A/HRC/30/5 B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 23. Seventy-four delegations made statements, the summaries of which appear below. Recommendations made during the dialogue can be found in section II of the present report. 24. Côte d’Ivoire noted the efforts made in the area of ratification of international human rights instruments such as the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, in 2010, and noted several policies for the protection of vulnerable persons, including a national plan of action for children, 2014–2018. 25. Cuba noted the important socioeconomic challenges faced by Malawi. It also noted efforts to improve human rights protection, highlighting the work of the Ombudsman, the Human Rights Commission and the Law Commission. It praised the Government’s commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS. 26. The Democratic Republic of the Congo stated that additional efforts were still required to overcome certain traditional practices, to effectively contain the spread of HIV/AIDS, to achieve gender equality, to improve the protection of children and to ensure food security for the population. 27. Denmark welcomed the acceptance of recommendations to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and noted that the Optional Protocol established a set of practical tools on how to prevent torture and ill-treatment. It highlighted that the Convention against Torture Initiative stood ready to assist Malawi on this issue. 28. Egypt commended Malawi on the constructive role played by various institutions in protecting human rights in Malawi. Egypt also encouraged Malawi to pursue its policies aimed at enhancing the empowerment of women in various socioeconomic fields, as well as combating the negative phenomenon of street children. 29. Ethiopia noted with satisfaction that Malawi was on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases and reducing child mortality, as well as on tracking poverty. Ethiopia also commended Malawi on the launching of the 2012 agricultural-sector guidelines and the HIV/AIDS strategy for the period up to 2017. 30. Gabon encouraged Malawi to complete measures taken for women’s rights, particularly ensuring the adoption by Parliament of the Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill and better representation of women in Parliament and on governmental bodies. 31. Germany expressed its disappointment over the continued discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and the fact that there had been no reform of the legislation on refugees. Germany was also concerned about the situation in prisons and detention centres. 32. Ghana noted with satisfaction the passing of the Gender Equality Act; however, it shared the concerns raised by the United Nations country team regarding the rather slow review processes of certain policies and legislative instruments, particularly the witchcraft act. 33. The Holy See congratulated Malawi on the two peaceful political transition processes since the universal periodic review in 2010, especially on the first-ever tripartite elections in May 2014. It also commended Malawi on the adoption of the 2012 Disability Act. 6