A/HRC/39/7 72. Senegal praised Uzbekistan for its ratification of the ILO Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) and its plans to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 73. Serbia commended the State for the measures taken to bring national human rights institutions into line with the Paris Principles and to adopt plans of action to implement international human rights standards. It encouraged Uzbekistan to take measures to eliminate maternal and newborn mortality. 74. Slovakia praised the efforts made to strengthen media freedom and active cooperation with ILO in tackling child labour. It expressed concern at the fact that many journalists remained in custody. 75. Slovenia welcomed the improvement of the situation of human rights, pointing to active cooperation of Uzbekistan with civil society to strengthen the judicial system and raise awareness on human rights. It pointed to reports of forced labour and hazardous working conditions. 76. Spain urged Uzbekistan to address discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and to take steps to investigate and punish acts of violence and hate crimes. 77. The State of Palestine noted with appreciation the steps taken by Uzbekistan to introduce reforms to protect human rights and to sign the memorandum of understanding between the National Centre for Human Rights and OHCHR. 78. According to Sweden, Uzbekistan had taken positive steps to improve the situation of human rights, such as the release of human rights defenders and its review of many prison sentences. Nonetheless, an unknown number of individuals were still in prison on politically motivated charges. 79. Switzerland commended Uzbekistan for its wide-ranging reforms and encouraged it to fully implement its development strategy for 2017–2021. It welcomed the release of prisoners of conscience, but noted with concern that many people were still detained for having expressed their political views. 80. Tajikistan acknowledged the measures taken by Uzbekistan to adopt the plan of action for developing cooperation with OHCHR, to fight human trafficking and to provide legal protection and medical care for the victims of trafficking, and also the steps it had taken to eliminate child and forced labour. 81. Togo praised Uzbekistan for the improvements made to the constitutional and legislative framework and the adoption of international norms to strengthen cooperation with the treaty bodies and other human rights mechanisms. 82. Turkmenistan noted the increased level of cooperation between Uzbekistan, OHCHR, the treaty bodies, the special procedures and international NGOs on questions of human rights and freedoms. 83. The United Arab Emirates welcomed the adoption of a number of national plans of action, and enquired about any preliminary conclusions reached since Uzbekistan had adopted its national plan of action on human trafficking the previous year. 84. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland noted the positive developments in the situation of human rights in Uzbekistan, but also the concerns remaining with regard to freedom of expression and association. 85. The United States of America commended Uzbekistan for the steps taken to expand space for civil society and reduce structural challenges for NGOs. It urged Uzbekistan to continue its efforts to address torture, and to invite the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment to visit the country. It noted with concern the wide-ranging restrictions on peaceful religious activity and the fact that reports were still being received of cases of adult forced labour. 86. Uruguay hailed the implementation by Uzbekistan of its plans of action, including its development strategy. It hoped that the State would consider ratifying the Rome Statute 8