A/HRC/41/2 revised Election Law. It stated that it was imperative that this positive momentum was built upon and that efforts to address ongoing challenges to women’s fundamental rights are accelerated. It highlighted three areas which it believed required urgent attention: elimination of violence and discrimination against women, and in protection of women human right defenders. 454. The United Arab Emirates appreciated the readiness of the Government to implement the accepted recommendations of the third cycle of the universal periodic review, despite the security difficulties. It applauded Afghanistan for the spirit of responsibility expressed through the political will to give new impetus to the human rights system and to promote it in accordance with the national and international obligations. It highly valued the number of measures undertaken in the area of economic, social and cultural rights to achieve sustainable development and social justice, which will promote and preserve the dignity of individuals and consolidate the principles of the rule of law and good governance. 455. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was encouraged by the acceptance by Afghanistan of its three recommendations. It was concerned by the violence directed towards certain religious and ethnic minorities and welcomed the support to establish an independent mechanism to assess how they can be better protected against violent attacks. It was encouraged by the commitment of Afghanistan to fully implementing the Law on the Elimination of Violence against Women and the 2018 Penal Code. It urged Afghanistan to ensure that cases of violence against women and girls are appropriately investigated and prosecuted, through the criminal justice system. It welcomed the commitment of Afghanistan to implementing the National Child Labour Strategy and Action Plan, through investigating and prosecuting those suspected of being complicit in child exploitation. It urged Afghanistan to improve civilian casualty mitigation, the protection of journalists and to eliminate torture and ill-treatment in detention. 456. UNFPA acknowledged developments related to the legal and institutional framework for the promotion and protection of human rights. It provided observations in supporting the Government towards meeting challenges regarding harmonization of existing policies and legal framework to address violence and discrimination against women and girls. It pledged its support towards policies and programmes on prevention of gender-based violence and harmful practices, working in advocacy and implementation of the National Action Plan for Early and Child Marriages. UNFPA commended the improvements in addressing infant and maternal mortality and lauded Afghanistan for launching the national coordination mechanisms and policy for internally displaced persons and returnees. 457. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela appreciated the efforts of Afghanistan, despite the internal situation, to comply with the accepted recommendations of the universal periodic review, having ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, and submitted its reports to the treaty bodies. It was pleased that the number of hospitals and treatment centres for cancer and tuberculosis increased from 10 in 2000 to 1,937 in 2016. 458. Yemen welcomed the presentation on the achievements that Afghanistan made in the area of human rights and appreciated the efforts of the Government to promote and protect human rights in general and the fact that it accepted a large number of recommendations, which was up to 235, reflecting its desire to protect and strengthen human rights in Afghanistan. 459. Algeria welcomed the continued implementation of the national action plan on women, peace and security despite its limited financial resources. Algeria noted that Afghanistan has accepted 235 of the 258 recommendations made, including two proposed 78