A/HRC/45/2 617. Sri Lanka commended continued progress on the reduction of infant mortality rates through effective maternal and child health care policy interventions. It applauded the high participation of women and girls in the ICT sector. It acknowledged the steps taken to strengthen the national human rights framework through several policy instruments, including the national strategy for human rights protection and its action plans. It noted with appreciation the adoption of the first national action plan to implement the provisions of United Nations Security Council resolution 1325. 618. The Syrian Arab Republic commended Armenia for the spirit of cooperation and positive engagement during the universal periodic review. 619. Namibia recognised Armenia’s transparency and constructive engagement since the start of the review process. It particularly appreciated the commitment of Armenia to judicial independence, including through the strategy on judicial and legal reforms 20192023. 620. The United Arab Emirates commended Armenia on the progress made at the national level on the promotion of human rights for the benefit of all citizens. It appreciated the positive developments mentioned in the report as a sign of the commitment of Armenia to human rights, including through reforms and legislative amendments seeking equal opportunities and the promotion of all rights for all. 4. General comments made by other stakeholders 621. During the adoption of the outcome of the review of Armenia, six other stakeholders made statements. 622. The International Catholic Child Bureau congratulated Armenia for the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. It encouraged Armenia to promptly ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure, the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. It also encouraged Armenia to harmonize its domestic legislation with these instruments. It called on Armenia to allocate resources to child related programmes, and to strengthen efforts to end child sexual exploitation and abuse. It called on Armenia to submit a mid-term report with specific details on concrete steps undertaken to ensure the effective protection of children against all forms of violence, including sexual abuse. 623. Action Canada for Population and Development (by video message) noted that the three-day mandatory waiting period and arbitrary conscientious objections by doctors continued to be barriers preventing women from accessing abortion services. Urgent action was required to introduce sexuality education in schools. It recommended that Armenia establish comprehensive sexuality education as a stand-alone subject in schools, designed in collaboration with young people and women’s rights organizations, and develop and implement alternative comprehensive sexuality education programmes. 624. The Human Rights House Foundation (by video message) stated that challenges remained in guaranteeing the rights of human rights defenders. Smear campaigns had been launched against human rights defenders, including hate speech and on line harassment directed at women human rights defenders and their organizations. Environmental activists were continuously targeted by private mining companies and sometimes by the police during peaceful demonstrations. Harassment and discrimination against LGBTQI defenders remained wide-spread. It recommended that Armenia conduct a high-level public campaign in support of human rights defenders, with the official and public condemnation of attacks on defenders and their families when they occur; carry out independent and prompt 103