A/HRC/25/16 27. Liechtenstein acknowledged the efforts by the Congo to overcome gender inequality and its commitment to international justice, but noted the concern of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women about discriminatory legal provisions, customary practices and local traditions regarding marriage, inheritance and property rights. It made recommendations. 28. Malaysia commended the progress in education, health, eradicating poverty and combating trafficking in persons, especially women and children. It noted the 25 per cent increase in the number of schools and the provision of free textbooks. It made recommendations. 29. Costa Rica applauded the ratification of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and efforts to combat trafficking in persons. It noted progress in addressing illiteracy through educational initiatives and legislation on indigenous peoples, showing concern for their marginalization. It invited the Congo to introduce a moratorium on the application of death penalty. It made recommendations. 30. Mauritania noted the ongoing commitment to international cooperation and interactive dialogue on human rights. It commended policies to prohibit trafficking in children and punish perpetrators and urged compliance of the Congo with its international obligations on freedom of expression and combating persecution of journalists. 31. Mexico applauded implementation of a national action plan to improve indigenous people’s quality of life. It congratulated the Congo on ratifying UNTOC and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing it (Trafficking in Persons Protocol), and related agreements signed with Benin. It made recommendations. 32. Montenegro asked the Congo whether it had taken steps to amend the Labour Law to ensure prevention of widespread child labour and encouraged it to finalize legislative reform on gender equality and enact laws against trafficking and violence against women. It made recommendations. 33. Uruguay highlighted the peace consolidation, strengthening of participative democracy and progress in the right to health care and education. It made recommendations. 34. The Netherlands complimented the Congo on ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It expressed concern about UPR first-cycle recommendations accepted by the Congo but not yet implemented, including the ratification of several international conventions and protocols. It made recommendations. 35. Nigeria noted the concrete steps against HIV/AIDS and successful vaccination of young children against various diseases. It commended the Congo on transforming economic growth into improved living conditions for its citizens. It made recommendations. 36. Paraguay noted that the Congo had ratified international human rights instruments, expressed concern on the Congo not having established enforced disappearance as a criminal offence, and noted legislation on the promotion and protection of indigenous peoples and children’s rights. It made recommendations. 37. The Philippines welcomed accession to the Optional Protocol of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Trafficking in Persons Protocol. It commended efforts to strengthen the national human rights commission and to empower women, as well as its development of a national policy and long-term action plan on gender. It made recommendations. 6 GE.14-10049