A/HRC/8/31 Page 4 radicalization is the lack of political freedom and room for political and social participation. The promotion of good governance and the rule of law as well as respect for basic human rights and for cultural and religious diversity can contribute to the prevention of this radicalization. She also highlighted the importance of promoting the rule of law, which is conducive to the delegitimization of the use of violence by groups of citizens. This includes countering the instigation of violence on the Internet, other media, in education and religious institutions. 8. The Netherlands is building an effective mechanism to counter terrorism in the earliest possible stages. While this may mean that certain persons and organizations will have to be observed more closely, measures for combating terrorism are defined by law and enforced under legal supervision. 9. The Netherlands respects the absolute nature of the prohibition of torture in expulsion cases of terrorist suspects because human rights apply to everyone. This means that no one liable to Netherlands jurisdiction will ever be knowingly and wilfully subjected to treatment contrary to the provisions dealing with the right to life and the prohibition of torture. This is equally true for terrorist suspects and persons who fall within the scope of article 1F of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. 10. Human rights have a prominent role in addressing human trafficking and prostitution. The Netherlands combats trafficking and all related criminal activities fervently. The Netherlands is also the first country to have established an independent National Rapporteur on Human Trafficking in 2000. The Netherlands has imposed a period of reflection of three months, during which victims of trafficking can carefully consider whether or not they wish to cooperate with the police. Victims that decide to do so will receive a temporary residence permit. Those who do not cooperate can request a residence permit on special and individual grounds. Human rights also have an important role regarding Dutch policy on prostitution. The Netherlands lifted the ban on brothels in 2000. This has given the responsible authorities more and better possibilities to improve the position of sex workers, for example in the areas of safety, health and working conditions. 11. The State Secretary for Justice noted that the prevention and combating of discrimination is another issue requiring special attention. Discrimination, on whichever grounds, cannot be permitted. Consequently, prevention and combating discrimination require a substantial effort by the Government. Dutch laws prohibit discrimination and punish those breaking such laws. The Netherlands supports the victims of discrimination and has developed a new national infrastructure of anti-discrimination bureaus to assist the victims. The Netherlands is aware of the changes in its society since 2001 and has taken a wide range of measures to counter social divisions and the hardening of social attitudes. A policy plan is currently being developed that aims at combating racial discrimination on the labour market, in law enforcement, criminal investigation and on the Internet. The Netherlands strongly believes that real interaction between people of different backgrounds will help to combat discrimination and Islamophobia in the country. Respecting the freedom of Muslims to practise their religion is also a key theme of integration policies and is in line with a longstanding tradition of freedom of religion in the Netherlands. 12. The improvement of women’s rights and emancipation remain important. The State Secretary for Justice stressed that the main issues in the policy of the Netherlands are labour participation, the position of women and girls from minority groups, safety and international emancipation policy. There is a special portfolio, the Minister for Emancipation, tasked with the coordination of the emancipation policy. All involved departments have their own responsibilities related to this issue. 13. She noted that the appointment of a Minister for Youth and Family, among other measures, shows the importance paid to children’s rights by the Netherlands. In part as a result of the United