A/HRC/8/32 Page 17 commitments certainly deserve highlighting in the conclusions and recommendations of the present report. Belgium also welcomed the progress made by South Africa by banning, in the Constitution, all discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. According to information provided by representatives of civil society as contained in the stakeholders’ summary report, this category of the population nevertheless remains vulnerable. Belgium noted that the South African Human Rights Commission has developed a programme of action to combat hate crimes against this category of the population and Belgium sought more information on its implementation. Belgium recommended to South Africa to increase its efforts to provide mediation machinery to provide victims of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation more accessible and rapid remedies. It also recommended to make efforts on the sensitization in education to strengthen the prevention of these forms of discrimination. 58. Switzerland noted the impressive achievements made by South Africa on the basis of its multicultural and democratic society and noted that after four decades of apartheid, the elimination of racial discrimination is a foundation on which South Africa is built. Switzerland also noted that CERD has welcomed the special measures to fight the effects of segregation, but also noted that the manifestation of racism and xenophobia still exist. In this regard, Switzerland sought further information on any campaign by South Africa to reduce xenophobia and if any evaluation of the impact of such campaign has been undertaken. It also indicated that one of the challenges South Africa still had to face was the violence against women and children. It noted with concern the high number of cases of rape, especially of children, and that the number of proceedings on complaints of rape was still very low. It thus recommended to South Africa to follow-up on the recommendation made by the Committee against Torture to adopt all necessary measures to prevent, combat and punish violence against women and children. Switzerland also encouraged South Africa to do everything in its power to make sure that sex offences in the Criminal Code be effective at the earliest opportunity. Switzerland was also interested to know about measures taken to sensitize the population to prevent such violence within the society but also in schools. 59. Romania commended South Africa on the tremendous efforts made in reforming the legislation in order to enable the substantiation of all rights provided by the Constitution, in particular equality and non-discrimination as a core element of the consolidation of constitutional democracy in South Africa. While congratulating for its achievements in enforcing the right to adequate housing, Romania sought further information on the consequences of the amendments to the 1998 Act on Prevention of Illegal Eviction currently under review in Parliament. It also asked whether the South African authorities were aware of the consequences of the recently enacted legislation of Kwa Zulu Natal Province regarding the eradication of slums and its consequences on the increase of eviction procedures. Also, while commending South African authorities for the policies adopted in the field of public health and the measures taken to fight against HIV/AIDS, Romania recommended to South Africa to increase its measures to eliminate the discriminatory barriers to access health services for people living with HIV/AIDS. Romania also recommended that South Africa consider accelerating the ratification of ICESCR and the Optional Protocol to CAT. 60. Jordan commended South Africa on the ongoing efforts to further improve the situation of human rights which were instrumental for the successful and peaceful transition from the apartheid regime to a multicultural and democratic society, and on the work of the TRC. Jordan further praised the accession by South Africa to a large number of international human rights instruments complemented by a legislative and institutional framework, including the establishment of the South African Human Rights Commission. It also noted that South Africa is hosting the OHCHR Regional Office for Southern Africa, which demonstrates its strong political will to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in South Africa and the region. Jordan also stressed that