A/HRC/40/5 87. Maldives commended efforts to implement gender policy, protect children from trafficking, and provide universal health coverage for schoolchildren and safety net programmes for persons with disabilities. 88. Mali welcomed the constitutional reforms to strengthen political rights, and the efforts to combat torture and improve the conditions of detainees, including through bringing public authorities to justice. 89. Mauritania applauded the steps taken to strengthen national human rights mechanisms and pointed at the progress in the area of human rights, notably the rights of children, persons with disabilities and persons deprived of liberty. 90. Mauritius acknowledged the legislative and regulatory measures taken to strengthen human rights, the establishment of the Ministry for Children’s Affairs and assistance to disadvantaged and street children, while noting the efforts to elaborate the Children’s Code. 91. Mexico recognized the progress made, in particular the elaboration of the national action plan for the eradication of gender-based violence and the promotion of human rights. 92. Montenegro commended efforts to combat gender inequality and child trafficking, including the training of law enforcement officers. It was concerned about cases of forced begging and exploitation among children, and urged Senegal to protect children from abuse. 93. Morocco applauded the education policy and actions to reduce poverty. 94. Mozambique welcomed cooperation with the treaty bodies and the efforts to adopt the act on female genital mutilation and to ensure the compliance of the Senegalese Human Rights Committee with the Paris Principles. 95. Namibia noted with satisfaction a number of positive steps taken since the previous review cycle, including the 2016 constitutional reforms. 96. The Netherlands complimented actions to improve women’s access to safe abortion and to align national legislation with the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol). 97. The Niger welcomed efforts to bolster the financial resources of human rights institutions, particularly the Senegalese Human Rights Committee, the National Observatory of Places of Deprivation of Liberty and the National Anti-Trafficking Unit. 98. Nigeria praised Senegal for its continued efforts to protect and promote the human rights of its people, in particular vulnerable groups, such as women and children. 99. Oman noted the improvements in health care, employment, access to justice, the efficiency of the judiciary and efforts to impose stricter sanctions in cases of human rights violations of women and children. 100. Concerning the representation of women, the delegation recalled the prime ministerial circular, which had resulted in the establishment of 22 gender units, and the amendment of the Nationality Code to fulfil the Government’s ambitions in that area. 101. In the same vein, the delegation mentioned key achievements in relation to girls’ education. It also recalled that the legal marriage age had been set at 18 years, and exceptionally 16 in strictly defined cases. Furthermore, access to sexual and reproductive health-care services had improved, as had contraceptive coverage. 102. Under Senegalese law, there were harsh penalties for rape, and persons convicted of rape could not receive presidential pardons in any circumstances. The delegation also recalled the long tradition of democracy in Senegal and the regular organization of transparent and peaceful elections, which had led to two peaceful changes in power. 103. With regard to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, the delegation explained that homosexuality was not prohibited or punishable by law and, as a result, nobody was detained on that basis. However, unnatural acts committed in public were criminalized. Senegal was not ready to legalize homosexuality. 8 GE.18-22584