A/HRC/11/17* 84. In 2002, the Government of Quebec adopted a law to combat poverty and social exclusion. In 2004, Quebec instituted a five-year, $3 billion global strategy to combat poverty. An evaluation of results showed significant improvements in living conditions. By 2010, 24,000 new affordable dwellings will have been built and $12 million will have been invested to renovate social housing for Aboriginal people in Quebec. 85. The delegation noted that the review was an opportunity for Canada to examine its own record and benefit from the views of many states. Canada perceives its diversity as among its greatest strengths, as well as its democratic system, the strength and independence of its judicial institutions, commitment to the public education of children and the national pre-disposition to dialogue as the best means to resolve differences of opinion. The importance placed on freedom of opinion and expression is crucial for the protection of all human rights. It said a defining aspect of Canada’s approach to human rights is its open society, including its openness to international scrutiny. II. Conclusions and/or recommendations 86. In the course of the discussion, the following recommendations were made to Canada: 16 1. Ratify the Optional Protocol to ICESCR (Mexico; Egypt); 2. Consider signing and ratifying (Brazil, Chile)/accede to (Liechtenstein; Czech Republic) /ratify (Denmark; France; Chile; Azerbaijan) the OPCAT and establish an effective National Preventive Mechanism (Denmark; Liechtenstein; France; Czech Republic) as required under the Protocol (Liechtenstein) and further adopt additional measures to ensure its full implementation without any exceptions of the principle of non-refoulement (Czech Republic); 3. Consider ratifying (Jordan)/ratify as soon as possible ICRPD (Chile, China); 4. Ratify (France) as soon as possible (Chile)/consider the possibility of signing and ratifying (Argentina) the CED, as well as accepting the competence of its Committee (Argentina); 5. Accede to (Algeria)/sign and ratify (Azerbaijan)/ sign ICRMW (Chile, Egypt, Syrian Arab Republic, Mexico); 6. Consider ratifying (Norway, Mexico)/ratify and implement in national norms ILO Convention 169 (Bolivia); 7. Request from OHCHR the necessary support for the process of ratification of a greater number of international human rights instruments (Bolivia); 8. Consider positively ratifying (Mexico)/adhere Convention on Human Rights (Mexico, Brazil); 9. Within the context of paragraph 1 (a) of resolution 9/12 of the Human Rights Council, entitled “Human Rights Goals”, withdraw Canadian reservations to the Convention on the Rights of the Child; particularly regarding the duty to detain children separately from adults (Brazil); 10. Recognize the justiciability of social, economic and cultural rights, in accordance with the Optional Protocol to ICESCR (Brazil); ensure legal enforcement of economic, social and cultural rights in domestic courts to the American GE.09-15299