A/HRC/16/9 66. Argentina welcomed the fact that Bulgaria had extended a standing open invitation to special procedures. Argentina expressed appreciation for additional measures taken by Bulgaria to improve the situations that Roma and migrants had to face, and to end practices that may have resulted in discrimination. Argentina made recommendations. 67. Switzerland noted that Bulgaria had not yet ratified all human rights instruments, although the country had ratified the most important of these. It made reference to discriminatory practices against minorities, human trafficking and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment committed by law enforcement officials, notably against persons belonging to minority groups. Switzerland made recommendations. 68. Ghana commended Bulgaria for its efforts to fully integrate refugees into its society, while noting the challenges faced by the country in combating trafficking in human beings. Ghana wished to know what concrete steps Bulgaria intended to take to enhance its capacity to deal with the identification of victims and criminal proceedings for trafficking. With regard to equality, Ghana wished to know the status of the Equal Opportunities Bill, the adoption of which has been postponed since 2001. Ghana made recommendations. 69. Slovenia commended Bulgaria for its excellent treaty body reporting status, as well as its efforts to de-institutionalize child care. Slovenia asked Bulgaria for information about its implementation of the recommendation of the Committee on the Rights of the Child that it provide sufficient human resources, an adequate strategic approach and effective coordination with respect to the implementation of the Programme for the Equal Integration of Roma. Referring to the recommendation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Slovenia asked about the progress made in further developing structures and means for teaching ethnic communities in their mother tongue. Slovenia made recommendations. 70. Ukraine noted the efforts of Bulgarian national institutions in the areas of antidiscrimination, gender equality, child protection, combating trafficking in human beings and cooperation on ethnic and demographic issues. Ukraine praised the approval of the new Framework Programme for the Integration of Roma into Bulgarian Society for 2010-2020. Ukraine also welcomed Bulgaria’s signature of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, and encouraged the country to ratify it as a matter of priority. Ukraine made recommendations. 71. Iraq referred to the developments in the area of promoting human rights since the arrival of democracy in Bulgaria, including the adoption of legislation and the establishment of institutions, especially the Ombudsman and councils dealing with gender issues and combating trafficking. Iraq noted Bulgaria’s efforts aimed at the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and welcomed the country’s extension of a standing invitation to the special procedures. It made recommendations. 72. Nigeria commended Bulgaria for its commitment to the protection of human rights and recognized its efforts to tackle, inter alia, child abuse, violence against women and corruption. Nigeria noted that Roma people were still virtually lagging behind in all basic indices of human development. Nigeria also noted that the legal framework for protecting ethnic minorities from discrimination was deficient. Nigeria made a recommendation. 73. Romania expressed confidence that the recently established institutional framework would play a successful role in the implementation of human rights in Bulgaria. Romania encouraged the authorities to continue their efforts with a view to improving results in challenging fields. Romania also commended Bulgaria for having involved civil society in the universal periodic review process and expressed the view that cooperation between the public authorities and non-governmental organizations was a guarantee for a transparent and meaningful review process. Romania asked what steps were envisaged by Bulgaria to ensure gender equality. 12