A/HRC/8/31 Page 7 activity among Muslim youth, and views of conservative Muslims on women’s rights, homosexuality, and corporal punishment. Also, religious and ethnic minorities often perceive that they are discriminated against. The United States asked the Netherlands about its strategies to better integrate religious and ethnic minorities. 26. The United Kingdom noted with some concern the delays the Netherlands has faced in submitting its periodic reports to various United Nations bodies. It recommended to the Netherlands to ensure that in the future, information on the implementation of human rights conventions in the Dutch overseas territories be consistently included in its reports to treaty bodies, and offered assistance in sharing experiences in this respect. 27. Peru welcomed the fact that the Netherlands hosts many migrants and asylum-seekers, and its approach to multiculturalism. It noted that the Netherlands has not ratified the ICRMW and recommended to the State to do so. 28. Brazil acknowledged that progress has been made, inter alia, with respect to the protection against racial discrimination. It expressed concerns at counterterrorism measures and policies to combat human trafficking. It wanted to know how the act on expanding the scope of investigations and prosecution of terrorist crimes meets international human rights standards. It also enquired about the assessment of the Netherlands current policy regarding immediate assistance to victims of human trafficking. It recommended considering the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and the Optional Protocol to CRC on the involvement of children in armed conflict. 29. Cuba noted that xenophobia and racism, particularly on the Internet and other media, and the stigmatization of religious and ethnic minorities are still present in the country. It stated that an antiIslamic approach, which is an offence to people who hold that faith, is an exaggerated use of freedom of speech. In this context, Cuba wanted to know how the Government reconciles the freedom of speech with article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), to which it has not tabled any reservations. It recommended the immediate implementation of all relevant articles. Cuba also asked how the Government reconciles counterterrorism measures with the respect of human rights obligations and recommended that it consider revising all anti-terrorism legislation to bring it in line with the highest human rights standards. 30. The Russian Federation noted with satisfaction information that the Netherlands is working on the ratification of the Optional Protocol to CAT and the Optional Protocol to CRC on the involvement of children in armed conflict and recommended that clear time frames be set in this regard and that the Human Rights Council be informed accordingly. It enquired about reservations with respect to CRC and recommended that the question of their withdrawal be considered. Lastly, the Russian Federation recommended that in the future, all treaty bodies and all reports should cover not only the European part but also Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles and that the Netherlands withdraw its reservations to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights with regard to the Netherlands Antilles. 31. In response, the State Secretary for Justice said that the division of tasks between the Ombudsman institution, the Commission on Equal Treatment and the projected national human rights institution is currently under consideration. The new institution should add value to existing infrastructure, and its tasks will be defined in accordance with the Paris Principles. 32. Regarding the issue of integration of ethnic minorities and refugees, the State Secretary for Justice stated that it wants to build bridges between citizens. While she noted that there will always