A/HRC/48/17 37. Burkina Faso encouraged Sierra Leone to continue efforts to end female genital mutilation, early marriages and forced marriages. 38. Burundi appreciated measures taken to improve the administration of justice, and access to health care and education, and to respond to COVID-19. 39. Cambodia welcomed the ratification of a number of international human rights instruments, and efforts to promote gender equality and to reduce poverty. 40. Cameroon acknowledged progress in the promotion and protection of human rights and noted the positive dynamic in Sierra Leone. 41. Canada commended progress in protecting women’s and girls’ rights and encouraged the adoption of the Affirmative Action Bill. 42. Chad noted with satisfaction the significant progress made by Sierra Leone in the promotion and protection of human rights. 43. Chile valued the commitment of Sierra Leone to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals. 44. China appreciated the social protection system to counter COVID-19, the protection of vulnerable groups and the promotion of harmonious coexistence. 45. The Plurinational State of Bolivia recognized the efforts made by Sierra Leone in protecting human rights and made recommendations. 46. Costa Rica welcomed the legal reforms regarding access to education for girls and women. 47. Côte d’Ivoire congratulated Sierra Leone on the reforms undertaken in the justice sector and on the ratification of international and regional instruments relating to gender discrimination. 48. Croatia regretted the increase in sexual and gender-based violence and the increased number of children detained in deplorable conditions. It urged Sierra Leone to adopt childfriendly approaches. 49. Cuba recognized the country’s efforts in the area of health and the priority given to primary care and health care. 50. Czechia noted the efforts to eliminate gender-based violence and gender inequality and encouraged Sierra Leone to take further steps to address this challenge. 51. The Democratic Republic of the Congo welcomed the policy on gender equality and the empowerment of women, and the law on the fight against corruption. 52. Denmark expressed concern about the continued harmful practices against girls and remained concerned about the continued use of the death penalty. 53. Djibouti welcomed the ratification of seven ILO conventions and the legal reforms adopted to promote and protect human rights. 54. Act. Ecuador recognized the modification of the Citizenship Act and the Anti-Corruption 55. Egypt appreciated the support for the health-care sector and social protection networks for vulnerable groups in response to COVID-19, and efforts to combat corruption. 56. Eswatini noted the progress made by Sierra Leone in implementing recommendations from the second cycle of the universal periodic review. 57. Ethiopia commended the implementation of previous recommendations, and the cluster policy on empowering women, children and persons with disabilities in the Mediumterm National Development Plan. 58. Fiji commended the abolition of criminal libel laws and the lifting of the ban on pregnant girls in school. 5