A/HRC/43/13 55. Australia welcomed the abolition of the death penalty, the holding of peaceful elections, the reduction of poverty and trafficking in persons, and the commitment to address corruption and improve governance and transparency. 56. Azerbaijan welcomed the fact that Madagascar had become a party to a number of core human rights instruments and ILO conventions, and noted the establishment of the High Council for the Defence of Democracy and the Rule of Law. 57. Bangladesh noted the good progress in increasing access to education for children, appreciated the National Strategy for Universal Health Coverage and welcomed the adoption of the National Strategy to Combat Child Marriage 2018–2024. 58. The delegation of Madagascar, while acknowledging that summary executions had been carried out by law enforcement officials, stated that these were isolated cases. It strongly condemned the violence against civilians and stated that the Government had imposed severe penalties for such violence. Where allegations had been substantiated, the perpetrators had been prosecuted and brought to justice. In total, 27 military officials had been remanded in custody. The delegation indicated that such acts were unacceptable and tarnished the country’s image. 59. On the issue of excessive detention, steps had been taken to address prison overcrowding. A strategic intelligence unit had been established in 2019 to reverse the current ratio of convicted persons to defendants being held in prisons; a one-stop service had been set up to expedite the processing of cases; and four new prisons had been built to decongest the city centre, while the 42 existing prisons, which were run-down, were being renovated. The routine issuance of committal orders was no longer permitted; judges had to justify their decision to deprive people of their liberty. Consideration had been given to expediting the processing of applications for parole and to developing alternatives to detention. 60. The Government of Madagascar had made combating gender-based violence a priority. A related bill, which had been drafted in 2018 and since referred to the relevant authorities for adoption, provided for the establishment of several community women’s brigades. A counselling centre for victims composed of lawyers, psychologists, police officers and health workers was to be launched by the end of November 2019. Awarenessraising campaigns had been carried out in high schools in several communities; a programme supporting entrepreneurship, including for women, had been established to enable women to acquire financial autonomy; and penalties for gender-based violence had been increased. A special criminal justice system had been established within Malagasy courts and tribunals specifically to combat gender-based violence. 61. With regard to the fight against poverty, a social emergency plan for the most vulnerable had been introduced, with improved access to health care and education as the main objectives. Social and economic housing units were to be built to help those most in need. The provision of quality education was one of the specific objectives of the Madagascar Emergence Plan 2019–2023. The Government therefore planned to build additional public primary schools so that 2,000 classrooms would be available by November 2020; 800 schools were under construction. The registration fee of 2 euros per child, the payment of which had been mandatory for parents of schoolchildren, had been abolished. 62. Penalties involving deprivation of liberty provided for in the Media and Communications Code had been abolished. Cybercrimes were now punishable by monetary penalties. Since the amendment of the Media and Communications Code, citizens had the opportunity to express their views on political speech. 63. The Malagasy Government continued its efforts to combat human trafficking by implementing the National Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, adopted in 2015. On the occasion of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the National Office to Combat Human Trafficking had organized two awareness-raising events: the first was intended for law students; the latter was designed to warn travellers and airport staff of the risks associated with trafficking. A specially designated telephone number for victims had also been set up. Access to justice for victims of trafficking was guaranteed under article 13 of 6 GE.19-21780