A/HRC/45/2 framework. Malawi wished Guinea-Bissau success in the implementation of accepted recommendations. 814. Mali saluted recent positive developments in Guinea-Bissau, contributing to the stabilization of the socio-political system. Mali expressed the hope that such developments would lead to more favourable conditions for the protection of civil and political rights, and economic and social rights. Mali reiterated its appreciation for initiatives adopted for the promotion and protection of the rights of disadvantaged groups, highlighting the ratification in 2018, of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, as well as the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It stated that it would be desirable to expand such initiatives to other groups of persons whose situation deserved special attention as well, and indicated that the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance would greatly contribute to such a result. Mali wished Guinea-Bissau success in the implementation of accepted recommendations and invited the Council to adopt the Working Group report. 815. Mauritania valued the important efforts made by Guinea-Bissau despite the great challenges it faced, in particular to reform the security sector, and combat corruption and impunity. Mauritania applauded the progress made in the education and health sectors. It congratulated Guinea-Bissau for implementing the recommendation to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Mauritania recommended the adoption of the outcome of Guinea-Bissau by the Human Rights Council by consensus. 816. Morocco noted the efforts made by Guinea-Bissau in the area of migration and welcomed the ratification of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Morocco supported the adoption of the Working Group report of Guinea-Bissau and wished the country success in the implementation of accepted recommendations. 3. General comments made by other stakeholders 817. During the adoption of the outcome of the review of Guinea-Bissau, four other stakeholders made statements. 818. Plan International, Inc. noted that Guinea-Bissau had ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990, committing to guaranteeing the respect of the rights of children in Guinea-Bissau. Substantial progress in the respect of human rights had been made in recent years including with the strengthening of legislation to criminalize female genital mutilation and the creation of certain institutions, which responded better than in the past to harmful practices affecting women and children. However, despite progress made, gaps remained. It noted the results of a survey, indicating that: as many as 44.9 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 had suffered female genital mutilation; low birth registration rates of children under five years old; and that the rate of child marriage of girls under 18 years of age was of 37 per cent. In light of the above, it encouraged the creation of a synergy between the authorities at various levels of the administration and civil society actors for the effective implementation of laws and regulations prohibiting female genital mutilation through an awareness raising campaign and the prosecution of the perpetrators of harmful practices. It also urged the authorities to take the necessary legislative measures in order to repeal all the exceptions still in place allowing marriage before the age of 18 years of age. 819. Elizka Relief Foundation (by video message) appreciated the cooperation of GuineaBissau with the universal periodic review mechanism. Nevertheless, it took note of reports of corruption and lack of transparency in government agencies, and the involvement of officials in most branches and at all levels of the government in corruption, practiced in many cases with impunity, especially in the military administration. Regarding the rights of women, it was encouraged by the efforts made by the Government to criminalize female 130