A/HRC/36/3 59. Argentina congratulated Bahrain for submitting a mid-term report in 2014 and for launching an action programme for the period 2015-2018. 60. Armenia appreciated the establishment of the national institution for human rights and efforts related to the right to health, inclusive education and training programmes for women. It encouraged Bahrain to impose a moratorium on the death penalty. 61. Australia was encouraged by the establishment of human rights oversight bodies and acknowledged the advances made in the area of women’s rights. It expressed concern about the January 2017 executions of three citizens. Australia encouraged a return to the national reconciliation process. 62. Austria expressed concern at the renewed recourse to executions, the prosecution of human rights defenders and the extension of the competence of military tribunals over civilians. It urged Bahrain to enhance the new entities established to safeguard human rights, with a view to ensuring their independence and impartiality. 63. Azerbaijan highlighted the measures taken by Bahrain to advance the role of women in society. It welcomed institutional reforms to ensure inter-agency coordination on human trafficking. 64. Bangladesh commended the State’s determination to implement the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry. It thanked Bahrain for implementing the recommendations on enhancing women’s rights. Bangladesh commended the fact that, under the Private Sector Employment Act, the welfare of expatriate workers was ensured. 65. Belgium acknowledged that several positive steps had been taken to implement recommendations from the second review; however, a number of accepted recommendations had not been fully implemented. Belgium expressed concern about the resumption of executions following a de facto moratorium dating from 2010, and about the practice of revoking citizenship. 66. Botswana remained concerned by the curtailment of fundamental freedoms; harassment and arbitrary detentions; the crack-down on human rights defenders; the prevalence of the trafficking of girls and women to Bahrain; and the discriminatory nationality law. 67. Brazil commended Bahrain for taking steps to strengthen the independence of the national human rights institution. It recalled the importance of protecting human rights defenders and encouraged the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. 68. Brunei Darussalam noted the efforts made in the advancement of women. It acknowledged the work done in ensuring access to quality education, particularly for vulnerable groups. 69. Bulgaria reiterated its strong opposition to the use of the death penalty, and considered that the executions in 2017 represented a setback, interrupting a de facto moratorium of six years. Bulgaria viewed the legislative amendment to stop the application of the death penalty to pregnant women as a step in the right direction. It expressed concern that abortion had been criminalized even in cases of rape or incest. 70. Canada encouraged Bahrain to empower the Office of the Ombudsman, the national institute of human rights and the commission on the rights of prisoners and detainees to enable them to hold government to account. 71. Chile was deeply concerned by the human rights situation in Bahrain, and noted the shrinking of democratic space and space for civil society. It was also concerned that torture and ill-treatment, particularly of detainees, continued to be common practices. 72. China welcomed efforts made to protect national stability and to promote and protect human rights through the adoption of the national development strategy for 20152018, prepared in connection with the country’s Economic Vision 2030. It noted efforts in the justice sector and in the areas of women rights and the employment of foreign citizens. 7