A/HRC/32/8 94. Lithuania commended ratification by Belgium of international treaties, its efforts to create a national human rights institution in compliance with the Paris Principles, and efforts to improve prison conditions. 95. Malaysia noted new legislation that enabled action against acts of discrimination and hate-related violence, and improvements in the rights of women, children and persons with disabilities. 96. Mexico commended the efforts of Belgium to implement the recommendations of the universal periodic review, such as the future establishment of a national human rights mechanism in accordance with the Paris Principles. 97. Montenegro welcomed activities undertaken by Belgium to ensure gender equality, highlighted inclusive educational integration policies for children with disabilities and integration of migrants, and noted concerns regarding child abuse and street children. 98. Morocco congratulated Belgium for ratifying new human rights instruments, particularly the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, as well as for its efforts to combat racism, intolerance and discrimination. 99. Belgium said that the prohibition of incitement to hatred constituted one of the legal restrictions on freedom of expression and that there were three federal laws in force to combat incitement to hatred: the Act prohibiting certain acts motivated by racism or xenophobia; the Act to combat certain forms of discrimination; and the Act prohibiting the denial, minimization, justification or approval of the genocide committed by the German Nazi regime during the Second World War. Furthermore, the Government had started to draft a national action plan against racism, xenophobia and intolerance. 100. On the issue of discrimination, notably in terms of housing and employment, the delegation recalled that, under Belgian law, equal treatment applied to all areas of social life. To combat discrimination in the various sectors, Belgium had also devised instruments to measure diversity, such as the diversity barometer. Furthermore, several initiatives conducted by the Government, professional associations and companies aimed to raise awareness of the risks of documented discriminatory practices in the hiring process and their deleterious effects. 101. Regarding the wearing of religious symbols in education, the delegation stated that there was no legislation governing the wearing of the veil in schools. It was incumbent upon each educational establishment to decide whether or not to authorize such distinctive signs. Whatever the case, children retained their access to school. 102. With regard to corporal punishment, while Belgian legislation did not explicitly prohibit the practice, it was not tolerated. 103. Concerning female genital mutilation, Belgium had introduced legislation prohibiting the practice in 2000 and, since July 2014, the law expressly provided for the punishment of persons practising, facilitating and promoting all forms of female genital mutilation and persons who incited the practice. 104. Namibia applauded measures to combat racism and discrimination taken by Belgium in 2013 and 2014. 105. Nepal took note of the liberal nature of the preventive measures to fight racism, extremism and xenophobia. 106. The Netherlands commended action plans against homophobia and transphobia, and stressed the importance of ensuring respect for human rights standards within the police. 107. Nicaragua recognized the efforts to promote social integration, tolerance and respect for interculturalism, to fight violence and to promote the rights of youths. GE.16-05884 11