A/HRC/17/16 women and girls should be addressed, inter alia, by criminalizing it. Zambia made recommendations. 61. Argentina asked Mozambique about measures to encourage more active participation by women in education and work. It also asked about progress made in the area of women’s health, with particular emphasis on maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS. Argentina made recommendations. 62. Azerbaijan noted Mozambique’s cooperation with OHCHR based on providing technical assistance. It was pleased to know that women’s participation in parliament is among the greatest in the world. It welcomed the measures taken to promote the advancement of women, including the adoption of the Law on Domestic Violence. It also noted the Action Plan on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Azerbaijan made recommendations. 63. Italy noted the improvements in the health, water and education sectors, although serious challenges remained. Italy commended Mozambique for the abolition of the death penalty. Italy expressed the hope that the National Human Rights Commission will soon begin functioning. Italy pointed to reports of human rights violations by the police in relation to arrests and detention. Italy made recommendations. 64. Portugal asked what concrete measures are planned to prevent cases of excessive and arbitrary use of force by the police. Portugal asked which additional policies and actions will be undertaken to ensure wider access to justice for citizens, to reduce overcrowding in prisons and to improve conditions of detainees. Portugal asked about the designation of the Ombudsman and the members of the National Human Rights Commission. Portugal made recommendations. 65. Austria, while commending Mozambique on its recent advances in the area of human rights, asked how the Government intended to prevent an escalation in the use of excessive force and violence by security forces and prison authorities. Austria asked about additional steps planned to protect the rights of the child and expressed concern about persisting discrimination and violence against women. Austria made recommendations. 66. Chad noted with satisfaction the cooperation of Mozambique with treaty bodies and the special procedures as a sign of the importance attached to the promotion and protection of human rights. Chad requested the international community to help Mozambique to live up to its challenges in the area of human rights. Chad made a recommendation. 67. Slovakia noted with appreciation Mozambique’s generous asylum policy. Slovakia expressed concern about the persistence of reports of torture and ill-treatment of detainees in prisons by law enforcement as well as reports of extrajudicial executions by police and the military and the continued problem of lynching. It also noted that access to justice remained a challenge. Slovakia made recommendations. 68. Denmark noted sustained and impressive economic growth, as well as steady progress in regard to human rights since 1992. It noted that Mozambique has not ratified some basic human rights instruments, and strongly encouraged Mozambique to adopt the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OP-CAT) without delay. Denmark noted that the 2009 electoral process was criticized by international and national observer groups and appreciated that the electoral legislation is currently under revision. Denmark made recommendations. 69. The Netherlands commended Mozambique for increasing enrolment in primary education, though challenges remained regarding the quality of education. It referred to reports of allegations of excessive use of force and extrajudicial executions. It praised the revision of Mozambique’s Labour Law prohibiting discrimination against employees on the 10