A/HRC/29/12 Guinea-Bissau to launch the necessary reforms to achieve political stability, and to allocate the necessary human and financial resources to the national human rights commission so that it can effectively and independently carry out its mandate. It made recommendations. 16. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela appreciated efforts made by Guinea-Bissau to comply with the recommendations that it had already received. It noted that, despite constraints, Guinea-Bissau had made progress in the area of human rights, citing the national action plan on gender equality and equity, the Domestic Violence Act, and free access to health-care services for certain vulnerable groups. It stated that the international community should offer its cooperation and technical assistance in order to enable the country to continue its progress. It made a recommendation. 17. Algeria indicated that, despite the particularly difficult context faced, Guinea-Bissau had engaged in praiseworthy institutional and legislative reforms to improve the human rights situation. Additionally, the country had acceded to a number of international and regional human rights instruments. Algeria welcomed the efforts to promote economic, social and cultural rights, through the adoption of policies and programmes on health, education and poverty reduction, and strategies aimed at reforming the justice and penitentiary systems. It encouraged Guinea-Bissau to continue efforts to combat violence against women and, particularly, female genital mutilation. It made recommendations. 18. Angola noted efforts by Guinea-Bissau to return to constitutional order, indicating that this would allow the Government to promote measures to improve human rights protection. It welcomed Guinea-Bissau’s accession to most international human rights instruments, as well as the actions adopted for the stability of national institutions, the access to justice, health care and social and economic rights, and the cooperation with human rights mechanisms, particularly the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. It urged the international community to continue supporting Guinea-Bissau’s efforts. Angola made recommendations. 19. Argentina welcomed the delegation and the presentation of the national report. It had followed with concern the political, security and human rights situation in Guinea-Bissau, as outlined in Security Council resolution 2186. It made recommendations. 20. Australia congratulated Guinea-Bissau on the progress made since the first review, which had included the adoption of the Domestic Violence Act and legislation on human trafficking. It commended the free elections held in 2014, the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, and the actions taken to reform the defence, security and justice sectors. It also welcomed the criminalization of female genital mutilation but was concerned at reports that the practice was increasing. It made recommendations. 21. Botswana noted efforts to implement previous recommendations, in particular the adoption of laws aimed at the protection of human rights, which had included the criminalization of female genital mutilation, human trafficking and domestic violence. It commended the strengthening of the justice, defence and security sectors. It noted that the political and economic instability made it difficult for Guinea-Bissau to undertake programmes and policies aimed at protecting human rights. It made recommendations. 22. Brazil welcomed the recent positive developments in different fields of human rights promotion and protection, despite challenges related to the attainment of economic and social rights and civil and political rights. It emphasized that the recent elections had represented a significant step forward, and called upon the Government to continue its efforts towards the consolidation of democratic institutions in the country. Brazil noted Guinea-Bissau’s respect for diversity. It made recommendations. GE.15-07685 5