A/HRC/8/27 Page 9 modifying its legislation with regard to family violence and violence against women. Brazil noted that it is taking comprehensive actions in conjunction with state governments and municipalities to establish indicators whenever family violence occurs. This new initiative covers four areas including sexual exploitation and reproductive rights. 42. In response to Azerbaijan, the Republic of Korea and Norway regarding legal and penal affairs, Brazil agreed that it had witnessed a large increase in the prison population. However, following a new law on criminal procedure adopted in 2007 the increase of the prison population has been reduced by half. A new reform had also been approved this year to ensure guarantees for defence. 43. In response to France’s question on criminal responsibility, the Brazilian Government believed that this issue will not be approved or adopted. On torture, Brazil referred to its 2006 plan to implement and integrate a programme including a large number of states. A national committee on torture has also been created with the participation of the Special Secretariat of Human Rights, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and NGOs. Congress has also adopted the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture . The Brazilian delegation also referred to the challenge of establishing the national prevention mechanism in line with the Optional Protocol. 44. In response to China, Cuba and the Syrian Arab Republic, regarding the Zero Hunger programme, Brazil stressed that this was a ministry-wide policy that involved states, municipalities and civil society, and that a Special Secretariat for food has been created. Initiatives to fight hunger include the establishment of various systems and the involvement of children in a school food programme, as well as food supply programme to indigenous populations. Referring to the Single Health System, the services of the Single Health Programme have reached out to 70 per cent of the Brazilian population, and services include the distribution of 130 million vaccines, 2 million ambulatory procedures and 11.3 million hospital internments. Brazil noted, however, that the situation is critical and that this sector requires investment. Brazil acknowledged the gap between universal access to health care and the actual state of health care. 45. In response to Malaysia on the issue of HIV/AIDS, a programme with a budget of around $US 800 million per year was created, successfully reaching 184,000 patients. The need to make the system more flexible was emphasized. In 2007, provisions of the TRIPS agreement were used to increase the supply of medicine to needy patients. 46. Brazil noted its project to establish a national system of social indicators, and also that the National Statistical and Geographic Institute is carrying out research that will enable specialists to provide indicators on social issues. 47. Australia expressed interest in learning about Brazil’s views, approaches and support for national human rights institutions, enquiring if Brazil plans to establish one in accordance with the Paris Principles. 48. Algeria paid special tribute to Ambassador Florêncio for his initiative on defining a set of voluntary goals in the field of human rights. Algeria further noted that the national report shows the success of Brazil in reducing extreme poverty by half within the framework of the Millennium Objectives. Algeria also stressed that the report describes the efforts of Brazil to fulfil the right to food, particularly through the adoption of the 2006 Organic Law on Food Security. In this regard, Algeria requested information on the concrete measures adopted regarding the implementation of this law. Finally, Algeria indicated that although this issue has not been raised in the report, it still wished to pay special tribute to the pioneering role of Brazil in developing bio fuels based on