A/HRC/40/16 55. Bulgaria highlighted the adoption by referendum of the new Constitution of the Congo, and praised the legislation aimed at strengthening the National Human Rights Commission. 56. Burkina Faso congratulated the Congo on the ratification of various international human rights treaties and the good cooperation with the human rights mechanisms. 57. Burundi commended the Congo for reinforcing its normative and institutional human rights framework, for the new Constitution and for the abolition of the death penalty. 58. Cameroon congratulated the Congo on the progress made in its normative and institutional human rights framework and on the country’s willingness to promote human rights. 59. Canada congratulated the Congo on the December 2017 accord ending the conflict in the department of Pool and expressed its wish that the channels of political dialogue would endure in order to achieve a wider democratic space. 60. The Central African Republic noted with satisfaction the participatory process of elaboration of the national report of the Congo, which could presage the successful implementation of the recommendations. 61. Chile commended the Congo for its constitutional and legislative reforms aimed at protecting human rights and for its ratification of various international human rights treaties. Chile was concerned about cases of torture, extrajudicial executions, and cases of arbitrary detention. 62. China welcomed the National Development Plan 2018–2022 aimed at eradicating poverty, and different plans for the promotion of gender equality and the rights of children and persons with disabilities. 63. Côte d’Ivoire commended the Congo for the ratification of several international human rights treaties, the new Constitution and the measures adopted aimed at improving its normative and institutional framework. 64. Cuba recognized the efforts made by the Congo aimed at improving its institutional framework, particularly in the areas of the rights of women, youth and persons with disabilities. 65. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea highlighted the importance given by the Congo to the universal periodic review process, with a delegation of several ministers related to justice, social affairs and women for its review. 66. The Democratic Republic of the Congo congratulated the Congo on the ratification of different international human rights treaties and on its cooperation with the international human rights mechanisms. 67. Denmark noted with satisfaction that the Congo had accepted recommendations to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment during its second universal periodic review cycle. 68. Djibouti welcomed the ratification by the Congo of international human rights treaties, and efforts to strengthen its legal and institutional framework, in particular the 2015 Constitution which aimed at improving the rule of law. 69. Egypt commended the legislative reform, efforts to redress violence against women and to promote gender equality and the rights of children and persons with disabilities, the adoption of the National Development Plan 2018–2022, the ratification of treaties and the cooperation by the Congo with human rights mechanisms. 70. Estonia encouraged the adoption of legislation to promote indigenous peoples’ rights, and called upon the Congo to promote education on sexual and reproductive health and to ensure access by women to health-care services. Estonia further encouraged the ratification of the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court. 71. Ethiopia commended the progress made by the Congo in ratifying international human rights treaties and strengthening legislation, including the Constitution of 2015. 6 GE.18-22821