A/HRC/19/14 36. Ethiopia recognized Zimbabwe’s positive developments and efforts in the promotion and protection of human rights and commended Zimbabwe’s cooperation with the Human Rights Council and the United Nations treaty bodies. Ethiopia made recommendations. 37. Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) noted Zimbabwe’s human rights commitment despite the economic difficulties caused by the illegal sanctions and limited access to credit and international development assistance. It noted the access to education for disadvantaged persons, the universal primary-education policy and the high literacy rate. It acknowledged the gender equality achievements and the public assistance programme for the elderly. Venezuela made a recommendation. 38. Cuba noted Zimbabwe’s human rights efforts but also noted they were restricted by sanctions, which constituted the main obstacles to Zimbabwe’s development. Cuba suggested lifting the sanctions. Despite the difficulties and challenges, Cuba noted Zimbabwe’s results and its commitment to human rights promotion and protection, particularly through the national health strategy, food security measures, the HIV/AIDS fight, measures favouring education, the environment and access to water and sanitation. Cuba made recommendation. 39. Belarus noted the unilateral sanctions which negatively affected Zimbabwe’s human rights and development and the lack of information in that regard in UPR documents. It commended the efforts to combat pandemics, to provide universal primary education and to combat trafficking in persons. Belarus made a recommendation. 40. Morocco welcomed the “Women’s Parliamentary Committee” to promote gender equality in Parliament. It noted Zimbabwe’s need for support to develop its capacity in human rights measurement and called upon OHCHR to help meet these needs. Morocco made recommendations. 41. Ghana took note of the human rights legislation passed by Parliament and welcomed the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission. It noted the Universal Access to Primary Education Policy and the Basic Assistance Module to promote the access to education for disadvantaged and persons with disabilities, and asked about the scope and effects of such policies. Ghana made recommendations. 42. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea commended Zimbabwe’s commitment to protecting and promoting human rights despite the economic challenges arising out of illegal sanctions. It appreciated Zimbabwe’s steps to a high quality of life by the year 2020. It called on the countries having imposed illegal sanctions to lift them in order to promote and protect human rights. It made recommendations. 43. Myanmar commended Zimbabwe’s efforts to promote and protect fundamental rights, noting the Public Protector Office to protect citizens against administrative malpractice. Myanmar was pleased to note the number of laws passed to promote women’s rights and the high level of primary school enrolment and literacy rates. Myanmar made recommendations. 44. New Zealand noted Zimbabwe’s recent progress in measles immunization, malaria incidence and literacy, and in meeting remaining challenges. New Zealand was concerned about investigations of, or accountability for, abuses in 2008, the effects of the POSA on freedom of the press and continued reports of mistreatment of prisoners. It made recommendations. 45. The United States of America expressed disappointment that the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission was not operational or an independent constitutional body. It raised concerns about the increase in politically motivated violence, recurring attempts by officials to facilitate the arbitrary arrest and harassment of lawyers representing human rights 7