A/HRC/38/8 31. The Russian Federation was concerned by the high maternal mortality rates by the fact that Botswana was a country of origin, transit and destination of human trafficking and by the fact that the use of corporal punishment was legal in the penitentiary system, including the juvenile justice system. 32. Rwanda welcomed the establishment of a national human rights institution in accordance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles). It encouraged Botswana to consider ratifying the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 33. Senegal appreciated the efforts of Botswana in the areas of development and poverty eradication, including through policies and programmes designed to ensure the enjoyment of the right to food, youth empowerment and to strengthen the position of women in the economy. 34. Sierra Leone encouraged Botswana to continue to develop enforceable measures that were aimed at eliminating child, early and forced marriage in rural areas, and to provide universal birth registration for all children born in its territory. 35. Singapore applauded the efforts of Botswana to empower women in the labour market by increasing the budget of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme, and to give all children a good start in life by scaling up early childhood development initiatives. 36. Slovakia welcomed the adoption of the Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan in 2015. Slovakia invited Botswana to enhance its cooperation with the United Nations human rights mechanisms and encouraged it to extend a standing invitation to the special procedure mandate holders. 37. Slovenia commended Botswana for taking several legislative measures to prohibit and eliminate all forms of harmful practices. However, it regretted that sufficient funding had not yet been allocated for the implementation of the National Plan of Action for All Children. 38. South Africa praised the establishment of the human rights unit in the Office of the President and looked forward to the national human rights strategy that the unit had been mandated to produce. 39. Spain thanked Botswana for participating in the universal periodic review and made recommendations. 40. The State of Palestine commended Botswana for the efforts it had made to reduce poverty. 41. The Sudan noted that, in 2017, Botswana had signed the Safe Schools Declaration, which was a global commitment towards providing support, protection and sustainable education in wartime and an important step towards implementing the fundamental right to education. 42. Sweden acknowledged the continued work of Botswana to fulfil its obligations with regard to human rights and encouraged further efforts in that regard. 43. The Syrian Arab Republic stated that it had carefully followed the presentation of the national report by Botswana and read the two reports prepared by OHCHR, especially with regard to the implementation of previous review recommendations by Botswana. 44. Thailand commended the progress made by Botswana, particularly in terms of implementing its policies on the eradication of poverty, the fight against HIV/AIDS, the protection of disadvantaged and marginalized communities and provision for human rights education in the school curriculum. 45. Timor-Leste welcomed the efforts made by Botswana to promote development and poverty reduction, and saw the measures taken by Botswana to fight HIV/AIDS as a step forward in promoting the right to health. 5