A/HRC/30/5 Malawi to continue along this path and to ratify, among others, the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, the Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, and the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Uruguay welcomed the legislative improvements in terms of gender, particularly the Gender Equality Act. 82. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela noted the adoption of the Gender Equality Act and the Disability Act and acknowledged the progress in combating discrimination and violence against women. It also noted that, through the social cash transfer programme, subsidies had been granted to extremely poor homes. 83. Zimbabwe noted measures adopted, including human rights education in the Malawi Prison Service, the work to enact the Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Act to address child marriages, steps taken to address child labour and legislation enacted to enhance human rights. 84. Algeria welcomed the political transition that had taken place since 2012 and the strengthening of the legal and institutional framework on human rights. It welcomed the results obtained through the awareness-raising efforts of the human rights institutions of Malawi. 85. Angola welcomed the presentation by Malawi of its initial reports under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and its Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa. It appreciated the efforts to review legislation and bring it into line with the country’s international obligations. 86. Argentina noted the progress achieved in the promotion of human rights, in particular the passage of the Gender Equality Act and the Disability Act, as well as the creation of a national strategic plan on HIV/AIDS for 2011–2016. It also noted that since 2010 new HIV infections had fallen by 41 per cent. 87. Armenia appreciated the steps taken for promoting human rights. It noted the national policies for the protection of the rights of the child and welcomed cooperation with the United Nations and its bodies. Armenia expressed concern that Malawi had not ratified the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. 88. Australia commended Malawi for the legislative measures to comply with its commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It acknowledged steps taken to remove the mandatory death sentence for murder and treason and was encouraged by the performance of the Malawi Human Rights Commission. Australia noted that the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex groups remained under pressure. 89. Austria expressed concern over the surge in violent attacks against people with albinism. It said that all investigations of those attacks must be in line with international human rights standards. Prison conditions had not improved since the last review. It noted the existence of legislation prohibiting consensual same-sex relations, the reports of harassment and intimidation of journalists and human rights defenders, and restrictions on the freedoms of assembly and expression. 90. Botswana welcomed efforts to combat child marriages and polygamy. It urged Malawi to finalize the enactment of pending bills and expressed concern about the high number of persons in pretrial detention, the insufficient resources to address the backlog of court cases and the restrictions on the freedoms of assembly and expression. 11