A/HRC/46/11 9. Second, in order to prevent layoffs and the deterioration of the business environment, the Government had released €40 million in assistance to self-employed persons and employees, had made available interest-free loans in the amount of €230 million for the refinancing of existing loans and to cover businesses’ operating costs, and had taken over payment of employers’ social security contributions for employees who were on partial unemployment because of the lockdown. 10. Third, the necessary social assistance was provided so that no one would be left in poverty. An allowance equal to the minimum wage had been paid to parents who had to stay home with children under the age of 14 or with disabilities quarantined after contact with someone who had tested positive for COVID-19, both during and after the period of quarantine. 11. More than 2,000 seasonal workers had been unable to return to their countries of origin during the lockdown. The Government had extended the validity of their residence permits and their social security coverage. The Andorran authorities had mobilized to find housing for the workers and had provided them with financial assistance and food aid. 12. Considerable efforts had been made in education. Distance learning had been instituted and, to ensure that children who did not have their own information technology devices would be on an equal footing with those who did, devices had been lent to students who needed them and they were provided with an Internet connection free of charge. A childcare service had also been set up for the small children of parents who worked in essential sectors. School lunch and school transport subsidies had been paid directly to families during the lockdown. Psychological support had also been made available to children and young people in situations of vulnerability because of the lockdown. 13. The delegation of Andorra drew attention to the immense financial outlay that all these efforts had represented for the Government, which had released over €400 million since the beginning of 2020 to respond to the pandemic. It should be noted that the 2020 government budget had initially amounted to €470 million. 14. A recommendation of the Committee on the Rights of the Child to adopt a national plan for children and adolescents had been implemented. On 15 February 2019, Parliament had adopted a qualified act on the rights of children and adolescents, which provided for the adoption of such a plan. Children and adolescents were taking part in the preparation of the plan, which was expected to be finalized in March 2021. 15. Andorra would very soon be able to comply with another recommendation that had often been made, as a bill for a qualified act on the individual and the family would push the minimum age for marriage to 18. 16. The parliament had adopted the Act on Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination in February 2019 and, in December 2020, the Government would consider a bill on the de facto equality of women and men. In addition, a State Secretariat for Equality and Civic Engagement, an Observatory for Equality, a Commission for Women and a Commission for Diversity had been established. 17. Another important step had been taken on 1 February 2019 with respect to maternity and paternity leave. Maternity leave had been increased from 16 to 20 weeks, and paternity leave from 2 to 4 weeks. 18. With respect to abortion, legalization could jeopardize the stability of the country’s institutional framework and even its existence. Andorra was a co-principality, with one lay co-prince, the President of the French Republic, and one episcopal co-prince, the bishop of Urgell. That said, the issue of abortion was regularly raised by Andorran civil society. 19. While it was true that abortion was not legal, no woman or practitioner had ever been tried or convicted for having or performing an abortion in Andorra. In addition, women who had abortions abroad had access to all necessary health-care and follow-up services upon their return. Furthermore, Andorran institutions had no information suggesting that abortions were being performed clandestinely in the country. In order to protect women’s health, the Government had established a special office on 8 March 2020 to provide information to women wishing to terminate their pregnancy. GE.20-17726 3