A/HRC/42/38/Add.1 members of the parliament were women. The situation in the private sphere was even worse. The Special Rapporteur was informed of the draft parity bill, which had been initiated by women members of the parliament in consultation with civil society. At the time of the visit the bill was awaiting consideration by the parliament. 52. The Special Rapporteur learned that the national gender equality plan for the period 2015 to 2018 (Council of Ministers resolution No. 40/2016) was structured around eight strategic pillars: health; sexual and reproductive rights; gender-based violence; education and professional training; productive economy; reproductive economy; political participation, decision-making and communication; and institutional strengthening towards improved gender mainstreaming in public policies. The Ministry of Family and Social Inclusion was established in 2016 as the governmental department responsible for the areas of children, elderly persons, and persons with disabilities, the fight against poverty and the promotion of gender equality. Since 2018, the country has included gender markers in the Integrated Budget and Financial Management System to enable the Government to measure the impact of funds in the budget allocated to promoting gender equality. The Government is planning to introduce, over the next few years, a series of budgetary maps that reflect gender classification. 53. The Special Rapporteur was pleased to hear about the processes employed in developing the second national gender action plan, covering the period 2015 to 2018, which involved open and transparent consultations with all stakeholders. He recommends that the Government continue the inclusive process throughout the implementation and evaluation of the plan in order to achieve progress in the areas of gender equality and empowering women in the Cabo Verdean society. The Special Rapporteur was encouraged to learn that the plan was being implemented. He was also encouraged to learn that both the Government programme for development covering the period 2016 to 2021 and the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development contained acknowledgements of the importance of the participation of women in all spheres of life, and provisions for considerable efforts to internalize at the country level the sustainable development goals and targets related to reducing inequalities. 54. The Special Rapporteur was further encouraged to learn about the adoption, in 2011, of the law on gender-based violence, and the adoption of the second national plan for fighting gender-based violence, covering the period 2015 to 2018. D. Persons with disabilities 55. Cabo Verde ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2011. In 2013 it adopted Law No. 40/VIII/2013, which was aimed at providing an integrated and cross-cutting vision for the rehabilitation and participation of persons with disabilities. 56. Decree-Law No. 38/2015, which establishes procedures for recruitment and selection in public administration, sets out a 5 per cent quota for persons with disabilities. The Special Rapporteur was informed that the tax benefits code includes some fiscal incentives for the creation of employment for persons with disabilities. In social sponsorship situations, for tax purposes, activities that are considered as expenses include those aimed at the provision of assistance to persons with disabilities or mental health conditions and other vulnerable persons, the creation of work opportunities and the social reintegration of persons, families or groups facing social exclusion, and the provision of support for the establishment and operation of associations of persons with disabilities or mental health conditions, thus stimulating donations for such initiatives. The code also provides for exemptions of customs duties for imports of wheelchairs and cars adapted to be wheelchair accessible. As of the academic year 2017/18, the legislation regulating the State budget provides for the free enrolment of persons with disabilities in public educational establishments (preschool, basic and secondary education and vocational training) and, under some conditions, in private schools. During the visit the Special Rapporteur also learned of the existence of a draft bill on the rights of persons with 13