A/HRC/46/12 82. Argentina celebrated the creation of the Ministry of Human Rights and the opening of an OHCHR office in Honduras. It welcomed the decrease in the homicide rate but noted that the levels of violence and insecurity remained high. 83. Australia welcomed the efforts made by Honduras to establish a national protection mechanism and urged it to complete the needed reforms to its electoral, political and judicial systems. 84. Austria applauded the ratification by Honduras of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons but remained concerned about the rising number of attacks against journalists and about the widespread discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and indigenous people. 85. Azerbaijan praised Honduras for adopting measures to ensure the practical implementation of the rights of specific groups and for ratifying international human rights instruments. 86. The Bahamas commended the establishment by Honduras of the Ministry of Human Rights and the efforts made to increase birth registration by opening five new branches of the National Registry Office. 87. Bahrain expressed concern about the increase in violence against women, including femicide, and the persistence of widespread impunity in Honduras. 88. Belarus welcomed the measures taken by Honduras to combat human trafficking, including the adoption of the Strategic Plan to Combat Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons. 89. Belgium welcomed the prohibition of child marriage and hoped that the efforts made to fight corruption and impunity would continue after the end of the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity. 90. Brazil welcomed the strengthening by Honduras of the national preventive mechanism against torture and the actions implemented to address the issue of internal displacement and urged Honduras to keep promoting public safety. 91. Canada praised Honduras for establishing the Ministry of Human Rights and expressed its concern about the overall human rights situation in the country. 92. Chile acknowledged the steps taken by Honduras to eliminate discrimination against women and inquired about measures to guarantee freedom of expression and the independence of the judiciary. 93. China welcomed the measures taken to promote human rights and expressed concern about violence, overcrowding in prisons, torture, social inequality and the situation of the health system. 94. Colombia highlighted the efforts made by Honduras to implement the recommendations received during its previous review, in 2015. 95. Costa Rica welcomed the opening of an OHCHR office in Honduras. 96. Cuba acknowledged the approval by Honduras of various laws and policies on human rights, including those related to minors in conflict with the law, the provision of school meals and debt relief for workers. 97. Czechia appreciated the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Social Communicators and Justice Officials and noted that those persons faced significant challenges. 98. Denmark expressed concern about the inadequate protection of indigenous peoples’ rights to their territories and to being included in decision-making processes. 99. Djibouti commended Honduras for its commitment to harmonizing its legal framework with international human rights standards and for its collaboration with international human rights mechanisms. 8