A/HRC/41/12 84. Senegal acknowledged the efforts of the Comoros to improve its human rights situation, as demonstrated by the revision of the Constitution in 2018, which included a chapter on human rights. It welcomed the legislative and institutional efforts made in order to implement the recommendations received during the previous universal periodic review. 85. Seychelles commended the Comoros for acceding to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention against Torture. 86. Slovenia noted the ratification of international instruments by the Comoros, such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and several International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. Slovenia was concerned by the persistence of sexual violence, sexual harassment and child marriage. 87. South Africa welcomed the fact that, since the country’s transition to democracy, including in its revised Constitution of July 2018, the Comoros had on various occasions proclaimed its commitment to the universal principles of promoting, protecting and respecting human rights. 88. Spain commended the Comoros for the legislation it had adopted recently, including the law on combating violence against women and children, the law on the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities and the law on combating child labour. 89. The State of Palestine commended the Comoros for its commitment to promoting and protecting human rights in the country, welcomed the measures it had taken to improve education, including the interim plan for 2013–2015, and hailed the efforts it had made in the health sector. 90. The Sudan welcomed the efforts the Comoros had made to protect and promote human rights. It applauded the ratification of a number of relevant international instruments, such as the Paris Agreement on climate change, noting that the environment was a major component of human rights promotion. 91. Togo welcomed the ratification by the Comoros of several treaties and its adoption of legislation to promote and protect the rights of women, children and persons with disabilities. It was, however, concerned at the absence of an institutional system to follow up on recommendations made by international human rights mechanisms. 92. Tunisia expressed appreciation for the legislation the Comoros had adopted since the previous review cycle to support the legislative and institutional human rights framework. It welcomed the 2018 constitutional amendment and the State’s accession to the Convention against Torture. 93. Turkey welcomed the efforts the Comoros had made to promote and protect human rights. It encouraged the Government to take steps with a view to improving school attendance rates and to strive to ensure equal access to education. 94. Ukraine welcomed the accession of the Comoros to several human rights treaties, its efforts to introduce educational programmes and a national youth policy, to improve healthcare services and to eradicate illiteracy. It urged the Government and the opposition to resume a dialogue on the constitutional process and on upholding the rule of law. 95. The United Arab Emirates noted with satisfaction the importance attached to women’s rights and empowerment, which was an excellent step towards gender equality. Such efforts should be further enhanced. 96. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland praised the ratification of several human rights treaties and urged the Comoros to accede to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. It was concerned about restrictions on media freedom and regretted that the death penalty had not been abolished. 97. The United States of America expressed concern at the attempt to proceed with elections in early 2019, the reports of arrests and detention of opposition leaders and the fact that no effective steps had been taken to date to combat human trafficking, particularly forced child labour. GE.19-06795 9