A/HRC/31/17 ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the African Charter on Human and Peoples ’ Rights. Chad made no recommendations. 37. Chile encouraged Sao Tome and Principe to continue on the path of promotion and protection of human rights. It also noted the progress achieved in the field of access to health services, such as coverage given to pregnant women, children under 5 years old and the chronically ill. Chile made recommendations. 38. The Congo welcomed the adoption of laws regarding the establishment of a juvenile court and the review of the Penal Code for child victims of abuse. It enquired about the measures taken to combat more effectively all kinds of discrimination against vulnerable populations, cases of early marriage, and the rate of young women failing or dropping out of school and of children whose births are not registered. The Congo made recommendations. 39. Costa Rica urged Sao Tome and Principe to continue strengthening institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights and to establish a human rights institution in accordance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles). It noted with concern the identified cases of corporal punishment of children, and urged the creation of the necessary legal regulations to protect children, consistent with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Costa Rica made recommendations. 40. Cuba highlighted the steps taken by Sao Tome and Principe regarding the implementation of key international and regional human rights instruments and congratulated it on ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It highlighted the reform of the justice sector and the ongoing work to restructure it, and noted the progress made in reducing child mortality in the country and the efforts to reduce poverty. Cuba made recommendations. 41. The Democratic Republic of the Congo noted the success of Sao Tome and Principe in the areas of food security, the supply of drinking water, and transparency in the extractive industry, as well as the progress made on women ’s and children’s rights, and the development of an ambitious programme for a deep reform of the justice sector. Nevertheless, it indicated that there were still many pending issues. The Democratic Republic of the Congo made recommendations. 42. Denmark was pleased to note that Sao Tome and Principe had accepted the recommendations to ratify the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. It hoped that concrete measures were being taken to honour that commitment and said that it would be grateful if the delegation could elaborate on the measures taken. Denmark emphasized that the Convention against Torture Initiative stood ready to assist the Government in advancing on that issue. Denmark made recommendations. 43. Djibouti welcomed the progress made by Sao Tome and Principe in promoting and protecting human rights. Djibouti made recommendations. 44. Egypt noted the 2012-2016 national strategy for combating poverty, the amendments to the criminal code to criminalize exploitation of minors and sexual abuse, and the steps taken to create a tribunal for minors. It encouraged the Government to take the necessary practical measures to ensure that this tribunal becomes operational and is provided with the administrative and financial resources necessary for it to function correctly. Egypt made recommendations. GE.16-00396 7/25