A/HRC/28/82 15. In line with the guidance provided by the Human Rights Council with regard to his mandate (A/HRC/PRST/25/1, paras. 10–12), the Independent Expert has proposed that the Government organize a workshop to identify the causes of inequality that are undermining human rights in Haiti and ways to overcome them. The workshop would be intended for key national and international stakeholders, Government representatives, members of the Interministerial Committee for Human Rights, the Office of the Ombudsman and representatives of civil society. The previous Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights would also take part, as would two other experts from intergovernmental organizations active in the area of inequality. The Independent Expert hopes that, subject to the Government’s agreement, the workshop can be held in early 2015 and that it will lead to a strengthening of programmes already under way as well as new initiatives to tackle the inequality that underlies the human rights crisis in Haiti. 16. Prior to the Independent Expert’s second mission, a number of international human rights instruments were incorporated into Haitian legislation, including the two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Government has also launched the ratification process for a number of other instruments, such as the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons; and the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has signed the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance and the Inter-American Convention against All Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance. 17. Haiti has submitted its midterm report under the universal periodic review and, after nationwide consultation with civil society and final review by the Interministerial Committee for Human Rights, has finalized its periodic report for submission to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. 18. Haiti has also adopted legislation on paternity, maternity and filiation; an anticorruption law; a law against human trafficking; and an adoption reform law. 19. The Minister for Human Rights has prepared a draft plan of action to promote and protect human rights in Haiti, and the draft is being discussed at national consultation workshops. This is a unique opportunity to include in the plan of action the urgent priority measures recommended for the five areas identified in the Independent Expert’s report. 20. On 8 October 2014, the Human Rights Committee met with a high-level delegation of the Government of Haiti to review the country’s report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which was ratified by Haiti in 1991. This was the initial report from Haiti; it was to have been submitted in 1996. 21. The Committee welcomed a number of positive developments, in such areas as decisions taken (e.g., the appointment of a Minister for Human Rights), national legislation adopted (e.g., on the inclusion of disabled persons) and accession to or ratification of various international human rights instruments (CCPR/C/HTI/CO/1, paras. 3 and 4). At the same time, the Committee noted four areas of special concern and requested the Government to provide additional information within a year. Those areas were: (a) the slow pace of the investigation into the Jean-Claude Duvalier case and the lack of reparation for the victims of serious human rights violations imputed to him; (b) the continued occurrence, which showed an increase in 2014, of firearm-related deaths caused by the forces of law and order; (c) allegations of threats, harassment and intimidation against human rights defenders, journalists and members of the opposition; and (d) the denial of the GE.15-02042 5