A/HRC/15/16 44. Bolivia (Plurinational State of) valued the importance attached to the right to work in the Constitution and the national policies of Belarus. It also noted the work of the National Council for Labour and Social Affairs, with tripartite representation, and requested Belarus to share its good practices in achieving low unemployment rates. It inquired about good practices in education and health. Bolivia made recommendations. 45. Hungary noted with concern anomalies in the fields of torture, ill treatment and prison conditions; the right to freedom of assembly, expression, association and religion; political participation and the electoral process; human rights defenders; and the independence of judges. It welcomed the recommendation of the Constitutional Court that the death penalty be abolished, as well as its comprehensive measures to, inter alia, improve the situation of children. It made recommendations. 46. China appreciated the practical measures taken to implement all Millennium Development Goals. It stated that Belarus had increased its investment in medical care and social welfare and had achieved remarkable progress in protecting the right to health and education. It also stated that Belarus had adopted a national plan for 2008-2010 to secure gender equality and the implementation of the rights of women. China made recommendations. 47. Qatar welcomed efforts made to guarantee the right to work and noted the increased employment of persons with disabilities. Qatar noted efforts to improve social policies, including in terms of health and housing. It appreciated efforts to face environmental challenges and rehabilitate the area affected by the 1986 Chernobyl accident. 48. Kazakhstan stressed that the involvement of Belarus in the universal periodic review process and its invitations to several special procedure mandate holders displayed the country’s commitment regarding its international obligations. It commended Belarus for the highest literacy rate in the world and a non-discrimination policy, and for improving gender equality and human development and combating human trafficking. Kazakhstan made recommendations. 49. The Sudan noted high human development indicators in Belarus. With regard to the health impacts and environmental damage caused by the Chernobyl accident, it inquired about measures taken to address remaining problems. The Sudan made recommendations. 50. Norway referred to the active participation of civil society as essential to a meaningful universal periodic review process and effective cooperation with the United Nations human rights system as a key objective. It noted that the distribution of independent publications was still legally prohibited and expressed concern about the vulnerable situation of human rights defenders, journalists and lawyers. It reaffirmed its opposition to the death penalty and deplored recent executions. It made recommendations. 51. Armenia commented about the process of establishing a juvenile justice system and praised Belarus for having initiated the process of formulating a global plan of action against human trafficking. It acknowledged the decision of Belarus to include human rights education in school curriculums and encouraged the country to expand it beyond the school system. Armenia made recommendations. 52. Israel noted the efforts of Belarus regarding anti-trafficking legislation and its campaign against criminal organizations involved in human trafficking and sexual exploitation. It remained concerned about capital punishment sentencing in the absence of a fair trial, the culture of impunity, and summary execution and torture, as well as about freedom of expression, opinion, assembly and association. It made recommendations. 53. With regard to the death penalty, the delegation explained that the issue of its abolition was very sensitive. When a universal referendum had been held on the issue in 1996, more than 80 per cent of the population had voted in favour of retaining this form of 8