A/HRC/48/6 collection, cooperation with civil society and the dissemination of information regarding the prohibition of early unions. 23. Persons with disabilities faced numerous challenges and the Government was committed to improving the legal and institutional framework for protecting their rights, for example through the adoption of measures to guarantee the accessibility of public services and buildings, as well as access to education, professional training and employment. 24. Legislative and policy measures had been adopted to protect the rights of older persons, including the national Policy for Older Persons and the Basic Social Security Programme. 25. Persons with albinism were victims of persecution, violence and discrimination due to myths and superstitions. In the northern part of the country, they were attacked, kidnapped and trafficked for the purpose of extracting organs and other parts of the human body. To combat this phenomenon, the new Penal Code severely punished practices related to the crimes of kidnapping and human trafficking. Additionally, the multisectoral plan aimed at responding to the problems faced by persons with albinism and at protecting them adopted in 2015 was in the process of implementation. 26. Although Mozambique had not yet ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Government had made efforts to implement policies emanating from the Covenant. 27. The enactment of the Law No. 18/2018 of 28 December 2018 establishing the National Education System had raised compulsory schooling from grade 7 to grade 9. Additionally, the expansion of the school network throughout the country had increased enrolment rates and reduced the average distance travelled by students. By revoking decree 39/GM/2003, which prohibited pregnant students from attending daytime classes, the Government addressed concerns about the discriminatory nature of the decree and the fact that it put pregnant girls at greater risk of physical and sexual abuse and violence. 28. The health sector was one of the priority areas for national development. An analysis of the situation revealed that poverty was behind the major public health problems. Despite existing challenges, successful results had been observed that guaranteed permanent improvements in the health indicators defined in the National Five-Year Plan 2015–2020. 29. Action had been taken within the framework of the National Five-Year Plan 2015– 2020 to combat poverty, develop housing and ensure access to water and sanitation. 30. A number of challenges remained, however, including the high unemployment rate and widespread poverty. 31. In the future, the Government planned: to establish a commission for coordination on human rights and international humanitarian law; to adopt a national human rights policy and a strategy for its implementation; to adopt a national action plan for implementing the recommendations arising from the third cycle of the universal periodic review; to ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other international legal instruments; and to improve dialogue and strengthen partnerships with civil society organizations. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 32. During the interactive dialogue, 106 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 33. Thailand welcomed the legislative measures taken to protect the rights of children in line with international standards. 34. Timor-Leste commended Mozambique for adopting the law on the National Education System and the law on preventing and combating premature unions. 35. Togo welcomed the efforts made by Mozambique to implement the recommendations from its second universal periodic review despite the challenges it faced. 4