A/HRC/46/12 analysing the progress made and challenges faced. Social expenditure had been increased and social protection programmes had reached nearly 3 million people. Between 2015 and 2019, the percentage of households in a situation of extreme poverty had decreased from 40.0 to 36.7 and the percentage of those in a situation of poverty had decreased from 63.8 to 59.3. 15. Several indicators in the area of education had significantly improved, including the net coverage rate in pre-basic, basic and secondary education. Between 2016 and 2020, the budget of the Ministry of Education had been increased by 15 per cent and 1 billion lempiras had been invested in improving the educational infrastructure. In 2019, the Ministry of Education had approved the Intercultural Bilingual Education Model for indigenous and Afro-Honduran peoples. 16. Between 2016 and 2019, the budget of the health sector had been increased by 27 per cent, with priority given to improving the supply of medicines and medical equipment and to preventing and controlling transmissible diseases. The provision of health services to indigenous and Afro-Honduran people had been expanded and important policies had been implemented, such as the National Policy on Gender in Health, the Regional Malaria Elimination Initiative and the National Strategic Response Plan on HIV and AIDS. Honduras had invested more than 3.367 million lempiras in improving the health sector’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 17. During the interactive dialogue, 85 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 18. Estonia welcomed the adoption by Honduras of the SIMOREH database and other institutional measures to promote and protect human rights. It was concerned that the situation of human rights defenders and journalists had worsened. 19. Ethiopia welcomed the measures taken by Honduras to incorporate human rights into the policy frameworks. It commended the special attention paid to the rights of children and adolescents. 20. Fiji welcomed the establishment of the Ministry of Human Rights and commended Honduras for the legislative human rights reforms undertaken since its previous review. 21. France welcomed the establishment of an OHCHR office in Honduras and of the Ministry of Human Rights. It remained concerned about violence and poverty in the country. 22. Georgia welcomed the Institutional Strategic Plan 2017–2021 of the judiciary and the measures taken by Honduras to ensure gender equality and address gender violence. 23. Germany welcomed the creation by Honduras of the Ministry of Human Rights but remained concerned about widespread impunity. It encouraged Honduras to investigate the human rights abuses that took place after the elections of 2017. 24. Greece welcomed the progress made by Honduras in strengthening its human rights institutions, especially for the protection of journalists and human right defenders. 25. Guyana welcomed the measures taken by Honduras to strengthen legislation and to enhance protection for women, migrants, human rights defenders and other vulnerable groups. 26. Haiti welcomed the establishment by Honduras of the Ministry of Human Rights and acknowledged its efforts to promote human rights despite the COVID-19 situation and Hurricane Eta. 27. Iceland welcomed the national report presented by Honduras and the steps outlined therein and hoped for their continued implementation. 28. India welcomed the measures taken by Honduras to protect the rights of children and adolescents and encouraged Honduras to ensure the effective implementation of the Public Policy against Racism and Racial Discrimination for the Comprehensive Development of Indigenous and Afro-Honduran Peoples. 4