A/HRC/53/14 49. The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomed the implementation of the eighth national development plan, 2022–2026, which had incorporated activities intended to actualize human rights standards. 50. Iraq noted the efforts aimed at reducing poverty, promoting economic and social development, and improving health care services. 51. Finland noted the abolishment of the death penalty and the repeal of the law that criminalized the defamation of the President. It also noted progress made in the areas of economic, social and cultural rights. 52. Ireland welcomed the removal of the death penalty and the offence of criminal defamation of the President from the Penal Code, but remained concerned by restrictions on civil society, as well as the prevalence of gender-based violence and harmful practices. 53. Czechia noted the abolition of the death penalty and the steps taken to eliminate child marriage. 54. Italy commended Zambia for the progress made towards the abolition of the death penalty and recognized measures taken to improve access to education and to protect children’s rights. 55. Latvia welcomed the decision to abolish the death penalty and to repeal section 69 of the Penal Code on the criminal defamation of the President. 56. Lesotho noted the efforts to strengthen public policies to address economic and social challenges, particularly the national strategy on financial education. 57. Luxembourg noted the progress made in the field of human rights, in particular the investment in the training of health-care providers with clinical and obstetric skills. 58. Malawi appreciated the progress made in the promotion and protection of human rights since the last review, in particular the accession to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. 59. Malaysia encouraged Zambia to include economic, social and cultural rights in its Constitution with the aim of protecting vulnerable groups, such as women, children and persons with disabilities. 60. Maldives welcomed the enactment of the Children’s Code Act of 2022, the national gender policy and the national referral mechanism on gender-based violence and violence against children. 61. Mali noted the progress made in strengthening access to education, with massive investments in primary and secondary education, as well as the use of new information and communications technologies in rural areas. 62. Mauritania welcomed the national policies on human rights, especially the policies on economic, social and cultural rights, including free education, economic development and increasing the living standards of the population. 63. Mauritius appreciated the continued efforts to consolidate human rights by improving the standard of living and by providing social protection to vulnerable persons. 64. Mexico noted the efforts to improve the birth registration system and the progress made in the abolition of the death penalty. 65. Montenegro welcomed the accession to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and called upon Zambia to ratify the remaining core human rights instruments and to address the root causes of mortality among infants and children under five years of age. 66. Morocco noted with appreciation the steps taken to respect, promote and fulfil its human rights obligations, despite the financial constraints. 67. Mozambique commended the progress made since the last review and the commitment to implementing human rights obligations, despite a challenging global environment. 6 GE.23-04188