A/HRC/42/12 32. Uruguay welcomed the ratification by Costa Rica of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189) and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as its efforts to promote gender equity. 33. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela welcomed the adoption of the national policy for a society free from racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia. It noted the remaining challenges, such as the persistent discrimination against and stigmatization of indigenous peoples, people of African descent, migrants and other vulnerable groups. 34. Yemen welcomed the efforts of the Government to promote the rights of women and children, to provide social protection and to promote economic development in the country. 35. Afghanistan congratulated Costa Rica for its progress in the implementation of the recommendations from the previous cycle and commended it for the amendment of the Constitution in 2015 to recognize the country’s multi-ethnic and multicultural nature. 36. Albania welcomed the efforts of Costa Rica to modernize its labour legislation, its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and its significant developments in gender equality. Albania encouraged Costa Rica to continue its efforts to eliminate violence against women. 37. Algeria welcomed the adoption of the 2014–2015 national policy against racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia and the actions taken to combat poverty and mitigate the effects of the unequal distribution of wealth. 38. Angola congratulated Costa Rica on its strong commitment against racism, its promotion of women’s rights and its role in the protection of biodiversity and encouraged it to continue its efforts to reduce unemployment and trafficking in weapons. 39. Argentina congratulated Costa Rica on the adoption of the National Policy for Effective Equality between Women and Men 2018–2030 as the basis for compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals. 40. Armenia praised Costa Rica for being the first country to sign a national pact for the Sustainable Development Goals. It welcomed the adoption of the Comprehensive Migration Policy 2013–2023 and of measures to promote gender equality. 41. Australia recognized the efforts of Costa Rica to improve its national human rights framework, making it a regional leader in that regard. While the progress it had made since the second cycle review was commendable, further action was needed. 42. The delegation of Costa Rica noted that the country had increasingly become a country of asylum. It was making great efforts to ensure that migrants and refugees could fully integrate and to provide them with better living conditions. It had signed or ratified several international instruments on the matter, including the ILO Domestic Workers Convention and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. The implementation of the Comprehensive Migration Policy 2013–2023 had resulted in substantive progress in the promotion and protection of the rights of migrants and refugees, including on their access to work, education and social security. In order to better protect migrants’ rights, Costa Rica had also established an Administrative Migration Tribunal, the third of its kind in the world. 43. Human trafficking was regulated in the General Act on Migration, with penalties ranging from 4 to 8 years’ imprisonment, and 10 years in aggravated cases. 44. In 2015, the first article of the Constitution had been amended to recognize the multi-ethnic and multicultural character of Costa Rican society. Other legal instruments had also been updated to ensure that public investment programmes respected the differences within and the needs of its diverse society. 45. Despite those improvements, promoting the human rights of the indigenous peoples present in the country remained a challenge. In order to make the right to free, prior and informed consent operational, Costa Rica had established, through a participatory process, a consultation mechanism in line with the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples. In 2019, the Government had also adopted guidelines for the 5