A/HRC/8/41 Page 9 27. Qatar noted the deep-rooted human rights traditions and the prominent role played by Switzerland in setting up the Human Rights Council and the Universal Periodic Review. Since it has one of highest level of foreigners in Europe, Qatar wished to know about the efforts, guarantees and measures taken by Switzerland to ensure that foreigners, in particular Muslims, are not targeted. Qatar asked for more information about Switzerland’s experience in having a balance between freedom of expression and ensuring that members of other religions are not abused. 28. Colombia asked about action taken to increase a gender balance, especially with regard to salary disparities, and the way in which childcare could be combined with a greater engagement of women in the labour market. It also requested information on the protection of the rights of migrant workers, especially married female migrant workers, and on the prospect of ratifying ICRMW. 29. Senegal welcomed the progress demonstrated in areas of health care, welfare protection and fundamental freedoms as a whole. Senegal hoped that Switzerland would continue to be successful in its efforts to improve the situation of migrants, to better tackle poverty, and to put an end to the risks that xenophobia and intolerance may develop. Senegal asked if Switzerland has examined the possibility of lifting its reservation to article 4 of ICERD and if it is planning to ratify the ICRMW. 30. Azerbaijan wished to know whether Switzerland was planning to establish a federal human rights commission, and with regard to a specific concern raised by the Human Rights Committee, CERD, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and CEDAW, asked whether the application of Switzerland’s international obligations throughout its territory may be hampered by its federal structure. Azerbaijan also enquired on when Switzerland plan to become a party to the first Optional Protocol to ICCPR, as recommended by the Human Rights Committee. 31. Saudi Arabia welcomed Switzerland’s commitment to human rights and for its support and contributions to the United Nations agencies and international organizations and NGOs. Saudi Arabia noted that there is no national human rights institution in Switzerland. It also noted that the Federal Council to combat racism, set up in 1995 to monitor cases of racial discrimination, does not have authority to take any legal measures to combat racial discrimination. Saudi Arabia asked what steps has Switzerland taken or intends to take in this respect and about the nature of new legislation to give a legal impetus to the bodies which are dealing with human rights to make them more effective and to reduce the phenomenon of racial discrimination, and if there are steps taken to spread a culture of human rights and putting an end to racial discrimination. Saudi Arabia wanted to know if Switzerland’s law explicitly prohibits incitement to racial and religious hatred. 32. Turkey asked whether Switzerland was considering the accession to ICRMW, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and encouraged Swiss authorities to continue their efforts regarding gender equality. It noted that the interpretation of certain articles of the Swiss Criminal Code, such as provisions contained in article 261bis, may limit the enjoyment of freedom of expression. 33. Romania asked how Switzerland intends to realize the right to housing, in particular right to social housing, and how it reacts to the concerns expressed by the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing in 2000, and if the problems have been solved. It noted that despite progress made, there is still discrimination against women in the labour market, especially as concerns the salary gap between men and women, and asked whether Switzerland intended to introduce supplementary measures to reduce these gaps, and how it intended to address the question of foreign workers.