A/HRC/40/14 66. Latvia noted the measures taken by the Government and encouraged further efforts in fulfilling human rights obligations and commitments. 67. Maldives commended Belize for enforcing the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Prohibition Act, which gave effect to and implemented the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. 68. Mexico welcomed the Supreme Court’s decisions to decriminalize consensual sexual relations between adults of the same sex and to establish the need to consult Mayan communities when issuing oil exploitation licences. It congratulated Belize on increasing the budget destined for the health sector and for its progress in addressing the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS. Mexico celebrated the ratification of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. 69. Montenegro commended Belize for ratifying the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. It welcomed the efforts made by Belize to address the issue of excessive use of force by law enforcement officials and ensure greater accountability in cases of allegations of misconduct. Montenegro called on Belize to develop specific programmes for addressing violence, in particular against women and children, and urged Belize to address the lack of an explicit guarantee on the right to education. 70. Belize thanked all delegations for their recommendations, noting that the issues raised were aligned with the priority areas of work of the Government. 71. The delegation stated that Belize had made efforts to both prevent gender-based violence and ensure the protection of victims. In that regard, it noted that the national action plan against gender-based violence had served as a platform involving a number of stakeholders, including social services, the judiciary and the police, in order to deal with the issue comprehensively. Furthermore, the Women’s Department within the Ministry of Human Development had been combined with the Family Support Unit in order to strengthen the delivery of an integrated response to victims of domestic violence. 72. Another important initiative had been to raise awareness of domestic violence. Belize had recently experienced cases of domestic violence that had led to a public outcry and increased awareness in society about the issue had acted as a driver for strengthening victim protection. 73. The action of the Ministry of Health was guided by the principle of universal access to health. As part of government action in that area, access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for women in rural areas and indigenous women had been expanded, and there had been an increase in access to skilled birth attendants or hospital deliveries. 74. Young people should be able to make informed choices regarding education on sexual and reproductive rights. In that regard, the study conducted on the health and family life education curriculum, which was measured against the Sexuality Education Review and Assessment Tool (SERAT) on HIV prevention and sexuality education programmes in schools developed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), had provided satisfactory results. 75. A comprehensive dialogue on cultural considerations regarding the need to raise the legal age for marriage had been initiated under the auspices of the National Committee for Families and Children. However, given that Belize also experienced the practice of early informal unions, there was a need for further dialogue to comprehensively address the phenomenon. 76. Belize thanked all delegations for the recommendations provided and looked forward to a continued dialogue with them. 9