A/HRC/40/16 116. Senegal welcomed the establishment of a committee for coordination, evaluation and follow-up in respect of the national plan of action on persons with disabilities, especially the schooling of children with disabilities. 117. Serbia welcomed the important role that the National Human Rights Commission and other human rights bodies were entrusted with by the new Constitution. 118. Sierra Leone noted the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security, and encouraged the Government to consider reforming its Code of Criminal Procedure to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility. 119. Slovenia commended the reform of the National Human Rights Commission, but remained concerned about the lack of implementation of recommendations on the rights of vulnerable groups. 120. South Africa welcomed the efforts to reform the national regulatory framework, including reform of the Constitution, and commended the efforts to reduce the high maternal and child mortality rates. 121. Spain noted efforts to improve the human rights situation, but remained concerned by violence against women and domestic violence, as well as violations of children’s rights, particularly those related to children in street situations. 122. The State of Palestine noted policies aimed at strengthening the rights of children, including the right to education, and encouraged the Congo to take further steps regarding the rights of indigenous peoples. 123. The Sudan commended the efforts for national legislative reforms, such as the new Constitution, as well as the implementation of recommendations from the previous cycle of the universal periodic review. 124. Haiti welcomed efforts made by the Government to improve the economic, social and cultural rights of the Congolese. 125. The Congolese delegation stressed that article 25 of the Constitution reaffirmed as a fundamental freedom the right to disseminate any information or opinion and the necessity for the State to ensure that information was provided to the public through legal mechanisms. No journalist had been imprisoned or harassed merely for doing his or her job for more than 20 years. 126. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons regularly participated in all sex education activities and had contributed to drafting the National Strategic Plan to combat HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases for the period 2018–2022. 127. All criminal acts committed by Congolese citizens on peacekeeping missions outside the country were subject to sanctions. 128. The Congo had had an interactive dialogue with European Union member States on compliance with time limits for detention and prison conditions. That dialogue had also been extended to civil society, which was free and regularly worked with public authorities. 129. Since 2015, the Congo had seen a dramatic transformation in its domestic legislation with the adoption of its new Constitution, which had abolished the death penalty and had established gender parity and consultative bodies aimed at achieving social peace. It was also reinforcing checks and balances and reaffirming fundamental freedoms, particularly freedom of belief. II. Conclusions and/or recommendations 130. The response of the Congo to these recommendations will be included in the outcome report adopted by the Human Rights Council at its fortieth session: 130.1 Ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty (Benin) (Estonia) (France) (Portugal) (Togo); 10 GE.18-22821