A/HRC/41/16 due to the small number of people registered. In the end, the number had risen to 8,700 people. 44. The Dominican Republic had continued to receive criticism over the past three years despite civil society organizations having been unable to show that there were more people in a potentially vulnerable situation and the State having reiterated on several occasions that it would seek solutions for all the cases brought to its attention. 45. Honduras welcomed the progress that the Dominican Republic had made in implementing recommendations from previous universal periodic review cycles, together with the country’s continued efforts to do justice to its human rights commitments. It acknowledged the ratification of international conventions and commended efforts made with a view to the reduction of poverty. 46. Iceland welcomed the significant efforts that the Dominican Republic had made to strengthen its capacity to prosecute incidents of sexual exploitation of children and noted the unique work carried out by the Centre for the Promotion of Adolescents’ Sexual and Reproductive Health with the support of the Ministry of Women. 47. India welcomed steps taken to incorporate a gender perspective to raise awareness of gender equality and protect women and girls from gender-based violence. It appreciated the role of the National Strategic Plan for the Reduction of Maternal Mortality (2012–2016) in improving health care and increasing the quality of sexual and reproductive health services, and commended efforts to address child labour concerns. 48. Indonesia took note of all major human rights achievements since the previous universal periodic review cycle. It commended the Dominican Republic on the many steps taken to address violence against women. It appreciated the formulation of operational protocols to support legal regulations on migrants’ rights by the General Directorate of Migration. 49. Iraq hailed progress made since the second universal periodic review cycle. It welcomed the national plans and campaigns launched and the policies and legislation adopted by the Dominican Republic aimed at combating violence against women and protecting children. It commended the country on its endeavours to bring a gender dimension to the mainstream in order to ensure gender equality. 50. Ireland acknowledged efforts to advance human rights domestically since the previous universal periodic review cycle, including the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aimed at the abolition of the death penalty. It welcomed the adoption of the first National Human Rights Plan. 51. Italy welcomed the efforts made to develop an institutional and legal framework for the promotion and protection of human rights. It particularly appreciated the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, the adoption of the first National Human Rights Plan and measures to combat gender-based violence and eradicate child labour. 52. Japan appreciated the efforts made to promote and protect human rights through democracy and the rule of law in accordance with the National Development Strategy for 2030. It welcomed the recent adoption of the Political Parties Act, which would increase women’s political representation, as well as the introduction of several policies for the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities. 53. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic commended the Government of the Dominican Republic for the progress made in its efforts to promote and protect the rights of women and girls, as well as to eliminate poverty in the country through the “Progressing with Solidarity” programme. 54. Latvia noted the visit by the Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material, and the invitation issued to the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons since the previous review. It noted with regret the lack of cooperation with other special procedure mandate holders of the Human Rights Council. 6