A/HRC/48/16 B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 20. During the interactive dialogue, 140 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 21. Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Haiti, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, the Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, the Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Romania, the Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, the Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Kuwait made statements. Several delegations acknowledged the human-centred COVID-19 response of Singapore and recognized its progress made on human rights since the previous review cycle, including the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the repeal of marital immunity for rape and strengthening protection for all vulnerable groups. Some delegations expressed concern about the continued use of the death penalty and corporal punishment, as well as restrictions on freedom of expression. The webcasts of the full statements can be found online.4 22. The delegation of Singapore elaborated on measures to support and protect women and children, persons with disabilities, older persons and other vulnerable groups, as well as on its approach to migrant workers. 23. In the next few years, the Government would spend more than $1.52 billion annually to increase access to quality and affordable preschools. Upstream support for children from less privileged backgrounds was also being provided through the KidSTART programme, which equipped parents with the knowledge to nurture the physical and psychoemotional health of their children. 24. Efforts were being made to ensure that no child was left behind in terms of access to education. Children under 7 years of age with developmental needs received early intervention through government-funded programmes, within their preschools or in a specialized intervention setting. In 2019, the Compulsory Education Act had been extended to include children with moderate to severe special needs. 25. Singapore regularly reviewed legislation to ensure the adequate protection of children. In 2019, the Penal Code had been amended to better protect children and young people from sexual exploitation, and the Children and Young Persons Act had been amended to expand protection for abused or neglected children to those from 16 years of age or younger to those 18 years of age or younger. Singapore also provided coordinated support for young people with complex family circumstances or those who exhibited at-risk behaviour. 26. Regular five-year plans, termed “enabling master plans”, had been developed together with persons with disabilities and stakeholders, instituting measures to build a more inclusive society. Support had been increased for the employment of persons with disabilities, through wage support, job placement, training and recognition of employers. 4 4 See http://webtv.un.org/search/.