A/HRC/14/3 Prison conditions were alarming and continued to deteriorate. It asked about measures intended to address overcrowding in prisons and detention centres and to improve overall prison conditions. It made recommendations. 40. Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) noted that Nicaragua was part of the Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of Our America, a space of encounter to face common challenges, under socialist principles of solidarity and mutual complimentarity. It recognized policies to guarantee economic, social and cultural rights, particularly education, access to which was guaranteed to all in equality of conditions and free of charge. It noted the successful national literacy campaign “Yes, I can!”, leading to recognition by UNESCO of Nicaragua as a territory free of illiteracy. It highlighted programmes such as “more education”, “better education” and “all education”. It made recommendations. 41. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea appreciated the measures taken in civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. It highlighted the policies to foster services for people, create a fair market free from exploitation and unlawful practices, and to develop networks of economic entities. It noted the measures aimed at improving the condition of vulnerable groups. 42. Sri Lanka noted that Nicaragua had overcome challenges in the protection and promotion of civil, political, economic and cultural rights, and commended the efforts to further promote and protect them. Its participation in the Human Rights Council was a demonstration of its willingness to engage with the international community. Sri Lanka welcomed the national human development plan, and noted with satisfaction the strengthening of the rule of law and legal security. It noted Nicaragua’s key challenge was poverty and the importance attached to economic, social and cultural rights. It noted a need to protect vulnerable groups further. It made recommendations. 43. Bolivia (Plurinational State of) highlighted the progress made by the Sandinista Popular Revolution and the implementation of the human development plan. It noted the strategy to combat poverty and the cooperative networks promoting solidarity, food security and sovereignty. Illiteracy had almost been eradicated, free education had been reestablished, universal access to health service was an ongoing effort and the maternal and child mortality had been reduced. Nicaragua acknowledged the rights of indigenous peoples to their culture and identity, and their traditional collective system of land tenure and usage. It noted that the new Penal Code defined discrimination as a criminal offence. It acknowledged Nicaragua’s commitment and interaction with the Human Rights Council and the treaty bodies. It made recommendations. 44. Canada appreciated the efforts made to strengthen the normative human rights framework, including through ratification of the second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. Canada welcomed the decriminalization of consenting samesex relations and the commitment to strengthen the rule of law and consolidate democracy. Canada was concerned about the trend towards narrowing democratic space, threats to political associations and freedom of expression, and threats against human rights defenders and those who criticize the Government. Canada noted with concern the lack of impartiality and independence in judiciary and developments inconsistent with the Constitution, such as the 2009 decision by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court to eliminate the constitutional ban on the consecutive and continuous re-election of officials. Canada made recommendations. 45. The Islamic Republic of Iran commended the efforts and commitments made for the promotion and protection of human rights, including the justice system reform; the measures against drug trafficking, human trafficking and organized crime; the national plan of action for the prevention of domestic and sexual violence; and the newly implemented 8