A/HRC/41/8 33. Ghana commended the progress made since the adoption of the 2015 Action Plan for a Life Free of Gender-based Violence. It welcomed the ongoing process of drafting the National Plan on Racial Equality and African Descent. 34. Greece welcomed the National Gender Equality Strategy 2030, the introduction of the relevant legislation and the action plans on gender-based violence and trafficking in and exploitation of persons. 35. Guyana commended the efforts taken to implement many recommendations from the previous review cycle, in particular those related to accession to and ratification of international treaties on human rights promotion and protection. 36. Haiti noted the efforts deployed by Uruguay to fight against structural discrimination against Uruguayans of African descent. 37. Honduras acknowledged the progress made by Uruguay on sustainable development through its policies such as that on energy transformation and the implementation of plans on land use and management. 38. Iceland commended the significant progress made in promoting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and drastically reducing maternal mortality. It acknowledged the important achievements in access to education for women and girls. 39. India welcomed the adoption of the Action Plan for a Life Free of Gender-based Violence, with a Generational Perspective, the establishment of the integrated National Care System and the National Gender Equality Strategy 2030. 40. Indonesia welcomed the Action Plan for a Life Free of Gender-based Violence, the Inter-agency Committee to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Persons and the National Plan to Combat Trafficking in and Exploitation of Persons. 41. The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomed the national preventive mechanism against torture and appreciated the endeavours to prevent and combat trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation and forced labour. 42. Iraq welcomed the efforts of Uruguay, including the accession to a large number of regional and international human rights instruments, steps to improve the situation of women in rural areas and laws to improve the human rights situation. 43. Ireland commended Uruguay for its adoption of laws and policies to enhance the rights of women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, as well as the A status accreditation of its National Human Rights Institution in 2016. 44. Italy welcomed the significant institutional and legislative progress and efforts to promote and protect human rights, particularly in the areas of children’s rights, combating violence against women, gender equality and trafficking in persons. 45. Kyrgyzstan supported all the steps taken by Uruguay to promote and protect human rights in the country. 46. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic welcomed the progress made in promoting and protecting human rights for the citizens of Uruguay, especially the rights of children and adolescents through its various national policies and programmes. 47. Liechtenstein welcomed the measures to combat gender-based violence, but was concerned about the provisions in the Criminal Code that prevented the prosecution of some forms of sexual violence against women and about the high rates of violence against children. 48. Madagascar welcomed the actions of Uruguay to promote human rights and to implement the recommendations accepted during the previous review, including the 2015 ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure. 49. Malaysia recognized the efforts to improve national frameworks for the advancement of human rights. It was convinced that further steps could be taken in the areas of children’s, women’s and indigenous peoples’ rights. 5