A/HRC/16/13 cooperation with the special procedures and the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Iraq made recommendations. 83. The delegation of Croatia stated that the country had set up an inter-agency working group to study the possibility of ratifying the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. On the designation of a national preventive mechanism relating to the Convention against Torture, a bill was currently being considered by Parliament. 84. With regard to statelessness, Croatia was considering the ratification of the 1961 Convention, as its existing legislation offered broader protection for certain categories. 85. Croatia continued to implement its judicial reform strategy, in particular to enhance the independence and efficiency of the judiciary. Comprehensive legislative and organizational reforms had been adopted and, in June 2010, the Constitution had been amended. A new State Judicial Council Act had been adopted to better ensure independence, as well as new provisions relating to the selection of judges. 86. Regarding prison conditions, Croatia was facing a lack of space, but had tried to overcome that problem by opening a new prison by the end of 2010, in addition to two other projects by the Ministry of Justice, to enlarge one prison and build another. In addition, activities for inmates had been proposed in accordance with United Nations standards, and medical care was provided to them. Furthermore, a probation law had been adopted in 2009 to increase the use of alternative forms of punishment. 87. The prohibition of torture was enshrined in the Constitution. The Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Act, the Act on the Enforcement of Prison Terms, the Asylum Act and the Aliens Act also contained provisions on torture. 88. The participation of minorities in representative bodies was deemed to be adequate, and there had been increased recruitment of minority members in some civil service sectors. The representation of minorities in administration and the judiciary was suboptimal. Awareness-raising campaigns had been carried out throughout the country to address that issue. 89. Croatia intended to improve the status of women in the labour market to ensure gender equality. The general legislative framework had been harmonized with international standards, and all forms of gender discrimination in the labour market were prohibited. Equal salary for equal work was also guaranteed by law. The share of women entrepreneurs was on the increase, and this was supported through the Women’s Entrepreneurship Development Strategy. 90. There had been a number of activities to increase the participation of women in the political decision-making process, and the delegation provided statistics in that regard. 91. Croatia considered awareness-raising activities as a key preventive measure against domestic violence. Reports on the implementation of the National Strategy for Protection from Domestic Violence had been made public, and the process of drafting the new Strategy was ongoing. A specific law on domestic violence had been adopted in 2009. 92. The delegation recalled its opening statement relating to the protection of journalists and stated that it cooperated with special procedures on freedom of expression and human rights defenders in that respect. 93. The Convalidation Act set out rules relating to pensions for refugees who had worked in Croatia prior to the declaration of independence, and the delegation provided statistics on its implementation. 13