A/HRC/39/4 88. The Philippines welcomed the strengthening by Burkina Faso of the domestic framework on human rights and lauded it for its ratification efforts. It noted persistent reports that the practice of early and forced marriage was still prevalent in the country. 89. Portugal welcomed the establishment by Burkina Faso of the National Human Rights Commission and the legislative and institutional initiatives it had adopted to eliminate discrimination against women. 90. Qatar noted the adoption by Burkina Faso of the National Economic and Social Development Plan for the period 2016–2020, the programmes aimed at promoting decent work for women and young people and the efforts it had made to promote inclusive education. 91. Rwanda noted the progresses Burkina Faso had made in combating discrimination and violence against women and encouraged it to enhance such efforts. It further encouraged Burkina Faso to expedite efforts aimed at the de facto abolition of the death penalty. 92. Saudi Arabia commended Burkina Faso for the adoption of the National Economic and Social Development Plan for the period 2016–2020 and the adoption of programmes aimed at the promotion of human rights. 93. Senegal commended Burkina Faso for its efforts to promote human rights and welcomed its adoption of laws to create the National Human Rights Commission and the National Observatory for the Prevention of Torture. 94. Serbia commended Burkina Faso for the measures it had taken to implement the recommendations from the previous review cycle. It also commended it on the adoption of numerous laws and the establishment of several new institutions related to human rights. 95. Slovenia acknowledged progress made by Burkina Faso in relation to the rights of the child. However, it expressed concern over the very high rates of early pregnancies as well as reports of child, early and forced marriages. 96. South Africa welcomed the positive developments Burkina Faso had made since the previous review, including the constitutional developments to ensure the justiciability of human rights, the adoption of a national strategy for the acceleration of girls’ education and the establishment of the Reconciliation and National Unity Commission. 97. Spain commended Burkina Faso for the adoption of a law on the protection of human rights defenders and a law on violence against women and girls, as well as the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission. 98. The State of Palestine commended Burkina Faso for its adoption of most of the recommendations from the second review cycle, its efforts to develop a national human rights action plan and to strengthen civic values, and its national policy for gender equality. 99. The Sudan appreciated the efforts Burkina Faso had made to protect and promote human rights, despite the challenges it faced, notably through cooperation with Human Rights Council mechanisms and the adoption of international treaties and laws that protected human rights. 100. Sweden welcomed the legal reforms Burkina Faso had made in favour of women’s and girls’ human rights, which nevertheless remained restricted during to ineffective implementation thereof and harmful social practices. 101. Switzerland welcomed the adoption by Burkina Faso of the National Strategy to Prevent and Eradicate Child Marriage and its ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. However, it expressed its concern about reported cases of torture during custody periods. 102. Togo congratulated Burkina Faso on the progress it had made in human rights despite its difficult security context with threats from terrorist groups. It linked its success to the full or partial implementation of many recommendations made in the previous review cycle. GE.18-11224 9