A/HRC/11/25* that much work remained to be done in the field of human rights. Noting that the establishment of a fully funded and independent national human rights institution has proved helpful in a number of countries, it recommended (a) establishing a national human rights institution, in accordance with the Paris Principles. It noted with concern continuing allegations around the use of forced labour as a corrective measure, torture, detention without trial and ill-treatment of suspects in policy custody, harassment of lawyers and human rights defenders, and ongoing restrictions on freedom of religion, information and expression. It recommended (b) engaging with the Human Rights Council’s special procedure mandate holders on addressing these human rights challenges. Welcoming the apparent drop in the number of executions in China since the return of the right of review to the Supreme People’s Court in 2007, New Zealand recommended (c) continued reform towards the eventual abolition of the death penalty, including greater transparency around its use. It further recommended (d) conducting a review of its application of the 1984 safeguards, as adopted by ECOSOC 1984/50. It noted an OHCHR report referring to human rights concerns in Tibet raised by special rapporteurs and by various treaty bodies. New Zealand has been a consistent supporter of dialogue to achieve meaningful outcomes that address the interests of all communities in Tibet and it understands that China intends to resume this dialogue and recommended that (e) it do so. New Zealand recommended (f) adopting further measures to ensure universal access to health and education and other welfare for rural communities, minority regions, disadvantaged families and the internal migrant population. It recommended that g) the national action plan on human rights reflect concrete steps towards the ratification of the ICCPR. 84. Argentina asked about initiatives to expand the right to freedom of thought and freedom of expression with regard to Internet use, and whether there were plans to criminalize torture in the internal legal order, in conformity with international parameters. It recommended (a) analysing the possibility of ratifying human rights instruments which are considered relevant in strengthening its promotion and protection, highlighting: ICCPR, International Convention for the Protection of All Persons Against Enforced Disappearances, and assess the possibility of accepting the competency of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances in accordance with the Convention, and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the Convention against Transnational Organised Crime; (b) evaluating the possibility of promoting the establishment of a legal description of the scourge of discrimination, taking into account international legal standards in this area. 85. Portugal welcomed China’s reform efforts to create the conditions to ratify the ICCPR expressing hope that these efforts would be successful in a short term period. It also noted that the ICCPR is one of the cornerstones of the international framework for the protection and promotion of human rights and this system would be stronger with the full participation of China. Noting that violence against women is a scourge that has to be addressed in all countries. Portugal stated that the vulnerability of women increased with the absence of a legal definition “discrimination.” Portugal recommended to China that: (a) such a definition be inscribed in its national law; While noting the concern expressed by CESCR in 2005 about the continued irregularities in the provision of universal access to free compulsory primary education particularly with regard to rural communities, minority regions, disadvantaged families and internal migrant population, Portugal welcomed the recent rise to nine years of compulsory education, and the achievements in adult literacy, development of vocational and technical training and pre-school education. It recommended that China (b) ensure that primary education attains the constitutionally guaranteed universal compulsory status. In spite of all the progresses in the field of education, Portugal expressed concern over programmes like “Work and Study” as the regulations failed to provide a clear definition of the acceptable kind, intensity and overall time duration of this special category of work. It welcomed the ratification of the ICRPD 20 GE. 09-16299