A/HRC/44/7 10. In response to recommendations from 2015, Spain had acceded to the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness in 2018. That same year, the Ministry of Justice was given specific powers regarding follow-up to treaty body opinions on individual communications. Spain had continued working on its second national human rights plan. 11. Spain was firmly committed to the promotion of gender equality and the eradication of all forms of violence against women and children. As such, it had undertaken numerous measures to strengthen the right to equal remuneration, and to gradually equate paternity and maternity leave. In 2017, the first national pact against gender-based violence had been adopted. The current Government had reached gender parity and had created a specific ministry for equality. 12. Regarding persons with disabilities, reforms had been carried out to guarantee their right to vote, their participation in trials by jury and their rights in relation to marriage. Nonetheless, Spain remained conscious of the challenges in other areas, and was taking appropriate action, such as the plans to reform the 1978 Constitution to replace obsolete language. 13. Spain had developed a policy for the integration of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, in line with the principles of equal treatment, citizenship and inclusion, and the office for asylum and refuge had been strengthened. 14. The organic law on the protection of citizens’ security regulated intervention by the authorities when assemblies had lost their peaceful character. The law did not allow for any type of public intervention based on the content of an assembly. 15. Regarding freedom of expression, in 2015 slander had been decriminalized, except where it occurred in the domestic sphere. 16. Legislative changes had taken place since the country’s previous review, including changes aimed at guaranteeing free legal aid to victims of gender violence, of terrorism and of human trafficking. Regarding the rights of detainees, a legislative reform in 2015 had made the application of incommunicado detention extremely restrictive. 17. Legislative measures criminalizing pimping and providing comprehensive protection against trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation were planned. 18. In 2018, the general directorate for historical memory was established within the Ministry of Justice. In January 2020, it was replaced by the State Secretariat for Democratic Memory within the office of the First Vice-President. 19. A draft organic law on education had been approved, including, for the first time in such legislation, children’s rights as the first guiding principle. 20. In connection with economic, social and cultural rights, numerous measures had been taken for the recovery of employment, including an increase to the minimum wage in 2019. In addition, numerous regulatory reforms to address housing issues, as well as a national urban agenda, had been adopted, and a bill guaranteeing the right to housing was being drafted. Regarding the right to health, the universal public health system had been reinstated in 2018, extending coverage to all persons in Spain, including those who were not registered or authorized as residents. 21. The National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights had been approved in 2017, with the aim of applying the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. 22. Progress had been made regarding the commitments made by Spain as a candidate for the Human Rights Council for the period 2018–2020, efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda, efforts to combat climate change, and efforts to promote the human right to share in the benefits of scientific advancement. Disinformation and demographic changes were emerging challenges. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 23. During the interactive dialogue, 110 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 3