A/HRC/26/14 70. Ethiopia encouraged Cyprus to continue considering the introduction of affirmative action and quotas in areas in which women were underrepresented. It welcomed the identification of laws and policies on migrant workers that could be improved. It made recommendations. 71. China welcomed the implementation of the National Action Plan on Gender Equality and the promotion of women’s participation in public and political life. It also commended Cyprus for taking steps to protect vulnerable groups, its ratification of CRPD, its amendment of the Refugee Law to extend the coverage of legal aid and its action against human trafficking. It made recommendations. 72. Colombia welcomed the establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman, the strengthening of national human rights institutions and the steps taken to combat human trafficking. It offered assistance based on its own experiences in various fields. It made recommendations. 73. Côte d’Ivoire welcomed measures to promote gender equality, prevent domestic violence and assist victims, support vulnerable groups and prevent human trafficking. It commended the work of the Police Office for Combating Discrimination, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Issues, and the Supervisory Committee of Prohibited Immigrants Detention Centres. It made recommendations. 74. Cuba commended Cyprus for its numerous legislative amendments and its ratification of international human rights instruments. It welcomed the draft legal norms concerning the welfare and protection of children and the new standards incorporated in school curricula and child welfare programmes. It made a recommendation. 75. Romania praised the establishment of the national human rights institution, the adoption of the comprehensive legal framework for the eradication of discrimination, the promotion of equality between men and women and the ratification of important international human rights instruments. It made a recommendation. 76. Cyprus stated that the Government of the Republic remained fully committed to the objective of achieving a viable and functional settlement, pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolutions. Such a settlement must be based on the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, which would safeguard the human rights of all people in the country. As for the Turkish Cypriots living in the Government-controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus, the Government ensured their effective participation in economic, social and cultural life to the fullest extent possible. The root cause of the shortcomings in the human rights of Turkish Cypriots was the continuing illegal occupation of part of Cyprus by the Turkish military. 77. Turkey, raising a point of order, noted that the Cypriot delegation seemed to believe that the rules of procedure requiring States not to use the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review as a forum to discuss political issues were not applicable to it. Turkey stated that the 1960 Republic had been based on the political equality of Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. In December 1963, that partnership had been destroyed and all Turkish Cypriot elements had been removed by force of arms from all State organs. Between 1963 and 1974, Turkish Cypriots had been subjected to all forms of human rights violations and armed attacks by Greek Cypriots. Turkey had intervened in the island in the wake of the coup d’état, which had aimed at the final takeover of Cyprus at all costs. 78. The President of the Human Rights Council recalled that the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review was not a forum for dealing with bilateral matters or political confrontations and implored all parties to abide by the rules of procedure. Debates regarding bilateral or territorial issues were substantive matters and did not constitute points of order. 11