A/HRC/11/17* of Indigenous Peoples to find legislative solutions addressing the discriminatory effects of the Indian Act. 70. The Russian Federation noted that civil society consultations were carried out after the national report had been presented to OHCHR. It recommended (a) developing a national strategy to eliminate poverty. Noting that no state is free of racism, racial discrimination and intolerance, it said these problems need to be addressed by joint efforts and effective instruments such as the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. It recommended that the Canadian government (b) revise its decision not to participate in the review conference on racism due to take place in April this year in Geneva. 71. France acknowledged the impact of the distribution of power and authority between federal and provincial levels of government on treaty ratification, asking about incorporation of the commitments under the ICCPR into its domestic legislation, and whether Canada intends to adopt specific legislation on domestic violence. France recommended ratifying (a) OP-CAT and setting up a domestic torture prevention mechanism; (b) the Protocol on prevention and punishing of trafficking in human beings in particular women and children because this adds to the United Nations Convention against transnational organized crimes, and the 182 ILO Convention prohibiting the worst forms of child labour; and (c) CED. 72. Vietnam appreciated Canada’s success in combating poverty-related problems, health, education, training, housing and social security. It asked about the system of sharing competencies between federal and provincial governments regarding human rights. It recommended that Canada (a) intensify efforts already undertaken to better ensure the right to adequate housing, especially for vulnerable groups and low income families, and; (b) continue policies and programmes aimed at reducing inequalities that still exist between the Aboriginal, recent immigrants and other Canadians. 73. The Republic of Korea welcomed the human rights values enshrined in the Constitution, the Charter and Canada’s democratic institutions. It noted civil society and treaty body concerns relating to counter-terrorism and the lack of protection of indigenous peoples, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. It asked to what extent civil society feedback was reflected in the national report and about civil society involvement in UPR follow-up. 74. The Syrian Arab Republic recommended that Canada: (a) implement the voluntary pledges it presented as it applied to the Council, namely, the principles of universality, objectivity and non-selectivity in the consideration of human rights issues, and the elimination of double standards and politicization in addressing Human Rights issues of different communities and peoples domestically and internationally; (b) give appropriate attention to end racial discrimination against the Arab and Muslim communities in Canada including racial and religious profiling; (c) take the necessary measures to end discrimination against women in workplaces and implement ILO and CESCR recommendations to ensure equal remuneration for work of equal value in public and private sectors; (d) take the necessary measures to end violence against women including domestic violence and against aboriginal women, and implement CEDAW and HR Committee recommendations in this context; (e) ratify the ICRMW. 75. Slovakia said several NGOs have criticised the Continuing Committee of Officials on Human Rights for lack of transparency and insufficient decision-making powers. It recommended Canada (a) consider measures to make the Committee more operational, ensure its better accessibility for the civil society enabling thus a permanent dialogue process on international human rights obligations including those from the UPR; (b) conduct a review of the effectiveness of its legislation relevant to trafficking in human beings and implement reforms where necessary to strengthen the protection of the rights of 14 GE.09-15299