A/HRC/44/5 59. Azerbaijan positively noted the removal of the death penalty from the Criminal Code and the Code of Military Justice. It welcomed efforts to reduce poverty by adopting various projects in that field. 60. Belgium hailed the efforts made by Guinea. It expressed concern about the resurgent political violence. 61. Benin commended the adoption of the law on the rights of specific groups, the law on the independence of the judiciary and the law on punishment for human rights violations. 62. Botswana welcomed measures taken to strengthen its normative and institutional framework, including the instruments to organize courts, to revise the Electoral Code and to establish the national human rights institution. It also noted reports of the use of torture, and discrimination faced by persons with albinism. 63. Brazil welcomed the adoption of the law on the rights of persons with disabilities. It commended Guinea for removing the death penalty and urged it to commute the sentences of all those who had been condemned prior to the legislative changes. 64. Bulgaria acknowledged the adoption of the national policy for the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children. It stressed that further measures were needed to protect persons with disabilities against discrimination. 65. Burkina Faso commended Guinea for adopting the national strategic plan to end the practice of female genital mutilation. It encouraged Guinea to continue its reforms to overcome challenges in the field of human rights. 66. Burundi applauded the reforms undertaken to improve the administration of justice and the health-care system and to establish the office of the ombudsman, and measures taken to combat early marriage, gender-based violence and poverty. 67. Cabo Verde praised Guinea for placing human rights at the centre of its national development plan and for adopting the new Criminal Code, which criminalized the recruitment of child soldiers and harmful traditional practices. 68. Canada encouraged all stakeholders to show restraint and respect for international human rights obligations in the run-up to the elections. It welcomed the law on parity and encouraged Guinea to revise the Electoral Code to ensure its effective implementation. 69. Chile welcomed the new Criminal Code and the adoption of laws to ensure the independence of the judiciary and to criminalize torture. It deplored the existence of practices such as trafficking in persons and child labour. 70. China commended Guinea for the adoption of the national economic and social development plan, the national investment and support programme for the agricultural sector, the programme to boost the employability of young persons, and its commitment to reducing poverty, creating jobs, improving agricultural production, developing education and health care, and protecting the rights of women, children and persons with disabilities. 71. The Comoros congratulated Guinea for having ratified the great majority of international human rights conventions since the previous universal periodic review. It welcomed the establishment of the independent national human rights institution. 72. Côte d’Ivoire commended the efforts made by Guinea to implement the recommendations made during the previous universal periodic review, including measures taken to improve the education system. It noted with appreciation the establishment of the plan for the recovery of the health system (2015–2017). 73. Cuba highlighted actions carried out to update legislation in various areas, as well as efforts to reduce poverty and expand access to health and education services. 74. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea commended progress in strengthening the sociopolitical and judicial systems to protect human rights in accordance with the national economic and social development plan. 7