A/HRC/39/7 51. Morocco commended the action strategy on five priority areas of development for 2017–2021 and the steps that the State had taken to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It welcomed the measures taken in the areas of corruption, domestic violence, education, health and women’s empowerment. 52. The delegation of Uzbekistan stated that, with regard to cotton harvesting, measures had been taken to eradicate forced labour. The President had addressed the issue, and a parliamentary commission had been set up to ensure respect for labour rights. The Government was working together with representatives of Cotton Campaign, an international NGO that monitored the cotton sector worldwide. Various measures had been taken to improve the situation: harvest wages had been increased by 250 per cent in 2017; a sector-wide review, from planting to harvesting, had been conducted; and cotton growing was being phased out on low-yielding land. Annual production of cotton thread was around one ton; 72.5 per cent of the cotton harvest was processed, representing some 750,000 tons. Two major cotton-producing projects with a budget of $464 million had led to the creation of more than 6,500 jobs. 53. The delegation stated that targeted social protection measures had been taken for persons with disabilities. Efforts were continuing to ensure the compliance of infrastructure with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to secure its ratification. Some 20 NGOs worked directly to help persons with disabilities, while more than 600 NGOs offered additional assistance, including free courses in sign language and Braille. Steps were being taken to guarantee better quality of prosthetics and other rehabilitation devices required by persons with disabilities. The Government had launched a programme for the period 2017–2020 in support of persons with disabilities. 54. Efforts to prevent violence in places of detention and protect citizens against torture emphasized prevention. In 2017, additional measures had been taken to strengthen guarantees for defendants’ rights and freedoms. Article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment had been fully implemented by article 235 of the Criminal Code, which contained a ban on torture. A procedure had been introduced for complaints concerning unlawful conduct by law enforcement officials. Henceforth, prosecutors would regularly verify the conditions of those in pretrial detention facilities or holding centres with the help of audio and video surveillance. In addition, the Parliamentary Ombudsman and the Business Ombudsman provided independent monitoring. New restrictions had been introduced regarding the admissibility of evidence. Evidence was inadmissible if it had been obtained unlawfully or in violation of the Criminal Code; if a defendant’s rights had been infringed in the process; if information came from an unknown source; or if testimony did not meet the required standards. 55. The delegation reported on efforts made to prevent torture in places of detention. Some 2,500 video surveillance cameras had been installed in pretrial detention facilities and holding centres; 123 had been installed in cells, and plans had been made for the installation of an additional 285 cameras. To ensure a timely response to reports by citizens on cases of torture, in 2017, the Ministry of Internal Affairs had opened special premises for receiving citizens and taking their complaints. Some 40 complaints concerning people in custody had been lodged, as a result of which 10 officials would be relieved of their duties. 56. A law had been adopted on 17 April 2018 to fight human trafficking. There was a need to align the Criminal Code with relevant international instruments, such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. One noteworthy step taken at the national level had been the establishment of an interagency commission to fight human trafficking. In 2017, a total of 204 criminal cases had been brought on grounds of sexual exploitation, and 32 criminal cases for labour exploitation (down from 81 in 2016). 57. Additional measures had been taken to ensure gender equality. The Committee for Women was very active in that respect, and a law on combating domestic violence had been adopted. At the national level there were over more than 30 laws on the protection of gender equality. Efforts were being made to ensure equal pay for work of equal value. Plans had been made to create the position of ombudsman for children and youth. 6