A/HRC/15/9 what specific measures were being taken to address violence against women, and about the effects of the financial and economic crisis on Armenia’s policies. Brazil made recommendations. 50. The Czech Republic thanked Armenia for its national report and its answers to advance questions. It welcomed the work carried out in the area of children’s rights. It referred to issues related to the definition of torture, places of detention, human rights education, fair trial, domestic violence and juvenile justice. The Czech Republic made recommendations. 51. Germany asked about measures to prevent trafficking, especially the trafficking in women and children; specific programmes for victims; and efforts to strengthen regional cooperation to combat this phenomenon. Germany made recommendations. 52. France noted the recommendations made by the OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights with regard to the forthcoming general and presidential elections in Armenia. It asked whether Armenia would ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. France made recommendations. 53. Greece welcomed the signature by Armenia of the CRPD and its Optional Protocol, the CED and the OP-ICESCR. Greece expressed support for Armenia’s efforts to eliminate incidents of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment, while much work remained to be done. Greece noted the adoption of the Concept Paper on Gender Equality as an important step towards improving the status of women in the country. Greece made recommendations. 54. Kazakhstan commended Armenia for having ratified a number of international human rights instruments and extended a standing invitation to the special procedures of the Human Rights Council. It asked about the challenges faced by the Ombudsman and requested further information about the problems of street children. Kazakhstan made recommendations. 55. Canada welcomed Armenia’s efforts to strengthen its institutional and legislative framework for human rights and its standing invitation to all special procedures. Canada encouraged Armenia to investigate reports that the country continued to be a place of origin for people trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour. It made recommendations. 56. Cyprus was pleased to note that Armenia had signed the Rome Statute of the ICC and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. It recognized that national, ethnical, racial or religious groups that have suffered the horrors of such deplorable acts have increased responsibility in raising awareness. It encouraged Armenia to continue its efforts aimed at increased participation of national minorities in the educational and cultural life of the country. Cyprus made recommendations. 57. Belarus noted that the existence of a legal framework, specialized institutions and the National Plan for Human Rights attested to Armenia’s political will to adhere to its international human rights commitments. Belarus expressed appreciation for efforts to promote the rights of national minorities in the country. It made recommendations. 58. Bosnia and Herzegovina commended Armenia for its efforts in various areas related to human rights. It noted that the role of civil society in the preparation of the national report, as well as whether it had participated actively after the drafting of the report, remained unclear, and requested further information about future plans for cooperation with civil society. Bosnia and Herzegovina made recommendations. 59. Iraq commended Armenia’s efforts to promote and protect human rights through the establishment of relevant national human rights institutions, its accession to international 9