A/HRC/41/17 62. The Russian Federation welcomed the efforts made to combat extreme poverty, to provide for sustainable development and to improve access to health and education. It noted the steps taken by the Government to protect women and children from domestic violence. 63. Senegal welcomed the efforts made to strengthen the rule of law, in particular by providing for the independence of the judicial system, as attested to by the holding of orderly and fair trials upholding the rights of parties. 64. Serbia commended the efforts made to improve the human rights situation of women and children. 65. Singapore commended Cambodia for having significantly reduced the poverty rate and for having improved access to health-care services, as seen in the significant decline in child mortality rates and in HIV prevalence in the adult population. 66. Slovenia welcomed the steps taken by the Government to eliminate discrimination against women and to promote gender equality. It encouraged the Government to prosecute the perpetrators of such violence. It was concerned about the harassment and intimidation of journalists, human rights defenders and trade union workers. 67. Spain was concerned about the situation of stateless persons in Cambodia. 68. Sweden acknowledged the steps taken by Cambodia to strengthen the full enjoyment of human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. It was concerned about the negative developments in political rights and the use of the judiciary to restrict human rights, contributing to fear, intimidation and self-censorship. 69. Switzerland was deeply concerned at the deterioration in civil and political rights, including the restrictions on the freedom of expression and civil society and the dissolution of the main opposition party before the 2018 elections. 70. Thailand commended the efforts made in poverty reduction and development in all dimensions, which had lifted the economic status of Cambodia to the status of lower middle-income country in 2015. 71. Togo welcomed the remarkable progress made in implementing the recommendations made at the previous review cycle. It noted with satisfaction the improvement in economic and social rights in particular, and in the rights to health to social protection, and the increase in the minimum wage. 72. Tunisia welcomed the legislation adopted since the previous review cycle in support of the human rights legislative and institutional framework, particularly the national mechanism against torture and the protection of persons with disabilities, children in difficulty and helpless children. 73. Turkey commended the State’s engagement with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia and its closeness to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It welcomed the freedom enjoyed by non-governmental organizations under Cambodian law, the formation of the Supreme Consultative Council and the amended law on political parties. 74. Ukraine acknowledged the ratification of core human rights instruments. It was concerned about the undermining of the judiciary and about legislation restricting civil and political rights. It encouraged the State to strengthen cooperation with the special procedures and to establish an effective national human rights institution. 75. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was concerned by the shrinking of democratic space, as seen in the dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, the imprisonment of Kem Sokha, and the national election in July 2018, which lacked legitimacy. It encouraged the State to accept a visit from the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences. 76. The United States of America remained gravely concerned about the suppression of the political opposition, independent media and civil society, and the undue restrictions on workers’ rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly, resulting in the elections of July 2018, which were neither genuinely free nor fair. 7