A/HRC/8/45 Page 12 to improve its prevention and treatment of HIV and to combat discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS, and Mexico asked for more information on measures being carried out to implement these recommendations. Mexico recommended that Ukrainian legislation on the determination of the status of refugees and stateless persons be brought in line with international standards. 43. Cuba commended Ukraine on the steps taken in combating racism and xenophobia, including the Plan of Action of the Ministry of Interior. In the field of economic, social and cultural rights, Cuba noted the praiseworthy efforts in promoting the legal and social status of women and the various programs and measures promoting children’s rights. Cuba asked for more information on measures taken under the Plan of Action to combat racism and xenophobia and recommended that Ukraine continue its efforts to reduce juvenile violence and address the root causes of the problem. 44. Switzerland welcomed the adoption of a national action plan against racism by the Ministry of Interior in May 2008 and asked for more information about measures to prevent acts of racism in this new action plan. Switzerland noted that issues of racist discrimination and racist attacks have been raised by special procedures, treaty bodies and NGOs and recommend that Ukraine step up efforts to investigate such attacks and punish the perpetrators and tackle the underlying causes of these issues as part of its ongoing reform of the justice system. With reference to concerns expressed by CAT and several stakeholders from civil society regarding ill- treatment by law enforcement officials in places of detention, Switzerland noted that impunity in these cases is still a major problem. It asked what specific measure have been adopted to punish police officers guilty of such acts. Switzerland requested more information about the scope of a training programme for human rights for law enforcement officers and measures taken to ensure that human rights education will achieve the desired results. 45. Romania noted that CESCR encouraged Ukraine to recognize the right of self-identification to all ethnic groups in Ukraine and to ensure protection and development of their cultural heritage. Romania recommended that the authorities implement the CESCR encouragement. They also asked for elaboration on the measures taken in order to allow persons belonging to national minorities to run in parliamentary or local elections, as representatives of their respective organizations or as independent candidates. 46. Jordan noted with interest Ukraine’s initiative on declaring 2008 the Year of Support for National Adoption and Other Forms of Family Education of Orphaned Children and Children Deprived of Parental Care. Jordan recommended that Ukraine continue its efforts to further enhance the role of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights and of the national machinery for the advancement of women. 47. Portugal recommended that Ukraine sign and ratify, at the earliest opportunity, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto, as well as the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It noted the concern expressed by CESCR on the lack of independence of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights and asked about concrete measures taken to ensure adequate funding and to ensure the independence of the Ombudsman. With reference to the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, according to which there is a need to address racial hatred against ethnic groups, immigrants and other foreigners, and to the Human Rights Committee, which was concerned about anti-Semitism, Portugal enquired about measures taken to ensure protection of minorities against violence and discrimination. Portugal also evoked concerns expressed by CAT and the Committee on the Rights of the Child on allegations of torture and ill-treatment committed by law enforcement personnel and