A/HRC/33/5 25. Barbados congratulated Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for adopting legislation on domestic violence and on the care and adoption of children. Barbados urged Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to establish a national human rights institution. 26. Brazil praised Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for efforts to protect foreigners and citizens from human trafficking and sexual exploitation and the training of police, migration and labour officials on that matter. It encouraged the formal abolition of the death penalty. 27. Canada commended Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on its passing of the Domestic Violence Act in 2015 and encouraged the country to implement the provisions thereof fully and promptly. 28. Chile welcomed the adoption of laws on domestic violence and the care and adoption of children, the implementation of the poverty reduction plan and human rights training for public officials. It also noted the steps taken to establish a mechanism for reporting and monitoring. 29. Colombia stressed the commitment of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to advance in the implementation of the recommendations received during the first cycle, in particular the measures taken in the area of the rights of children and the national plan of action on gender-based violence. 30. The Congo noted that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were not yet party to Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It considered that the international community should provide technical assistance to the country in the area of human rights. 31. Costa Rica was concerned by the absence of an independent electoral body, the underrepresentation of women in elected positions and the delay on reporting to treaty bodies. It asked if the death penalty might be abolished in national legislation in the near future. 32. Cuba commended Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for passing legislation to address violence against women and for its housing policy. It recognized the challenges faced by small island developing States and considered it necessary for the international community to provide any assistance that the country might request. 33. Denmark recognized progress made by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the protection and promotion of human rights since its first review. It encouraged the country to take advantage of the expertise provided by the human rights treaty bodies through an increased focus on reporting to the relevant committees. 34. Ecuador recognized the priority given to the eradication of poverty. It welcomed efforts for the implementation of a national action plan to fight gender violence that provided greater guarantees of interim measures for the protection of victims. 35. Egypt commended the strategy to eliminate discrimination against women, the adoption of the law to combat domestic violence and efforts to facilitate schooling at the primary and secondary levels. It encouraged Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to foster the human rights legislative framework. 36. France welcomed the engagement of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the area of human rights and invited the authorities to continue their reforms in order to ensure full respect of human rights in the country. 6 GE.16-11831