A/HRC/14/10 bodies and good cooperation with the Human Rights Council in the universal periodic review process. 30. The Sudan welcomed Kazakhstan’s policies aimed at ensuring adequate housing and particularly commended Kazakhstan for helping young people to settle in rural areas, by providing interest-free loans to support the settlement process. The Sudan made recommendations. 31. Cuba welcomed the fact that the right to a healthy environment was protected in the Constitution. It noted the adoption, in 1999, of the national plan to improve the situation of women and the increase in the number of women in public service. Cuba also congratulated Kazakhstan on its 99.6 per cent literacy rate, on providing obligatory and free secondary education and on programmes providing treatment to persons with HIV/AIDS. Cuba made recommendations. 32. The Russian Federation appreciated the results achieved in strengthening social harmony, political stability and economic development. It noted the progress made in the areas of education, health care and social security, and in modernizing the political system. Noting that discrimination on ethnic grounds was not allowed, it asked what further measures had been taken regarding such discrimination. The Russian Federation made a recommendation. 33. Brazil congratulated Kazakhstan on its economic growth and on having significantly reduced its poverty rate. It noted that Kazakhstan had the highest literacy rate in Asia, that there was a moratorium on capital punishment and that homosexuality had been decriminalized. Brazil made recommendations. 34. Algeria praised the adoption of a National Human Rights Action Plan and expressed appreciation for Kazakhstan’s interest in interfaith harmony. It noted the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals concerning poverty reduction and access to primary education. Algeria congratulated Kazakhstan on its plan to increase the percentage of women in high-level positions to 30 per cent by 2016. Algeria made recommendations. 35. Kuwait noted that Kazakhstan had achieved the Millennium Development Goals in the areas of poverty reduction, primary education and women’s rights, inter alia, and highlighted the fact that Kazakhstan had ranked first in Asia in the area of universal education in 2008 and 2009. Kuwait also noted that Kazakhstan had continued to work to improve mechanisms for the protection of human rights, as shown in its Human Rights Action Plan, and that it had made considerable progress in promoting press freedom. Kuwait made recommendations. 36. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela highlighted the provision by Kazakhstan of social services under conditions of equality and inclusion. It also positively noted the increase in the number of persons receiving social benefits and pensions, in addition to the programme providing subsidies for the protection of children. In that context, it welcomed the adoption of legislation in 2005 and 2008 aimed at creating a modern model for the provision of special social services. Venezuela made a recommendation. 37. Yemen welcomed the constitutional amendments promoting the role of Parliament and political parties as well as local authorities. Yemen also commended Kazakhstan’s accession to more than 60 international instruments concerning human rights, including seven United Nations treaties. Yemen expressed appreciation for the establishment of a network of Government-financed centres for the provision of free legal advice, and asked for further information about their impact on the protection of human rights. 38. Bahrain welcomed the adoption of the National Human Rights Action Plan and the conceptual framework for legal policies for the coming decade. Bahrain commended Kazakhstan for promoting the right to education by ensuring compulsory and free primary 7