A/HRC/8/33 Page 4 inter-ministerial working group to coordinate the preparation of the ratification of these two instruments. Finally, the Czech Republic supported the adoption of the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Amendments to national legislation that are necessary for its signature and ratification are currently under discussions. 7. The Czech delegation thanked Cuba, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation, Sweden and the United Kingdom for their questions submitted in advance to the delegation. The protection of human rights in the Czech Republic is guaranteed by international conventions of the United Nations and the Council of Europe and by its own constitutional order. Apart from the resolution of individual cases by the judiciary, the Minister for Human Rights created in 2007 deals with the issue of human rights, along with a Government Commissioner for Human Rights, established 10 years ago. The new Minister is responsible for developing and implementing human rights policies. The Commissioner submits an annual report to the Government on the state of human rights which is then forwarded to Parliament and finally published on the Internet. 8. In addition, a Public Defender of Rights (Ombudsman) was established in 2001. Since 2006 he has been conducting systematic visits to detention centres. The Ombudsman may also open inquiries on his own initiative. The powers of the Ombudsman will soon be expanded by virtue of a new anti-discrimination act, which has been approved by the Chamber of Deputies and is currently under review by the Senate. If approved, it should come into effect this year. 9. The Czech Republic also reminded of its need to take a proactive approach regarding the Roma community. In January 2008, the Governmental Agency for Elimination of Social Exclusion in Roma Localities was established to combat negative effects linked to exclusion. The Agency should assist in Roma integration, acting as an intermediary between all parties involved in the Roma inclusion policy, and it operates in 12 selected localities with the aim to transform Roma “ghettoes”. 10. Ten years ago, the Government established the Council for Roma Community Affairs, which is a standing advisory and initiative body of the Government. The Council secures the cooperation of individual Government departments implementing measures and tasks resulting from resolutions taken by the Government and international instruments. In the last 10 years, two key documents have been regularly updated, the Concept of Roma Integration and the report on state of Roma communities. 11. Regarding the education of Roma children, a new concept of education for disadvantaged populations is currently under consideration, based on an inclusive philosophy for children currently educated in separate programmes, and a step-by-step integration process into mainstream schools. 12. Since 1997 the Ministry of Interior has submitted annual reports on racial and ethnically motivated crimes. The statistics show a relatively stable or a slightly decreasing trend. The Government also believes it is crucial for social cohesion to ensure that members of minorities are present in the police force. In 2006, the Government conducted the first part of an information campaign geared towards recruiting members of ethnic minorities for positions in the police. 13. Since 2003, the Czech Republic has been on a regular basis preparing national strategies for combating trafficking in human beings. A programme on support and protection of victims of trafficking offers them assistance including emergency psychosocial or health care, accommodation and support for integration, which may in the case of foreigners include change of their residence