A/HRC/28/10 Sustainable development also remained a priority area in the country’s development. Initiatives such as “Global Energy Strategy” and the “Green Bridge” partnership programme aimed at achieving sustainable development. The main State priorities outlined in the policy document “Strategy – 2050” called for progress toward durable democracy, the rule of law and protection of fundamental rights and freedoms. 8. Kazakhstan has recorded substantive economic growth. The country’s gross domestic product increased substantially and Kazakhstan has featured among the top five fastest growing economies in 2013. This has enabled Kazakhstan to significantly increase budget spending on education and health. 9. Kazakhstan has achieved the Millennium Development Goals on poverty reduction, access to education and gender equality. The country has therefore adopted the agenda of the “MDG +”, including advanced targets. 10. The protection of maternal and infant health remained an important national priority. Efforts to improve related indicators contributed to the achievement of Goal 6 and a reduction in HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis infection rates. The Government continued its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emission indicators in order to achieve Goal 7. 11. Due to progress in industrialization, Kazakhstan has achieved high levels of employment with decent wages. The Government supported small and medium-sized businesses. The National Chamber of Entrepreneurs was established in order to protect the rights of businesses. Recently, a national concept of corporate social responsibility has been in the process of discussion. 12. The delegation reported on measures undertaken to improve the population’s access to public services, including through the use of information technology. Representatives of civil society took part in various advisory and expert groups that worked to analyse and practice the human rights legal framework. 13. The Government has been modernizing the national pension system. It also took measures to ensure access to housing through various programmes. Programmes have also been implemented to improve infrastructures, focusing primarily on access to drinking water in rural areas. 14. The protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, especially children and young people, remained an integral part of social policy. The Government has implemented a national action plan to protect and improve quality of life for persons with disabilities. The delegation noted the Government’s cooperation with civil society on various social projects. The delegation also reported on work towards the creation of an Ombudsman for the Rights of the Child. 15. The Government has revised its approaches to migration and made improvements in the visa regime, including the introduction of visa-free travel for tourism and investment, to attract foreign labour and capital. 16. The delegation noted some achievements made in ensuring inter-ethnic and interreligious peace and harmony in the country and expressed its readiness to share Kazakhstan’s experiences in establishing unique inter-ethnic and interfaith bodies, including the “Assembly of People” and the “Congress of World Religions”. 17. The Government undertook the revision of a number of laws, including its Criminal and Criminal Procedural Codes, in order to strengthen the rule of law and improve the administration of justice. The revised Criminal Codes paid special attention to the broader use of alternative measures to imprisonment and strengthened legal safeguards for persons involved in criminal procedures. A law was adopted to ensure legal assistance by the State, especially to persons belonging to vulnerable groups. An online database of domestic 4