A/HRC/8/27 Page 11 concerned at reports of cases in which human rights defenders have been ill-treated, harassed and in some cases murdered. Finally it noted that despite the Government’s intentions, it has been difficult to make progress on key issues, including violence against women, indigenous communities, rural violence and land conflict, and child and slave labour. The United Kingdom added that there are worrying reports of impunity for those involved in human trafficking and corruption. It recommended that the Government, while continuing its positive initiatives in many of these areas, invest more rigour in evaluating the outcomes of planned activities. 55. Sri Lanka praised Brazil’s initiative to launch Human Rights Voluntary Goals at the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration, and noted Brazil’s significant achievements in various areas including in combating extreme poverty. Sri Lanka also requested Brazil to further elaborate and share its best practices and strategies to combat extreme poverty, as well as endemic diseases. 56. Guatemala welcomed the discussion to develop a national system of human rights indicators and asked for information about the conclusions, notably on the viability of such a system, following the first national seminar held to analyse this issue in December 2007. Guatemala was also impressed by the school attendance rate of 97.4 per cent for children between 7 and 14 years old, and identified this high rate as a an example of good practice. Guatemala enquired about the measures that were taken resulting in such a success, as well as any difficulty encountered. 57. Canada requested further information concerning the steps undertaken to promote and to protect human rights defenders. Noting also the low level of participation of women, the population of Afro-Brazilian descent, and indigenous people, Canada requested information about measures taken to address these issues. 58. Germany praised the comprehensive national report of Brazil and the critical view taken on remaining problems, and focused on three areas highlighted in the report. First, noting that prison conditions are highly precarious and taking into account the efforts already made by the Government, Germany asked Brazil what further measures it envisages to accelerate the improvement of the situation. Second, Germany asked about the measures envisaged by the Government to rapidly improve the living conditions in re-educational facilities for young people. Third, it indicated that another area of concern identified in the national report is the ongoing violence of police officers. In this regard, Germany wanted to hear about what the Government intends to do in order to bring about a change in the strategy and culture of violence, and whether it intends to implement the latest recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions in order to initiate a profound reform of the penal judiciary system. Finally, Germany indicated that the law allowing for human rights violations committed at regional state level to be prosecuted by the federal justice did not produce the expected results since its entry into force in 2004. It asked what the Government planned to do to ensure that the judiciary contributes efficiently to end impunity for human rights violations. Germany recommended that action be taken to improve prison conditions and to implement recommendations made by the Committee against Torture and by the Human Rights Committee. 59. Venezuela touched upon the issue of the right to land and the priorities set by the agrarian reform regarding distribution of land, and technical and financial assistance to farmers. It requested more information about the agrarian reform and previous reforms under the plan. 60. Ecuador welcomed the initiative aimed at creating a national system of human rights indicators that could serve as a model. Ecuador requested that Brazil indicate its main challenges with regard to the President Friend of the Child and Teenager Plan and how to address the issue of street children. It also asked whether Brazil considered bilingual teaching in its education plans as a method to fight against poverty and consolidate cultural diversity.