A/HRC/13/56 violent crimes, domestic violence and trafficking in human beings. Nepal applauded the efforts to promote gender equality and encourage women’s entrepreneurship. 3. General comments made by other relevant stakeholders 545. The Ombudsman of Portugal noted the achievements made by Portugal in the effective implementation of human rights, but underlined the importance of furthering work in some fields. He commended the Government for accepting a significant number of recommendations. Concerning the situation in prisons, while acknowledging the improvements achieved, he encouraged the Government to take further steps, particularly by pursuing ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and establishing the national preventive mechanism. He also encouraged the continuation of efforts to strengthen the protection of vulnerable groups, including children and women, and called for further efforts to provide assistance and to ensure full integration of immigrants. He expressed his commitment to following closely the implementation stage of universal periodic review recommendations. 546. Interfaith International, in a joint statement with the Al-Hakim Foundation, noted that the acceptance of most of the recommendations showed the openness of Portugal to all Council mechanisms. It noted that Portugal was one of the few countries in the European Union that had provided specific treatment for nationals of its former colonies in terms of administrative regularization. It urged the Government to combat domestic violence effectively and to take appropriate measures to punish those responsible for such acts. It encouraged Portugal to set up a programme on education to citizenship concerning the rights and duties of citizens for migrants living in the territory. 547. The Charitable Institute for Protecting Social Victims, in a joint statement with the Institute for Women’s Research and Studies and the Islamic Women’s Institute of Iran, commended the efforts made for the promotion and improvement of gender equality and the implementation of the national campaign on combating domestic violence against women and children over the period 2007–2009, but it noted that domestic violence remained an ongoing concern. It called upon the Government to continue its activities to increase awareness of all forms of violence against women and children and to continue its campaign through a prevention policy as one of the priorities of the Government’s plans. It condemned the cases of racism and racial discrimination against migrants and ethnic minorities and the unsuitable conditions of prisons and detentions centres. It called upon the Council to investigate these issues and the Government to plan and create a mechanism for the elimination of racism and to fight against all its forms. It also stressed the need to strengthen efforts for the integration of the Roma community. 548. The Organization for Defending Victims of Violence, in a joint statement with the Iranian Elite Research Centre, invited the Government, in addition to intensifying its efforts to create a culture of tolerance in society, to increase efforts to strengthen programmes, projects and other measures to prevent discrimination against vulnerable groups, including Roma women, asylum-seekers and migrants. It called on the Government to expand and strengthen training of law enforcement officials, and to enhance public awareness in relation to respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of immigrants, refugees and ethnic minorities. It also called on the Government to consider strengthening efforts to combat violence against women, including domestic violence and trafficking in persons, especially women and children by, inter alia, ensuring the full implementation of related laws and legislation, and also through the continued provision of adequate funding and the creation of a monitoring mechanism. 549. The European Region of the International Lesbian and Gay Federation, in a joint statement with Federatie van Nederlandse Verenigingen tot Integratie Van Homoseksualiteit and COC Netherland, commended Portugal for accepting the 161