A/HRC/31/17 promoting food security, as well as the establishment of a 30 per cent quota for the participation of women in Parliament. It encouraged Sao Tome and Principe to ensure free birth registration and to facilitate the issuance of birth c ertificates. It believed that fostering regional partnerships would be vital in assisting the country to develop sustainable strategies to mitigate and adapt to the adverse impact of climate change. Sierra Leone made recommendations. 68. Slovenia noted positive developments that had taken place since the first review, such as the 2012 revision of the Penal Code to include provisions on sexual abuse, the exploitation of minors and child trafficking, the establishment of the Counselling Centre against Domestic Violence, improvements in birth registration, reductions in infant and under-five mortality, and an increase in primary school enrolment. It was, however, concerned about violations of child rights and the alleged excessive use of force during demonstrations. It made recommendations. 69. South Africa noted that Sao Tome and Principe had made efforts towards implementing the recommendations accepted during its first -cycle review, notwithstanding all the challenges. South Africa made recommendations. 70. Spain acknowledged the efforts made by Sao Tome and Principe in the field of human rights, including the recent ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the establishment of the Counselling Centre against Domestic Violence. It stated that major progress had been made with the revision of the Penal Code, which included provisions on sexual abuse, child trafficking and exploitation of minors. It made recommendations. 71. Timor-Leste commended the establishment of the Counselling Centre against Domestic Violence, the adoption of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Plan and the increases in the State’s budgetary allocations for health and education. It also praised the revision of the Penal Code in 2012 to include provisions on sexu al abuse, exploitation and child trafficking. Timor-Leste made recommendations. 72. Togo was pleased that Sao Tome and Principe had continued to improve the quality of accessibility to education for all, and noted with satisfaction the improvement in the birth registration rate and the measures taken to combat domestic violence. It also commended the revision of the Penal Code in 2012, which had introduced provisions on sexual violence, exploitation of minors and child trafficking, among others. It made recommendations. 73. Turkey commended the efforts made for the promotion and protection of human rights and encouraged Sao Tome and Principe to implement specific measures within the framework defined by international human rights instruments. It noted with satisfaction strategic actions to eliminate discrimination against women, to combat poverty, to take care of street children, to ensure free health services for young children, and to increase the primary school enrolment rate. It made recommendations. 74. Ukraine commended the measures aimed at ensuring that national legislation was harmonized with the main principles and standards of international human rights documents, as well as the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It also noted that information about specific measures and activities for the promotion and protection of human rights during 2011 -2015 could have been better reflected in the report. It made recommendations. 75. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recognized the significant challenges that Sao Tome and Principe had faced to tackle poverty, corruption and a low educational attainment rate. It welcomed the significant efforts made on education, gender parity and health but recognized that improvements were still needed, including on prison conditions. It made recommendations. GE.16-00396 11/25