A/HRC/48/5 104. Spain welcomed the moratorium on the death penalty, which had been in place since 2018. 105. Sri Lanka welcomed the implementation of 80 per cent of the recommendations accepted during the previous review cycle and commended the Niger on the measures it had taken to promote the rights of internally displaced persons, integrate persons with disabilities and prevent torture. 106. The State of Palestine commended the progress made on the ratification of international instruments, the rights to health and education and the efforts to reform the judicial system and to include human rights education in school curricula. 107. The Sudan welcomed the steps taken by the Niger to promote and protect human rights and its accession to several regional and international instruments. 108. Sweden noted that the National Commission for Human Rights had reported in September 2020 on the disappearance of more than 100 people in the Tillabéri region. It stressed the need for accountability and to ensure respect for human rights and international humanitarian law in counter-terrorism responses. 109. Switzerland noted that the deterioration of the security situation in the Niger had had serious consequences for the protection of the civilian population. Furthermore, the insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic had negatively affected children’s access to education. 110. Timor-Leste welcomed the accession of the Niger to the Paris Agreement on climate change, its efforts to improve access to safe drinking water and its forthcoming submission of a national action plan to combat human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. 111. Togo noted with satisfaction that the Niger had taken institutional and legislative measures to provide its population with an environment that was more conducive to respect of human rights. 112. Tunisia commended the progress made in the protection of the rights of women, children and persons with disabilities and the rights to health, education and food, the reform of the judicial system and the measures taken to combat corruption, human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants. 113. Turkey expressed satisfaction with the recent democratic elections and welcomed the progress made on the inclusion of women in political and economic affairs. It welcomed the cooperation of the Niger with the international community in building resilience for persons with disabilities, refugees and asylum seekers. 114. Ukraine noted the efforts of the Niger to develop the national normative framework for the protection of internally displaced persons, the criminalization of torture and the fight against corruption. 115. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recognized the progress made by the Niger on human rights issues, including its success in holding democratic elections and its commitment to improving education for girls. It called on the Government to ensure accountability for any human rights violations. 116. The United States of America applauded the Niger on its first democratic transfer of power in the face of reprehensible violence by terrorist groups and encouraged it to ensure open and lawful proceedings in dealing with violent extremism and seeking political dialogue with opposition. 117. Uruguay congratulated the Niger on the recent establishment of a national mechanism for the prevention of torture and wished the country success in the implementation of the recommendations it accepted. 118. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela acknowledged the significant progress the Niger had made in the areas of the penitentiary system, health, education, food and people in vulnerable situations. It welcomed the National Plan of Action to Combat Slavery and Similar Practices and the National Human Rights Commission. 119. GE.21-09329 Eswatini made recommendations. 9