A/HRC/34/6 73. The United States raised a concern with regard to the human rights situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the continued detention of persons who participated in peaceful protests. 74. Uruguay acknowledged the efforts made to reduce extreme poverty and social and economic inequality. 75. Cuba acknowledged the progress made in protecting and promoting human rights and recommended that indigenous peoples be consulted. 76. Yemen stressed the need to pursue efforts to promote human rights, particularly those of indigenous people. 77. Zimbabwe noted the human rights advances made since the first cycle of the universal periodic review. 78. Algeria praised the efforts made to implement the recommendations accepted during the first cycle of the universal periodic review and the 10 voluntary commitments. 79. Angola noted the detailed information provided in the national report describing the progress made since the first cycle of the universal periodic review. 80. Argentina urged cooperation with OHCHR and all human rights mechanisms. It expressed concern about allegations of excessive use of force and extrajudicial executions. 81. Armenia noted the pending visit requests from special procedure mandate holders. It encouraged the full implementation of international human rights obligations. 82. Australia was concerned by the limitations imposed on freedom of expression, particularly the violent and arbitrary arrests of opposition leaders, students and public activists. 83. Austria shared its concerns on various human rights issues, including arbitrary detention, lack of fair and transparent procedures, overcrowding in prisons and the crisis in the food and health sectors. 84. Azerbaijan welcomed, inter alia, the establishment of the National Human Rights Council and the preparation of the national human rights plan. 85. Bahrain welcomed the measures taken since the previous universal periodic review. It inquired about the steps taken to increase school attendance rates for children and access to quality education. 86. Bangladesh noted the actions taken to continue fighting poverty and the establishment of a quota system for persons with disabilities, as recommended during the first cycle of the universal periodic review. 87. Belarus congratulated the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for its progress in reducing extreme poverty, its success with the housing programme and its global approach to gender equality. 88. Belgium stressed the need to achieve further progress in terms of access to the health-care system, in particular to sexual and reproductive health services. 89. The Plurinational State of Bolivia recognized the profound transformation brought about by the progress made in social policies aimed at the most vulnerable sectors of the population. 90. Brazil noted with great concern the evolution of the human rights situation. 91. Burundi congratulated the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on progress achieved in terms of improving gender equality and addressing violence against women. 8