A/HRC/14/17 49. Czech Republic expressed appreciation for the informative statement of Egypt’s Delegation. Czech Republic made recommendations. 50. Spain underscored the possibility that Egypt do not extend further the state of emergency which has been in force since 1981. Spain made recommendations. 51. China noted with appreciation Egypt’s commitment in improving its population’s standard of living, the reforms to combat corruption, increase in employment and improved social security. It noted with appreciation the sustainable reforms adopted by national consensus. China made a recommendation. 52. In reply, Egypt noted, with regard to the participation and representation of women in public office and political life, that the Constitution and other laws did not allow any discrimination against women and that, if there was a problem in practice, the Ombudsman looked into such situations. The National Council for Women also had a role in proposing legislation and making recommendations, including on the settlement of complaints. There were also a number of programs for the empowerment of women in the political field. The Labour Code guaranteed full equality between men and women with regard to employment and wages, and any discrimination in this regard was sanctioned by the courts. Provisions in the labour legislation also aimed to ensure that women can reconcile their work with taking care of children; and the insurance law guaranteed that women could participate in the retirement benefits of their spouses. Specific programs had been designed to assist women finding employment which suited their needs. 53. Egypt stated that the right to education was guaranteed by the Constitution and that education was free for all and at all levels. Egypt had tried to address deficiencies in the education system in order to make it more practically oriented, including through improvements to text books and curricula; the dissemination of educational through the media; and encouragement for the creation of private schools to decrease the burden on public education. Egypt affirmed that progress in the quality of education was aimed equally at young women and men. Egypt underlined that efforts undertaken over the past 20 years had greatly reduced the rate of illiteracy, noting that a national plan had been adopted to reach out illiterate persons, promote literacy through assistance with school enrolment; encourage adults, once literate, to find work according to their skills; and assist persons of older age to join learning activities in cultural centers. Special attention was paid to literacy programmes for women. 54. With regard to housing, Egypt referred to its national plan which envisaged the construction of half a million housing units for persons of low income, which plan would be completed in the next few months. 55. Egypt explained that remote areas had benefited from mobile health services; that life expectancy had increased and that the rate of child and maternal mortality had decreased. 56. Relating to children’s rights, Egypt highlighted the role of the Council of Childhood and Motherhood and the allocation of dedicated resources for child development. The commitment to children’s rights was also realized through a national program to expand community education in deprived areas, with the aim of providing quality education for all, and with a special focus on the education of the girl child. In addition, Egypt noted that progress had been made in combating the worst forms of child labour, and that committees had been established at the national and provincial level to design measures necessary to protect vulnerable children, in close cooperation with civil society and international organizations. 57. Austria referred to reports indicating that torture and ill-treatment of detainees are still widespread and that investigations on allegations are often not pursued. It also 8