A/HRC/15/13 18. Saudi Arabia noted Turkey’s comprehensive human rights reform, including constitutional amendments and plans to establish a national human rights institution. It acknowledged measures to operationalize the right to education, including through the Ninth Strategic Development Plan, also aimed at increasing girls’ enrolment, particularly in rural areas. It made recommendations. 19. Greece commended Government’s efforts to improve the level of human rights protection and noted recently adopted constitutional amendments. Greece made recommendations. 20. Algeria mentioned the historical links it had shared for centuries with Turkey. It acknowledged civil society participation in the preparation of the national report. It emphasized progress achieved in basic education and legislative measures to improve women’s conditions. It noted the persistence of high levels of maternal and infant mortality. It made recommendations. 21. Brazil commended the abolition of the death penalty and highlighted the remarkable decline in child labour. It expressed concern about persisting hostility towards ethnic and religious minorities and violence against women. Brazil asked if Turkey might revise its legislation to consider racist motives as an aggravating factor, and asked which were the punishable offenses committed through the press. Brazil made recommendations. 22. Qatar commended the legislative reform process undertaken since 2001 to enhance human rights. It noted efforts to combat inequalities and discrimination as well as Turkey’s attachment to improving education, which was compulsory and free for all. 23. Cyprus noted that the European Court of Human Rights has ruled repeatedly that Turkey is liable for violations of basic ECHR articles in Cyprus. The Court underlined that Turkey is accountable, due to its continuing military presence on the island, for such violations by its armed forces or by its subordinate local administration and has thus an obligation to secure all human rights in that area. Cyprus made recommendations. 24. Azerbaijan welcomed Turkey’s “zero-tolerance policy” against torture and noted the establishment of the Commission for Equal Opportunity between Women and Men. Azerbaijan supported Turkey’s efforts to eliminate the scourge of terrorism and commended measures to promote and protect human rights while countering terrorism. Azerbaijan made recommendations. 25. Belarus recognized Turkey’s tradition and experience in carrying out reform. It noted the Government’s policy of zero tolerance aimed at rooting out torture. It commended efforts to enforce the rights of the child, achieve gender equality and eradicate the trafficking in persons. It made recommendations. 26. Indonesia noted efforts made by Turkey to align the national human rights legislation with international standards and highlighted the fact that Turkey was party to the core international instruments. It emphasized the enhancement of the national education system and the Government’s commitment to eradicating both torture and the trafficking in persons. It made recommendations. 27. Tunisia noted several constitutional amendments to guarantee human rights and align domestic legislation with international standards. It welcomed efforts to promote women’s rights, including Turkey’s withdrawal of reservations to CEDAW, and Sri Lanka, Yemen, Afghanistan, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea, Malaysia, Nigeria, Portugal, Slovakia, the Syrian Arab Republic, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Albania. 5