A/HRC/41/15 19. Cyprus attached great importance to the protection of cultural heritage and its linkage to the enjoyment of cultural rights. 20. In 2018, Cyprus had recorded the highest per capita rate of registered first-time applications for asylum in the European Union. Cyprus was working towards the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and the global compact on refugees. The Asylum Service had been reinforced with additional personnel and the reception conditions had improved. Additionally, asylum seekers had free access to health care, with priority granted to possible victims of torture. 21. Cyprus was in full compliance with the European Union acquis on the labour rights of migrants. Measures had been implemented, including a special mechanism for regular inspections of private employment agencies. 22. The Government had carried out a general prison reform based on a human-centred approach aimed at the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates. 23. Cyprus had successfully implemented a European Union-International Monetary Fund macroeconomic adjustment programme. The introduction of the guaranteed minimum income scheme had played a major role in improving poverty indicators. 24. The most serious obstacle to the enjoyment of human rights by the people of Cyprus was the continued illegal occupation of about one third of its territory by a foreign country since 1974. In its jurisprudence, the European Court of Human Rights had clearly stressed that the violations of human rights in the occupied part of Cyprus were imputable to that foreign country. The Government of Cyprus was regrettably not in a position to ensure respect of human rights treaties or to apply its human rights laws and policies in the areas not under its effective control. The information and data presented in its national report and in its opening statement concerned areas under the effective control of the Government of Cyprus. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 25. During the interactive dialogue, 82 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 26. Uruguay welcomed the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure and the implementation of the new National Action Plan for Gender Equality. 27. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela noted the National Action Plan for Gender Equality and the National Strategy to Combat Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Child Pornography. 28. Viet Nam appreciated the efforts to protect and promote the rights of vulnerable groups, and welcomed the leading role of Cyprus in the region in addressing climate change. 29. Afghanistan commended Cyprus on the measures taken to protect the rights of asylum seekers, refugees and migrant workers and the initiatives to promote equal access to education for all children. 30. Albania congratulated Cyprus on the ratification of international legal instruments and appreciated the adoption of action plans on gender equality and on the fight against domestic violence and gender discrimination in employment. 31. Algeria noted the measures taken to ratify the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and the endorsement of the Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action. 32. Argentina congratulated Cyprus on the signature of the Safe Schools Declaration and commended the adoption of the new Action Plan for Gender Equality. 33. Armenia applauded the achievements in combating trafficking in human beings and thanked Cyprus for its policies to protect the rights of religious minority groups. 4