A/HRC/11/17* 22. Chile, highlighting the diversity in Canada and welcoming measures to integrate immigrants, recommended ratifying as soon as possible the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (ICPRD), the Convention of Enforced Disappearances (CED), the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICRMW) and the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OP-CAT). Regarding indigenous peoples, it noted improvement but that extreme poverty, family violence and low levels of education persist. It also noted violence against women and domestic violence, particularly against indigenous and minority women, and racism and discrimination against minorities. Chile asked about Canada’s implementation of CERD and HR Committee recommendations. It welcomed Canada’s constructive attitude in the Council. 23. Cuba said it hoped that Canada would, at the end of its time as a Council member, reflect deeply on its previous role as an advocate for the third world. It noted that Aboriginals are disadvantaged in terms of self-generated income, education and health, with the highest ranks in suicide and poverty indexes, asking about measures to repair this historic injustice, in line with the Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. Noting that approximately 125 Canadian NGOs expressed concerns at the lack of appropriate and transparent procedures on implementation of treaty body recommendations, it asked about reform, especially regarding recommendations made during the UPR. It asked why funding of HIV/AIDS programmes was cut. Consistent with CESCR’s comments, it recommended that Canada (a) integrate these rights in its poverty reduction strategies in a way that can benefit the most vulnerable groups in society, especially the Aboriginals, Afro-Canadians, migrants, persons with disabilities, youth, women with low incomes, and single mothers, and (b) adopt all necessary measures, including the full implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to guarantee Aboriginals full enjoyment of their rights, including economic, social and cultural rights, so that their standard of living was similar to that of the rest of the citizens in Canada. 24. Norway appreciated Canada’s active role in the human rights machinery and commended civil society and indigenous representatives for contributions to this process. It recommended that Canada (a) establish an effective and inclusive process to follow up on UPR recommendations; (b) reconsider its position and endorse the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and consider ratifying ILO Convention 169; and (c) institute comprehensive reporting and statistical analysis of the scale and character of violence against indigenous women, so that a national strategy can be initiated, in consultation with indigenous representatives, to respond to the severity of the issues. 25. Australia noted Canada’s multiethnic nature. It understood that harassment of indigenous peoples and religious minorities has occurred, including isolated anti-Semitic acts. It asked about steps to address violence against women and trafficking of persons. Australia requested information on the review of the apparent excessive use of Tasers. Welcoming efforts on disability rights, it asked if areas requiring further effort were identified. 26. The United Kingdom welcomed Canada’s emphasis on human rights and its contribution to the Council and other human rights mechanisms. It recommended (a) continuing engagement with civil-society groups in their follow-up and implementation of the review; (b) seeking to demonstrate that challenges presented by relationships between its federal, provincial and territorial governments do not present unnecessary obstacles to the fulfilment of treaty obligations. Referring to Canada’s leadership in legally recognising the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender/transsexual people, it noted suggestions that some health policies remain discriminatory. It noted inequalities between Aboriginals and other Canadians, recommending that Canada (c) give the highest priority to addressing these fundamental inequalities between some of its citizens including through its policy 6 GE.09-15299