A/HRC/13/56 abduction in late January 2010 of four Equatorial Guineans from a neighbouring country. It acknowledged the reduction in reported instances of torture, but noted that the practice persisted. Amnesty International urged the Government to allow access to places of detention for lawyers and national and international human rights monitors, including the Special Rapporteur on torture. It called on reconsidering the rejection of the recommendation to allow political parties and the media to operate freely. 728. Human Rights First noted that violence against women remained a common practice and that the Government had not made significant progress to end the gender gap. Ethnic minorities were underrepresented and excluded from meaningful participation in political and economic affairs. It acknowledged the Government’s support for recommendations to remedy these ongoing abuses and hoped that they were not, like in the past, empty promises. It urged the members of the Council to ensure that the Government work with civil society, take steps to end ethnic and gender-based discrimination and promote freedom of expression, opinion and the press. 729. Conectas Direitos Humanos noted that the Government had not involved any independent non-governmental organization in the universal periodic review process. While there were fewer restrictions than in the past, many civil society organizations were unable to have their legal status recognized. It called for the implementation of recommendations on creating an environment conducive to the establishment and functioning of nongovernmental organizations, and promoting dialogue with civil society and the participation of all civil society groups in the implementation of the Iniciativa de Transparencia en la Industria Extractiva. It also called on the Council to promote and monitor the implementation of the recommendations. 4. Concluding remarks of the State under review 730. The delegation had listened in good faith to every statement and would make every effort to implement the suggestions thereon. For that purpose, it called for technical assistance and was committed to inform the Council regularly on new human rights developments. The delegation concluded by reiterating the sincere political will of Equatorial Guinea to promote and protect human rights. Ethiopia 731. The review of Ethiopia was held on 9 December 2009 in conformity with all the relevant provisions contained in Council resolution 5/1, and was based on the following documents: (a) The national report submitted by Ethiopia in accordance with the annex to Council resolution 5/1, paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/ETH/1); (b) The compilation prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/ETH/2); (c) The summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/ETH/3). 732. At its 33rd meeting, on 19 March 2010, the Council considered and adopted the outcome of the review of Ethiopia (see section C below). 733. The outcome of the review on Ethiopia comprises the report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (A/HRC/13/17), the views of Ethiopia concerning the recommendations and/or conclusions, and its voluntary commitments and replies presented before the adoption of the outcome by the plenary to questions or issues that were not sufficiently addressed during the interactive dialogue in the Working Group (see also A/HRC/13/17/Add.1). 188