A/HRC/16/9 challenges, including incidences of human trafficking and issues concerning the human rights of the Roma community, particularly of Roma women and girls. Malaysia made recommendations. 28. Canada welcomed Bulgaria’s commitment to pursuing implementation of its human rights obligations and pointed to positive efforts to ensure respect for the rights of vulnerable social groups, and promotion of access to justice, particularly for ethnic minorities, through the adoption of a Legal Aid Act and the establishment of the National Legal Aid Office. Canada expressed concern at the alleged excessive use of force by police in Bulgaria, along with corruption in the judicial system. Canada also expressed concern at persistent challenges related to gender equality. Canada made recommendations. 29. Cyprus welcomed Bulgaria’s ratification of all relevant international conventions on combating human trafficking and the establishment of the National Commission to address trafficking. It also commended Bulgaria’s efforts aimed at the integration of Roma communities and asked about the integration of immigrants and refugees. It requested information about measures taken to ensure that decisions of the European Court of Human Rights were taken into consideration in the formulation or implementation of national legislation and policies. 30. Germany requested information about how Bulgaria had followed up on recommendations by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Committee on the Rights of the Child with reference to: combating the use of authority and ill treatment by the police against persons from minority groups; addressing concerns about the propagation of racist stereotypes and hatred towards persons belonging to minorities, including by organizations, media and political parties; and addressing concerns about the increase in the number of children subjected to child abuse. Germany made recommendations. 31. Netherlands commended Bulgaria for its efforts to strengthen the rule of law and to combat corruption and organized crime, as well as for its dedication to protecting the rights of children in institutions, notably through the adoption of the de-institutionalization strategy for children. Netherlands expressed concerns at the discrimination, and sometimes ill treatment, directed against Roma people. Netherlands made recommendations. 32. The delegation of Bulgaria responded that, in relation to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, Bulgaria should be able to adhere to it once agreement had been reached within the European Union. 33. Concerning the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, the Minister responded that the National Assembly should be able to ensure Bulgarian adherence to them by the end of this year. 34. In respect of human trafficking, Bulgaria responded that, as of last week, a massive national public awareness information campaign had been launched. While recognizing that there were difficulties in persuading witnesses to provide testimony, Bulgaria noted that this was slowly changing and there was a sustained increase in the number of trafficking victims identified and referred for protection. Such victims were also eligible for free medical and psychological care. There was a national telephone number for children who had been subjected to domestic violence, and quite often such cases were connected to cases of trafficking. 35. In relation to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto, the delegation responded that Bulgaria had signed both, in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Thus, the Government had demonstrated its political will to abide 7