A/HRC/28/7 97. Costa Rica congratulated the Plurinational State of Bolivia for progress made since the previous review. It remained concerned however about the situation of women, the weaknesses in the administration of justice and the persistence of discrimination as a structural problem. 98. Croatia welcomed progress made in improving public health services and education, as well as steps taken towards poverty reduction. It encouraged the Plurinational State of Bolivia to make further improvements in the justice sector. 99. Egypt noted the ongoing process for signing of the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance. Egypt also positively noted efforts to prepare the following stage of the National Human Rights Action Plan, as well as the anticipated adoption of the Patriotic Agenda, aimed at eradicating extreme poverty. 100. The Czech Republic recognized the important role of human rights defenders in the protection of human rights. With regard to protection against torture, it welcomed steps taken to establish a national preventive mechanism. 101. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea took note of achievements in the fight against extreme poverty and the strengthening of the sociopolitical and judicial system to ensure the human rights of the people. It congratulated the Plurinational State of Bolivia for its election to the Human Rights Council. 102. Denmark indicated that the Plurinational State of Bolivia had accepted the recommendation of Denmark in 2009 to avoid further delays in the appointment of members of the highest judicial authorities. According to the State party’s own evaluation, the new appointments had not however led to the expected change. It took note that the State party was currently preparing a new plan for the justice sector. 103. The Dominican Republic highlighted progress made since the previous review, in particular with regard to the rights of campesinos and the reduction of extreme poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. 104. Responding to additional comments regarding Act No. 348 on violence against women, the Plurinational State of Bolivia indicated that the law had been promulgated in 2013 and its regulations adopted later through a regulatory decree. The Act was the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice, which had established the Comprehensive Plurinational System for Gender-Based Violence Prevention, Assistance, Sanctioning and Eradication, more commonly known as SIPPASE. The Act defined more than 20 crimes, which were included in the Criminal Code. 105. Regarding human trafficking, the Plurinational State of Bolivia indicated that there was a law and a Plurinational Council against Human Trafficking and Smuggling, with all the authorities involved in the matter. There were departmental councils in the country’s nine departments, which met periodically to examine the issue. There were also public policies, a plan regarding trafficking was already in force, and agreements with neighbouring countries were about to be signed with a view to eradicating the problem. 106. The Plurinational State of Bolivia further reiterated that it accepted, with the greatest respect and humility, all the recommendations made in a healthy and positive way. Bolivia welcomed the fact that the great majority of country representatives had valued the efforts that the Plurinational State of Bolivia was making to build a better society for its people. The St considered comments made by some delegations to be unwarranted. 107. The independence of the judiciary was one of the most important issues for the Plurinational State of Bolivia. The Constitution had established the direct and democratic election of judicial authorities by means of a popular election to guarantee their 12