A/HRC/36/14 9. The “Family 500+” programme had been introduced in 2016 to improve children’s living conditions, in particular those who were most deprived, and to provide for the disbursement of parental monthly benefits of approximately 500 zlotys (approximately $125) for the second and each consecutive child in the family, household income notwithstanding, and for the first child for families with a household income below a certain threshold. The programme, which delivered funds to 3.8 million children in 2.56 million families, had lowered the relative poverty threat index by 4 per cent and the overall poverty threat in the community of children under 17 by 50 per cent. 10. Poland considered protecting vulnerable groups, persons with disabilities, to be of particular importance, hence why the Council of Ministers had adopted a resolution in December 2016 concerning the so-called “For Life” programme of comprehensive support for families. The programme assisted families that included persons with disabilities, especially parents raising children with disabilities. It included solutions for assisting pregnant women and their families, early assistance for children and their families and support, rehabilitation and residential aid. Work was in progress to draft a strategy for disabled persons for the period 2017-2030, to provide comprehensive support to such persons at every stage of life. 11. Poland had successfully implemented a number of recommendations submitted during the 2012 review cycle. 12. The Under-Secretary of State thanked all the States that had submitted advance questions and responded to some of them. 13. In response to the questions raised by Mexico and the United Kingdom on securing women’s rights, she stated that, between 2013 and 2016, Poland had implemented the National Programme of Activities for Equal Treatment. This was a comprehensive governmental strategy comprising action to support persons who had been discriminated against or threatened with discrimination. Many initiatives within the Programme aimed to improve the well-being of women and tackle the problems they faced. A decision had already been made to continue the Programme in the years to come. The new edition was expected to be finalized in the fourth quarter of 2017. 14. Concerning the question by Sweden on criminalizing hate speech related to gender identity, sexual orientation or disability, it was reported that courts in Poland took into account the perpetrator’s motivation when determining the type and level of penalty. Pursuant to article 53 (2) of the Criminal Code, this included gender identity, sexual orientation and disabilities. 15. Article 53 applied to all acts criminalized under the Code, such as causing bodily harm or defamation. The provision in question was of a general nature and did not limit the type of motivation that had to be taken into account by the courts. Article 212 included provisions that criminalized the slander of a person or a group of persons in relation to conduct or traits that might discredit him/her/them in the face of public opinion, or result in a loss of confidence necessary to engage in certain activities. Those provisions also applied to slander on the grounds of gender identity, sexual orientation and disabilities. 16. Regarding the so-called secret prisons of the United States Central Intelligence Agency, numerous requests for international legal assistance had been filed and plenipotentiaries of victims had been provided with access to case files, although the status of part of the ongoing investigation was classified. The plenipotentiaries participated in selected proceedings and exercised the rights of the victims. In addition, the Polish authorities were actively seeking to obtain appropriate diplomatic assurances from the United States authorities for the applicants. 17. In response to the question by Switzerland concerning media freedom, the National Media Council Law of 22 June 2016 had appointed the National Media Council as an authority responsible for supervising public media activities. The Law altered the form of managing public media, excluding any government influence over the media or their activities. Under the Law, the management boards and supervisory councils of all public radio and television companies and of the Polish Press Agency were to be appointed by the National Media Council. The Council comprised five members: three appointed by the 3