A/HRC/39/5 Code did not punish persons who promoted the prostitution of children aged between 16 and 18 years. 55. Iceland was concerned about the extremely high rate of early pregnancy among school-age girls in Cabo Verde, and the fact that many girls in situations of poverty were forced to discontinue their schooling in order to support their families. 56. India welcomed the entry into operation of the Office of the Ombudsman to prevent the misuse of public authority and police aggression. It appreciated the announcement by Cabo Verde of its National Action Plan for the Prevention and Eradication of Child Labour and the establishment of the National Committee for the Prevention of the Worst Forms of Child Labour. It encouraged Cabo Verde to ensure effective implementation of the Government Programme of the IX Legislature (2016–2021) and the National Gender Equality Plan. 57. Indonesia appreciated the decision by Cabo Verde to accept the two recommendations it had made during the second review cycle, and the strengthening by Cabo Verde of measures aimed at ensuring respect for vulnerable groups. Indonesia acknowledged the progress Cabo Verde had made since the previous review and commended it on the increasingly proactive role of the National Commission for Human Rights and Citizenship in advancing human rights causes and the improvement of respect for and rights of vulnerable groups. 58. Iraq commended Cabo Verde for having adopted the second National Human Rights and Citizenship Plan (2017–2022) and the National Immigration Action Plan (2018–2020), as well as the issuance of the standing invitation to the special procedure mandate holders. 59. Ireland welcomed the adoption by Cabo Verde of the Child and Adolescent Statute, and encouraged it to continue its efforts towards its full implementation. It was concerned that defamation remained a criminal offence and that there was no legislation on freedom of information. It appreciated the adoption of the second National Plan to Combat Genderbased Violence, but shared the concerns of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women regarding the persistence of violence against women, including domestic violence, in addition to sexual abuse at school and harassment in the workplace. 60. Israel commended Cabo Verde on the serious effort it had made in following up on previous recommendations, as exemplified in its exhaustive national report. It took positive note of some major strides Cabo Verde had made in the areas of gender equality and the fight against human trafficking. 61. Italy welcomed the commitment of Cabo Verde to the universal periodic review and its efforts to promote and protect human rights. It welcomed the creation of the National Action Plan to Prevent and Eliminate Child Labour, the adoption of the National Plan for Gender Equality and the adoption in 2015 of the new Penal Code, which criminalized human trafficking, forced prostitution and child prostitution. 62. Lesotho commended Cabo Verde on its efforts in promoting the right to social security through, inter alia, the provision of basic income for citizens over 60 years of age, persons with a disability and the children of persons with a disability living in poverty, thereby reducing the level of poverty and vulnerability of those target populations. It also recognized the efforts Cabo Verde had made in combating human trafficking and the establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman. 63. Libya commended Cabo Verde for its commitment to promoting and protecting human rights and appreciated its ratification of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. Those measures proved its positive engagement with the universal periodic review and its continuous commitment to improving human rights. 64. Luxembourg welcomed the fact that Cabo Verde had become one of the most advanced countries in Africa with regard to the establishment of a social protection floor. It applauded Cabo Verde for having made access to housing a priority in recent years and encouraged it to continue those efforts. It noted with concern the persistence of violence 7