A/HRC/44/11 47. Guinea-Bissau reiterated that civil registry offices and other birth registration facilities had been opened in the country with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund and other partners. A large number of children were now being registered at birth, and any child under the age of 7 was allowed access to free registration. Obstacles to registration included extreme poverty and the fact that often the parents themselves were not registered, and therefore could not register their children. 48. Togo was pleased with the holding of peaceful elections in Guinea-Bissau, and expressed the belief that the elections marked a new phase that would contribute to improving human rights protection. Togo invited the international community to support Guinea-Bissau in its efforts. 49. Tunisia applauded the accession of Guinea-Bissau to various international conventions, and the adoption of several laws to improve the human rights situation, including the revision of the statute of the national human rights institution. 50. Ukraine commended Guinea-Bissau for measures taken in various areas, including its cooperation with special procedures mandate holders. Ukraine encouraged the Government to step up its activities to ensure human rights training for police officers and law enforcement agents. 51. The United Kingdom commended Guinea-Bissau on its progress in implementing reforms in the judicial sector but was concerned that political instability had delayed further progress. It urged the Government to take stronger action against corruption and to ensure that the freedom of peaceful assembly was respected. 52. The United States noted the recent peaceful, free and fair elections in GuineaBissau. It remained concerned about reports of inhumane prison conditions, as well as impunity for individuals engaged in child abuse and trafficking in persons, including child sex tourism. It called on the Government to pass or strengthen legislation to address those crimes. 53. Uruguay welcomed the measures taken by Guinea-Bissau to combat gender violence and promote women’s rights. Uruguay encouraged Guinea-Bissau to ratify promptly the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, in line with the recommendation made by Uruguay in the second cycle of the universal periodic review, which had been accepted by the country. 54. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela highlighted the improvements in birth registration. It also highlighted the measures adopted to reduce the gender gap in access to education, to provide school meals and to ensure free health care for pregnant women, children and older persons. 55. Zambia welcomed steps taken by Guinea-Bissau to ensure that persons with low incomes were exempted from paying legal fees and to strengthen the capacity of members of the judiciary in the area of criminal justice. 56. Algeria congratulated Guinea-Bissau for ratifying the core international human rights instruments, such as the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 57. Angola congratulated Guinea-Bissau for its engagement with the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council. Angola called upon all States that were able to do so to support Guinea-Bissau through the provision of technical and financial assistance, and capacitybuilding. 58. Argentina congratulated Guinea-Bissau for acceding to the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, and its ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 59. Australia acknowledged the human rights challenges in Guinea-Bissau and welcomed its active engagement in the universal periodic review process. However, it 6