A/HRC/31/17 legal protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It regretted that commitments made during the previous review of Sao Tome and Principe regarding the protection of child rights and the ratification of major international human rights instruments had not, to date, been followed up on. The Netherlands made recommendations. 61. Nigeria expressed solidarity with the Government and people of Sao Tome and Principe and commended their continued constructive engagement with OHCHR. It appreciated efforts made towards the establishment of the Counselling Centre against Domestic Violence. Nigeria commended efforts made towards prov iding access to safe drinking water and the recent positive developments recorded in the area of primary health-care services, and in that connection, acknowledged the significant progress that had been made in reducing infant mortality rates. Nigeria made recommendations. 62. The Philippines recognized the efforts to pursue judicial reforms and the measures aimed at implementing recommendations of the last review, which had been made with the support of international partners of Sao Tome and Principe. It encouraged Sao Tome and Principe to continue to take steps towards the ratification of core international human rights treaties and to align its domestic legislation with international human rights standards. It appreciated the strategies for protecting th e human rights of vulnerable people, such as women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities, but noted the need to enhance and monitor the implementation of these programmes. The Philippines made recommendations. 63. Poland acknowledged the efforts made to comply with the recommendations accepted during the first review of Sao Tome and Principe. It noted with appreciation some progress in the area of the rights of minors, such as including provisions on sexual abuse, exploitation of minors and child trafficking in the Penal Code. It also appreciated the improvement in the birth registration rate and the creation of the juvenile court, while recognizing that there was still room for further improvement in the protection of children’s rights. Poland made recommendations. 64. Portugal commended the decision to provide the Office of the Ombudsman with the necessary competences for acquiring the status of a human rights institution. It welcomed the establishment of the Counselling Centre against Domes tic Violence. Portugal made recommendations. 65. Rwanda commended the adoption of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Plan 2012 2016 and the recent increases in the State’s budgetary allocations for health and education. It welcomed the revision in 2012 of the Penal Code to explicitly include provisions on sexual abuse, exploitation of minors and child trafficking. Rwanda noted the adoption of the law on the judicial system, which provided for the creation of a juvenile court, as a positive step towards justice and the rule of law. It made recommendations. 66. Senegal congratulated Sao Tome and Principe on the standing invitation extended to mandate holders and took note of the development of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Plan 2012-2016. It noted several measures contributing to the promotion of economic and social rights: the free-of-charge primary health care and medication for children under the age of 5 and for pregnant women, the efforts made towards decreasing the infant mortality rate, and the access to dr inking water for 60 per cent of its rural residents. Senegal invited the international community to provide Sao Tome and Principe with all necessary assistance. Senegal made recommendations. 67. Sierra Leone noted the recent ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the national poverty reduction strategy and the justice sector reforms. It urged Sao Tome and Principe to reinstate the Child Rights Committee and to grant it the necessary resources. Sierra Leone welcomed the various strategies for 10/25 GE.16-00396