A/HRC/39/5 Protocol to the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 2014 and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture in 2016. 99. Zimbabwe complimented Cabo Verde on the adoption of the Child and Adolescent Statute, the National Gender Equality Plan and a number of measures to protect the rights of vulnerable groups, such as older persons, persons with disabilities and refugees. 100. Afghanistan expressed appreciation for the efforts Cabo Verde had made to harmonize domestic legislation with the Rome Statute, and for its ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. 101. Algeria complimented it on its adoption of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (2012– 2016), the National Migration Strategy and the adoption in 2013 of the National Immigration Strategy for Development. Algeria also expressed appreciation for the new interministerial project to register child births. 102. Angola encouraged the Government of Cabo Verde to continue its policies to promote and protect human rights, particularly with regard to the ratification of international instruments in the area. It congratulated Cabo Verde for having ratified the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and its cooperation with United Nations mechanisms. 103. Argentina welcomed the delegation from Cabo Verde and congratulated the Government on its approval of the National Human Rights and Citizenship Plan and its efforts to promote education. 104. Australia welcomed the efforts of Cabo Verde to protect and promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in its national plan and encouraged the Government to continue its efforts to remove discrimination based on gender identity. Australia also expressed concern over gender-based violence as well as the treatment of detainees. 105. The delegation expressed its gratitude to the members of the Council and reiterated some of the main points that had been raised during its introductory note. It recalled that, on 3 May 2018, the Cabinet had approved the National Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and other measures to repress human trafficking, with a particular focus on women, children and migrants. To that end, the Government was strengthening its national capacities, including through training for law enforcement officers and members of the judiciary, organized in conjunction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 106. The National Plan to Combat Gender-based Violence included specific complaint mechanisms and awareness-raising on the trafficking of women. The Government was preparing a national inclusion plan for migrants who returned to the country, by strengthening host capacity and supporting family and social reintegration through awareness-raising campaigns, and through the prevention of forced returns. The plan should be approved by December 2018. 107. Cabo Verde had created a national council for migration as a consultative body that assisted the Government in defining and executing migration policies. Female genital mutilation was not part of Cabo Verdean culture and was prohibited by law. A number of cases had been registered among migrant communities and the Government was trying to hold those responsible to account through criminal procedures. 108. The operation of the justice system in Cabo Verde was a real concern for the Government. In that regard, the resources requested by the Higher Council of Magistrates had been allocated by the Government. There was a significant backlog in the prosecutors’ offices, and investigative departments had been created specifically to address that problem. 109. The Government was strengthening the judicial police, making efforts to digitize criminal information and investing in a fingerprint comparison system and training for the forensic police. The aim was for the judicial police to act as the forensic police and enable it to address the most complex crimes. The Government was making efforts to improve the judicial system, court oversight and procedural goals. Measures had been established to ensure that cases were dealt with on a first-come-first-served basis. 11