A/HRC/41/5 82. Ireland commended Afghanistan on the A status accreditation of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and the efforts made to advance human rights. 83. Italy welcomed the efforts to promote and protect human rights, and the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, and urged its implementation. 84. Jordan commended the efforts to implement recommendations made during the previous cycle, and the progress made in gender equality and developing education, despite existing challenges. 85. Kazakhstan commended the legal and institutional changes made, reiterating its commitment to provide financial and technical support to Afghanistan for economically sustainable development and security, and women’s empowerment. 86. Kuwait commended the progress made in empowering women and promoting their political and economic participation, and the reforms made to improve services and to realize economic, social and cultural rights. 87. Kyrgyzstan welcomed the progress made in strengthening the national legislative and institutional frameworks, and also the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. 88. The Islamic Republic of Iran admired the efforts made to protect civil and political rights in implementing previous review recommendations, despite the ongoing war. 89. Libya noted positive developments, including the adoption of a criminal procedural law and the Penal Code, and the removal of discriminatory elements that violated human rights. 90. Afghanistan had recently proven its commitment to democracy by holding parliamentary elections. Having learned lessons from that experience, it was working on a plan to strengthen security for the upcoming presidential election. With regard to electoral reform, legislative amendments had been made and the biometric system had been used for the first time. 91. Afghanistan was enforcing the newly adopted law on access to information through the commission on access to information. The State’s measures had contributed to a reduction in violence against journalists. 92. A high council on the rule of law and anti-corruption had been established. It had been functioning as a policymaking body, supervising the reforms in the judicial and law enforcement areas. The anti-corruption committee working under the high council was supervising anti-corruption activities. 93. Pursuant to its international obligations, Afghanistan had created a platform to select commissioners for the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. 94. Afghanistan was working to achieve self-reliance; work was under way to align national development priorities to the targets and indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals. 95. Enrolment rates and access to education had been growing since 2011. Postenrolment attendance and lack of access to education for girls were matters of concern. The Government had been working to remedy those issues, including through policies to increase adult literacy and expand education services. 96. Access to health care was improving, and progress was being made in data collection, monitoring and autonomy in health-care service delivery. Considerable gains had been made in access to clean drinking water, sanitation and energy. 97. Afghanistan had prioritized issues relating to returnees and internally displaced persons. Several programmes had been approved to improve economic opportunities and to address the displacement crisis. 98. Afghanistan had taken significant strides to promote children’s rights. In particular, steps had been taken to improve the relevant legal and policy framework and to build institutions. It had accelerated efforts to pass the Child Act, which would codify all the 8