A/HRC/8/42 Page 9 39. The Philippines was encouraged by the steady progress of human rights, despite daunting and persistent faced, such as violent extremism and natural disasters. It encouraged Pakistan to ratify the treaties and protocols that have not yet been ratified and to continue to combat violence against women and promote the rights children, regarding which it notes the pending Child Protection Bill in Parliament and the Child protection policy being formulated, which it hopes will soon be adopted. Finally, it asked for information on the work of the District Interfaith Committees. 40. Luxembourg recommended that Pakistan bring an end to inequality between men and women, including with regard to access to property; continue to increase substantially public spending on health in order to increase access to health care; to take effective measures to allow women, in particular in rural areas, to have access to health care, education, clean water and sanitation; and to take measures to eliminate discrimination and severe poverty experienced by the castes. It asked about measures to end discrimination between men and women, in particular in connection with the right to property; and initiatives envisaged eliminating discrimination and acute poverty, from which the castes are suffering. 41. Turkey noted the Government’s plans to reform the justice and education systems and to ensure freedom of media and the 100-day programme. It welcomed the legal reforms aimed at the elimination of discrimination and gender equality, including the Criminal Law Amendment Act to facilitate the prosecution of honor killings as well as the Protection of Women Act 2006 amending the some of the Hadood Ordinances. It also noted the Child Protection Bill and the Child Protection Policy, including provisions for abolishing harmful traditional practice, revising the definition of the child and amending the minimum age of criminal responsibility. Turkey encouraged Pakistan to pursue these reforms and asked for an update on these initiatives. 42. The Russian Federation recognized the work that remains to be done to bring national legislation in line with the new international commitments, and noted with appreciation the presence of representatives of Parliament, who will work on these issues. It asked how the draft law on the protection of children which will prohibit corporal punishment will fit with the provisions of the Criminal Code which allow corporal punishment in schools and also asked about steps taken by Pakistan to provide the same status to ethnic and linguistic groups as minorities, as recommended by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). 43. Switzerland recommended making every effort to ratify ICCPR and CAT. Switzerland noted Pakistan’s priority objectives to promote women’s rights and welcomed the joining of CEDAW and legal provision to strengthen these rights. Switzerland recommended (a) doing everything possible to prevent early and forced marriage, and to recognize in its legislation rape within marriage. Switzerland encouraged Pakistan to (b) implement the draft law on the protection of children rapidly and to speed up the implementation of the 2000 edict for justice for minors. Switzerland stated that it would be in favour of universal elimination of the death penalty, which is still broadly applied in Pakistan. Recalling the General Assembly resolution of 18 December 2007, it recommended (c) declaring an immediate moratorium on all executions and wished Pakistan to move towards abolishing the death penalty, and (d) by recalling that the rules of fair trial are fundamental, Switzerland called on Pakistan to respect these as diligently as possible. 44. Cuba noted the National Plan of Action for Education. It noted the efforts made regarding child labor and indicated that these could serve as best practice for countries with similar problems, and in this regard, it requested information on the Government’s strategy to eliminate child labour. 45. Belarus recommended that Pakistan continue its active efforts to de-politicize human rights in the United Nations system, and create the conditions for consideration of human rights on the basis of equality, mutual respect and dialogue. Belarus also noted that despite major natural disasters and its resistance to terrorism Pakistan is nonetheless pursuing an active policy to ensure human rights, including access to justice and protecting economic rights.