A/HRC/15/60 eradication, gender equality and access to primary school. It welcomed the active cooperation of Belarus with international organizations and United Nations human rights mechanisms, including the treaty bodies and special procedures. It commended Belarus for accepting the majority of recommendations during the review, and appreciated Belarus’ commitment to the follow-up to the recommendations accepted. 652. Azerbaijan noted Belarus’ comprehensive and substantive responses to the recommendations, which clearly showed the country’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. It congratulated Belarus on the adoption by the General Assembly of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons in July 2010, which had been initiated and launched by Belarus, and commended the establishment of the International Training Centre on Migration and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. 653. Egypt commended Belarus for having achieved the Millennium Development Goals relating to the eradication of poverty, universal primary education and the promotion of gender equality before the set deadline. It acknowledged Belarus’ efforts to combat trafficking in human beings and encouraged Belarus to strengthen its active role in this issue at the national and international levels. Egypt noted with appreciation the Government’s efforts in the area of the rights of women and children. Lastly, it was confident that Belarus would be in a position to sustain its endeavours to promote and protect all human rights through a holistic approach and a consolidated national human rights infrastructure by engaging relevant stakeholders. 654. Morocco appreciated the efforts made by Belarus to combat trafficking in human beings, in particular the establishment of the International Training Centre on Migration and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. Morocco welcomed the fact that Belarus had achieved the development goals set in the Millennium Declaration before the deadline, and had taken measures to promote equality between men and women and the rights of vulnerable persons. It encouraged Belarus to continue to make constructive progress in the promotion and protection of human rights. 655. Uzbekistan noted with appreciation that Belarus had accepted two recommendations made by Uzbekistan on the improvement of living standards and the fight against racial discrimination and intolerance. Belarus had taken many measures to improve the human rights situation in the country through the establishment of a legal and institutional basis. It acknowledged the fact that Belarus was party to most international human rights instruments and applied their provisions in its national legislation. Uzbekistan welcomed the Government’s efforts to ensure the rights to health and education, and noted Belarus’ achievements in combating trafficking in human beings. The review illustrated that Belarus had developed and improved its national human rights system. 656. China noted that Belarus had made remarkable progress in economic and social development and in human rights, as well as in the Millennium Development Goals regarding poverty eradication, gender equality and primary education. It also acknowledged the fact that Belarus continued to work to improve its legal system and to invest in public health and social security, and had accepted most of the recommendations and pledged to implement them, despite the challenges it faced as a developing country. 3. General comments made by other relevant stakeholders 657. Rencontre africaine pour la défense des droits de l’homme acknowledged the positive changes in Belarus since 2008 and led to the improvement in the enjoyment of economic and social rights, including the rights to work, to health and to education. It noted, however, that obstacles to the freedom of expression and assembly remained, in particular the procedures for the registration of human rights defenders, political parties and independent media. The situation of the Roma community remained frail. It noted that 180 GE.11-17043