A/HRC/8/24 Page 6 Justice of the Government and the Parliamentary Ombudsman are the supreme guardians of the law in Finland. They both work independently and their duties as guardians of the law are laid down in the Constitution and in separate acts. As an important part of their duties they both monitor the implementation of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Supervision of legality is additionally carried out by four other ombudsmen (equality, data protection, minorities, children) with different emphasis on legality. 15. The Finnish Ministry of Justice has set up a committee to reform the Finnish non-discrimination legislation. This committee will, if necessary, also revise the status, duties and powers of the existing non-discrimination ombudsmen. The committee will submit its final proposals in 2009. The question of setting up a national human rights institution is also currently being studied and the very preliminary reactions to this initiative are positive. 16. On the questions related to military and civil services, the overall reform of the Non-Military Service Act shortened the duration of non-military service by one month, to 362 days, which is equal to the longest duration of the service referred to in the Military Services Act. Liability for non-military service now exists in a state of emergency as well. Centres for Non-Military Service are responsible for the placement of persons liable for non-military service during a state of emergency. The assisting tasks assigned to these persons in such situations are performed under the leadership of civil rescue authorities. Refusal to perform non-military service, on one hand, and non-military service offences punishable by disciplinary punishments, on the other hand, are defined by different elements of an offence. The duration of unconditional imprisonment imposed for refusal to perform non-military service is half of the remaining service period. The duration of unconditional imprisonment imposed for a non-military service offence is half of the remaining service period at the maximum, so that the court has discretion when imposing the punishment. 17. Concerning the question on violence against women, increased awareness of domestic violence has led authorities and organizations to take preventive measures. Intersectoral cooperation and the coordination thereof have been enhanced at both national and local levels. Preventing violence against women has been one objective in the Government programme and in a number of administrative action plans intended to prevent and reduce violence. An action plan to prevent violence in close relationships and families was carried out in 2004-2007. Further plans include the setting up of a new coordination unit at the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES) by the end of 2009; a study on the situation of immigrant women working in massage centres; preventing violence in close relationships (especially violence against women) as one of the focuses of the new intersectoral Internal Security Programme 2008-2011; the Government Action Plan for Gender Equality, too, contains a number of measures to prevent violence in intimate relationships, violence against women, and prostitution; reducing violence against women is also prioritized in the Government’s decision-in-principle of 14 December 2006 for the National Programme for Reducing Violence in Finland. The aim of this decision is to reduce violence by improving the capacity to intervene in such violence, to provide support and to seek help. 18. As to the question on the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the Head of Delegation confirmed that Finland has signed the Convention on 6 February 2007. As concerns the time frame for the ratification process, a Government bill for the enforcement of the Convention is currently being drafted.