A/HRC/12/50 521. With regard to the situation of boys, girls and women, the subject of many recommendations, Uruguay noted that this had been a major concern in Government policies in the past four years. The delegation made reference to a number of efforts, including the equity plan; a bill to increase the age of marriage for both sexes to 16 years; a recently approved law to prevent and punish sexual harassment in schools and at work; the implementation of a general law on education universalizing education as of the age of 3 years; the creation of a national commission for human rights education and the national commission for non-formal education; a recent law on adoption, which modified the children and adolescents code; a national survey recently initiated on child labour; and the “Ceibal” plan providing one laptop per child in public schools. 522. Regarding efforts to address discrimination, Uruguay stated that, in consultation with civil society, it had initiated a process for the drafting of the State report to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the elaboration of a national plan against discrimination. Efforts to redress the housing situation, centred on Afrodescendents, had also been initiated. A day of the “Charrúa nation and indigenous identity” on 9 September had been declared. With regard to the rights of gays, lesbians and transsexuals, and the legislation that recognized the rights of couples cohabiting and couples of the same sex, Uruguay reported on the new law on adoption guaranteeing this right for these couples and on the bill on gender identity. 523. Regarding reference in the recommendations to the abolition of the law on the expiry of punitive claims (ley de caducidad) and the approval of the exercise of the right to vote by citizens resident abroad, Uruguay noted that, once the processes established by the Constitution in this regard had been completed, they would be decided in two referendums, to be held on 25 October 2009 during the national elections. 524. In connection with the State terrorism that Uruguay had suffered in the recent past, the delegation stated that Parliament had recently adopted a law recognizing the illegal action carried out by the State and the comprehensive reparation of victims of human rights violations during this shameful period in the history of Uruguay. 2. Views expressed by Member and observer States of the Council on the review outcome 525. China noted with satisfaction the openness with which Uruguay had agreed to the recommendations made by various States. It noted with appreciation that over the past 20 years, Uruguay had rapidly set up a system to protect civil rights, eliminate poverty, promote the right to information, and promote the right of minorities, social harmony and international cooperation. China encouraged Uruguay to work on the basis of national realities, by analysing and considering any valid recommendation from the universal periodic review, and expand its international cooperation to ensure that the enjoyment of all human rights was increased for the population. 526. Algeria welcomed the delegation of Uruguay and thanked it for the additional information provided on the follow-up to the recommendations of the Working Group. Algeria noted with satisfaction that Uruguay had endorsed most of the recommendations and was determined to follow up on them. Algeria also welcomed Uruguay’s readiness to accept the recommendations to set up a national committee to combat discrimination against people of African descent and indigenous peoples, to abolish gender disparity in employment and ensure that there was equal pay for equal work. Algeria also praised the penal reforms carried out by Uruguay. 527. Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) noted Uruguay’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and open cooperation with the universal periodic review mechanism. It noted with appreciation the efforts made through Uruguay’s social plans and 141