A/HRC/41/16 gender focus. According to a recent report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the reduction in poverty levels in the Dominican Republic had been among the greatest in Latin American countries in recent years. According to official figures, general poverty had decreased from 39.7 per cent in 2012 to 25.5 per cent in 2017, representing a reduction of 1,249,401 in the number of people living in poverty. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 9. During the interactive dialogue, 66 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 10. Algeria noted with satisfaction the considerable progress achieved by the Dominican Republic in the promotion and protection of human rights. In particular, it welcomed the positive results of the National Strategic Plan for the Reduction of Maternal Mortality (2012–2016) and the National Strategic Plan against Child Labour. 11. Argentina congratulated the Dominican Republic for having signed the Declaration on Safe Schools and adopted the “Progressing with Solidarity” programme. 12. Australia welcomed the changes to the Constitution, which prohibited violence against women and discrimination based on gender and nationality. It remained concerned about gender-based violence, limitations on sexual and reproductive rights, lack of progress in implementing Act No. 169-14 and the growing culture of impunity, arbitrary detentions and extrajudicial killings. 13. The Bahamas welcomed the progress made and highlighted the “Progressing with Solidarity” programme. It noted the efforts made to combat violence against women, establish a goal to eradicate child labour by 2025 and its worst forms by 2020, combat trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling and reduce poverty. 14. Barbados recognized the action taken to strengthen the national human rights framework. It noted the affirmation by the Dominican Republic to the international community that it was a multi-ethnic and multicultural State, and observed that, accordingly, it had a duty to strengthen the protection and safeguards needed by all victims of discrimination. 15. Belgium acknowledged the progress made by the Dominican Republic since the previous universal periodic review cycle, but it was convinced that further progress could still be achieved to increase the protection of human rights in accordance with core international human rights treaties. 16. Benin welcomed the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations received by the Dominican Republic from the second cycle of the universal periodic review. 17. The Plurinational State of Bolivia expressed its appreciation to the Dominican Republic, as well as to the Central American Governments, for having signed an eight-year agreement (2013–2021) to promote education, free from discrimination and with equal opportunities. 18. Brazil commended the Dominican Republic for having adopted its National Human Rights Plan, and urged it to make progress in the field of the prevention and punishment of femicide and other forms of violence against women and girls. 19. Bulgaria commended the achievements of the Dominican Republic in implementing the recommendations from the second universal periodic review, and in particular the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. It noted progress in reducing the gender gap, especially through appropriate steps in the areas of health and education. 20. Cabo Verde praised the Dominican Republic for the progress made in combating poverty and developing social protection. It encouraged the Dominican Republic to redouble its efforts to improve access to decent and inclusive work for the entire population and in particular for vulnerable groups. 3