A/HRC/27/13 45. Armenia expressed continuing concern regarding the situation of women and asked about the action taken by Equatorial Guinea to improve women’s access to education. 46. Australia expressed concern about access to electricity and potable water. It encouraged public education programmes on domestic violence and welcomed the moratorium on the death penalty. It expressed continuing concern about arbitrary arrests and incommunicado detentions. 47. Benin noted the progress made towards the realization of human rights and encouraged Equatorial Guinea to continue its efforts. It urged the international community to provide assistance with those efforts. 48. Botswana encouraged Equatorial Guinea to finalize pending bills that would address human rights violations effectively. It urged the Government to address sexual violence against women prisoners. 49. Brazil welcomed the commitment of Equatorial Guinea to a moratorium on the death penalty and to the development of women’s rights programmes, but noted remaining challenges in respect of gender issues and of protection for other vulnerable groups. 50. Burkina Faso noted measures aimed at preventing the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons. It asked about the main challenges faced by Equatorial Guinea in connection with that ssue and the actions taken to overcome them. 51. Burundi applauded the institutional and legislative measures introduced to ensure the human rights of persons with disabilities. It also welcomed efforts to reform and strengthen the judiciary. 52. Cabo Verde encouraged Equatorial Guinea to continue its efforts relating to socioeconomic rights, particularly with regard to education, water and sanitation, electricity supplies, health and social housing. It noted the establishment of the national human rights institution. 53. Canada enquired about measures to ensure that the Ombudsman’s Office was in line with the Paris Principles and that it was independent. It expressed concern about the harassment and arrest of journalists. 54. The Central African Republic encouraged Equatorial Guinea to pursue its efforts to protect human rights, and urged the international community to continue to collaborate with the country. 55. Chad commended measures introduced to improve the human rights situation in Equatorial Guinea, notably the action taken in respect of persons with disabilities. 56. Chile noted the legal and institutional reforms introduced by Equatorial Guinea, including the Constitution adopted in 2012, and associated programmes aimed at improving the promotion and protection of human rights. 57. China commended investment in education, health and public and social services, and steps towards ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure. It urged the international community to provide further technical and financial support. 58. Colombia welcomed the measures introduced by Equatorial Guinea to promote gender equality and enhance women’s well-being and status, to improve the quality of education, to increase female school enrolment and to tackle child labour and HIV/AIDS, notably through awareness-raising initiatives. 7