A/HRC/30/3 periodic review, inter alia, in combating tuberculosis and in sexual and reproductive health, in cooperation with United Nations Children’s Fund and United Nations Population Fund. 95. The delegation highlighted the damage caused by the Chernobyl disaster and how it had been able to cope with its own resources. The experience of Belarus meant it was one of the top ten countries in the world in the treatment of childhood leukaemia. 96. The level of employment in Belarus was high and programmes were in place to support persons who were less competitive in the labour market. There had been a consistent increase in the standard of living and quality of life. Pay, pensions and family allowances had increased in the past four years. The poverty index for Belarus had reduced by a factor of 8.7 in the last 14 years. Despite the ageing population, the pension age had been maintained at 55 and 60 years for women and men, respectively. 97. Protection of children and the family was a priority for the Government and there had been recent increases in family allowances. Women enjoyed equal access to education and training and in other spheres. The slight gender pay gap was down to the fact that more men than women were employed in industry, construction and dangerous professions, which provided higher remuneration. Men and women received equal pay for equal work. Recently adopted legislation and government programmes ensured that persons with disabilities enjoyed unhindered access to social infrastructure, a better quality of life and improved integration into society. 98. Monopolization of the mass media and censorship were forbidden and the Law on the Mass Media also guaranteed freedom of thought, belief and expression. The population and journalists enjoyed free access to information, which was facilitated by regular government press conferences. The information space in Belarus was open and there were foreign media among the 7,000 registered media organizations and 193 registered foreign television stations. Some 1,573 print media publications were registered, including publications in Russian, Belarusian and foreign languages. Amendments to the media law in January 2015 aimed at social protection and national security had broadened electronic access to information. While no registration was necessary for Internet access, the legislation addressed the threats and challenges arising from pornography, drug promotion and extremism on the Internet. A State commission was working to identify extremist materials. 99. The Netherlands appreciated the cooperation of Belarus with the European Union on human rights. It remained concerned about the state of democracy and human rights. 100. The Plurinational State of Bolivia acknowledged progress in the implementation of human rights in Belarus. 101. Nigeria commended Belarus for improvements to its legislation in the implementation of certain universal periodic review recommendations. 102. Norway regretted that Belarus had made little effort since the last review to address its systematic denial of human rights. 103. Oman welcomed the methodology that had been implemented in dealing with the second cycle of the universal periodic review. It noted the efforts Belarus had made, particularly on the independence of the judiciary. 104. Pakistan commended Belarus for its decision to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, its adoption of legislation to counter trafficking and improve the judicial system and its constructive engagement with OHCHR. 105. Paraguay asked about progress made by the parliamentary working group on the death penalty and in terms of the criminalization of torture, and encouraged Belarus to increase its cooperation with the special procedures. 10