsman’s Office as a permanent observer. 19. Regarding reduced terms and pretrial detention, the new Code of Criminal Procedure, which had come into force in November 2017, had modified criminal procedure, changing it from an inquisitorial to an accusatory process and resulting in oral, public proceedings. The Code established the use of pretrial detention as a last resort and limited its duration to a maximum of two years. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 20. During the interactive dialogue, 89 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 21. Croatia welcomed the progress made, in particular the adoption of the new Code of Criminal Procedure in 2017. It noted, however, that adults deprived of their liberty faced poor and potentially life-threatening conditions in some prisons and detention centres. 22. Cuba appreciated the action taken by Uruguay to implement the recommendations accepted during the second review cycle on updating its legal framework. It noted the steps taken to reduce various forms of gender-based violence. 23. Denmark noted that indigenous peoples were among the most marginalized populations in the world, often facing discrimination and exploitative labour conditions. It stressed the importance of the ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169). 24. Djibouti welcomed the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure and of the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance. 25. The Dominican Republic noted with appreciation the various systematic reforms undertaken by Uruguay, as well as the normative and institutional progress made since the previous review cycle. 26. Ecuador acknowledged the progress made in reducing poverty and inequality, and the efforts made to implement Act No. 19.122 and its regulation on affirmative action in the public and private spheres for people of African descent. 27. Egypt valued the progress made to eliminate violence against women, including domestic violence, to combat discrimination against women and to reduce poverty. 28. El Salvador noted with satisfaction the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure, the Arms Trade Treaty and the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons. 29. Eritrea complimented Uruguay for taking measures to prevent and criminalize acts of discrimination, sexual exploitation and gender-based violence. 30. France commended the laws to strengthen the fight against trafficking in human beings and violence against women. It encouraged Uruguay to continue its processes to establish the truth concerning human rights violations committed during the dictatorship. 31. Georgia welcomed the National Adolescent Social Inclusion Institute, the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure and the A status of the National Human Rights Institution and Ombudsman’s Office. 32. Germany commended Uruguay for the adoption of laws aiming to tackle discrimination, to enhance the rights of women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and to improve the detention conditions in prisons. 4