A/HRC/45/2 social and economic progress, actions to promote health services, eradicate poverty and to increase the representation of women in public life. 554. Sierra Leone congratulated Kenya for accepting the majority of the recommendations received. It took positive note of the commitment by Kenya to ratify pending international human rights instruments. Sierra Leone remained hopeful that Kenya would remain steadfast in its efforts to reform its human rights institution. 555. South Africa supported the request by Kenya for assistance in establishing a database to collect data on the realisation of human rights, in building the capacity of government officials in the use of a human rights-based approach for planning, programming and policy development, and in building the capacity of judicial officers in the area of human rights. 556. South Sudan expressed its appreciation to Kenya for the updated information provided and commended Kenya for its efforts to promote and protect human rights, particularly through its public sector reforms. It noted the bold decision by Kenya to accept the majority of the recommendation received, including one of the two recommendations made by South Sudan. 557. Sri Lanka commended Kenya for its constructive engagement in its third universal periodic review and welcomed the acceptance of recommendations, including one recommendation made by Sri Lanka. It recognised the cooperation of Kenya with the United Nations and African Union human rights systems and noted the establishment of the national committee on international and regional human rights obligations. Sri Lanka acknowledged the challenges posed by the scarcity of water in the realization of human rights and noted the process in developing a water harvesting policy. It applauded the development of the public service diversity policy. 558. The Sudan thanked Kenya for providing updated relevant information and for undertaking consultations with stakeholders. It also commended Kenya for efforts to improve the human rights situation in the country. The Sudan thanked Kenya for the recommendations it had accepted, including the recommendations made by the Sudan. It encouraged Kenya to continue with efforts to promote and protect human rights. 559. Uganda congratulated Kenya for successfully completing its review in the third cycle. It stated that the universal periodic review mechanism was effective in the promotion of human rights and thanked Kenya for embracing the true spirit of the mechanism and for accepting the majority of the recommendations, including the two recommendations made by Uganda. It called for increased technical assistance and support to Kenya for the implementation of supported recommendations. 560. UN Women commended Kenya for significant gains in the passage of gender related laws and policy frameworks. It reiterated the importance of accelerating the realization of gender related provisions in the Constitution, through an immediate enactment of a law guiding their implementation. It highlighted concerns about the proposed merger of the National Gender and Equality Commission with the Kenya National Human Rights Commission, as this would weaken the national institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women. It reiterated its commitment to work with Kenya to advance gender equality and to implement gender responsive universal periodic review recommendations. 561. The United Arab Emirates appreciated the efforts made by Kenya to promote and protection human rights and the readiness of the country to fulfil its commitments in the third cycle of the universal periodic review. It noted the ongoing efforts to achieve good governance at all levels to ensure equality and equal opportunity for all citizens. It called on the Human Rights Council to take into consideration the willingness of Kenya to address its challenges. 96