A/HRC/42/16 84. The Constitution provided for a presidential term of five years. Any change in that period would violate the Constitutional order and would set a poor precedent. 85. Magistrates and judges were independent in their judicial activity. The National Council on Judicial Administration and the Legal Profession, which had been created pursuant to the provisions of the 2014 Constitution, had helped to strengthen their independence. 86. The defence of human rights and freedom of expression continued to be respected in the country. No one had been investigated, accused or punished in his or her capacity as a human rights defender or for being a journalist. In Nicaragua, private press and radio and television channels communicated without any kind of restriction. Nicaragua respected the right to demonstrate and to peaceful assembly. 87. All the arrests made in the context of the attempted coup d’état had fulfilled the guarantees established in the law. Violent groups had used firearms, committing serious crimes to the detriment of the population and the security forces. The National Police had acted in accordance with international standards; it had never had para-police forces, “shock forces” (grupos de choque) or “mobs” (turbas), nor would it in the future. 88. There were no persecuted, accused or political prisoners in the country. Those who faced justice had committed crimes. Detainees enjoyed decent conditions and all their human rights and the due process of law were respected. 89. The Government continued to be committed to promoting a culture of peace, maintaining citizen security indexes and quickly resuming economic growth. 90. The President had convened a negotiation process that had begun on 27 February 2019 in the presence of the representative of the Holy See and the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States in their capacity as witnesses and international companions. The negotiations had already produced significant results and concrete commitments. 91. Yemen commended efforts to implement the National Human Development Programme to achieve growth, economic sustainability, poverty reduction, job creation and improved living standards. 92. Afghanistan acknowledged the drop in the illiteracy and poverty rates and the achievements related to gender parity. 93. Algeria welcomed the measures taken by Nicaragua to protect human rights, its efforts to combat poverty and inequality and the National Human Development Plan. 94. Angola encouraged Nicaragua to take further steps to respect its human rights commitments. It commended the reduction in the levels of poverty and hunger. 95. Argentina condemned the repression against civil society, the media, journalists and human rights defenders. It called for a prompt resolution to the conflict. 96. Armenia noted measures to promote human development and children’s rights and to combat human trafficking. 97. Australia was gravely concerned about the reported violence, widespread human rights violations and the Government’s repression of protests. 98. Austria was concerned about human rights violations and sexual violence against women. It urged Nicaragua to protect media freedom and the right to peaceful assembly. 99. The Bahamas commended Nicaragua for its implementation of the National Human Development Programme 2018–2021 and its strategic objectives to sustain economic growth. 100. Bangladesh congratulated Nicaragua on its efforts to re-establish peace and stability in the wake of the 2018 political unrest. It welcomed the voluntary return programme. 101. Belarus noted measures to combat human trafficking, reduce illiteracy, poverty and hunger, and promote development and sustainable economic growth. 7