A/HRC/8/27 Page 7 30. India referred to the initiative to develop a national system of human rights indicators as having far reaching implications beyond the national level. In this regard, India wished to know the present status of the proposal and if any pilot projects had been carried out targeting specific areas covered by the National Human Rights Programme and whether these indicators would be used by the National Human Rights Councils. India also noted with interest the 2005 constitutional amendment and expressed interest in knowing about instances where this amendment has been applied. 31. Malaysia recognized Brazil’s achievements in health and poverty reduction, including its commitment to combat AIDS. It requested that Brazil elaborate on its experience to fight pandemic diseases and enquired about Brazil’s achievements in education, specifically with regard to guaranteeing education for the segments of the population living in remote areas. Malaysia also requested information on the progress made on women’s rights and gender equality in the legislature and executive positions. 32. Ghana congratulated Brazil for the establishment of three special secretariats, and for having initiated a discussion since 2007 aimed at creating a national system of human rights indicators. Ghana stressed that even more commendable is the frankness with which the Government has admitted the weaknesses and inequalities in the country, especially in the areas of gender, income distribution and opportunities for African descendants and other minorities. Ghana recommended assistance to the Government to address these challenges. Regarding the right to education and Brazil’s Education Development Plan within the framework of development strategies aimed at reducing inequalities among vulnerable groups, Ghana asked whether the Plan or other strategies included programmes to address youth violence. Finally Ghana wished to recommend the continued commitment by the Government to the programme of land reforms and to resolving the issue of abuse of power and excessive use of force. 33. Cuba requested that Brazil provide information and details on the Zero Hunger programme which is an innovative human rights programme to implement the right to food. 34. Pakistan welcomed, inter alia, the methodology used for the preparation of the national report and for the acknowledgment of difficulties and challenges regarding violence against women, racial inequality, land reform, and minorities. It asked Brazil about the reasons for the lack of implementation and the steps it plans to take to address this issue. 35. The Netherlands appreciated Brazil’s initiative to bring serious human rights abuses under Federal Law and requested an update on the initiative’s progress. The Netherlands referred to the national report and reiterated the challenges Brazil faces in the eradication of torture. It enquired about practical measures that have been taken in this regard and whether a witness protection programme has been considered. If such a programme will indeed be considered, the Netherlands expressed interest in being updated on its progress. It suggested that if the initiative to bring serious human rights abuses under Federal Law has not been realized, Brazil should do so at the earliest possible moment.