A/HRC/8/45 Page 11 Ukraine’s commitment to preventing the rising racist acts in the country and noted the adoption of the Action Plan against Racism by the Ministry of the Interior in May 2007. It asked whether any amendments to strengthen the legislative framework on racial discrimination are contemplated in this regard. 38. China welcomed the amendments made to the Law on Immigration, the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure to raise the legal status of immigrants and to step up reforms of the criminal justice and penitentiary system. China took note of the commitment to the protection of children, of the adoption of a State programme on gender equality as well as of the national strategies and laws against domestic violence and poverty alleviation. Regarding the 2001 national strategy of overcoming poverty, China asked how it is being implemented and what difficulties are encountered. 39. Brazil commended the Government for signing the Memorandum on Implementation of the Joint Action Plan for 2008 between the United Nations Representative in Ukraine and the Ombudsman in December 2007. It stressed the adoption of the Action Plan against Racism, which provides a wide range of measures to prevent racial, ethnic and religious discrimination. Brazil noted with concern that the number of orphans and children without parental care is not declining and that every year about 20,000 teenagers enter Ukrainian orphanages. In this context, Brazil recommended that the Government of Ukraine work towards the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee of the Rights of the Child. Brazil also asked what concrete measures are being taken by the Government to guarantee the right to protection from all forms of family violence and human trafficking and what steps remain to be taken for the full implementation of the law on preventing family violence. 40. Germany noted the concern expressed by several treaty bodies on the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights on the lack of independence and its ineffectiveness in defending economic, social and cultural rights. It asked about the measures Ukraine implemented to ensure the independence of the Ombudsman and to widen public access, including by minority groups, to the Commissioner’s Office at all levels. Germany asked in what ways Ukraine ensures that racial and religious hatred acts are investigated and prosecuted quickly and that the General Prosecutor’s Office is involved in these measures. It recommended to Ukraine to ensure the independence of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, including financially; and to continue to combat racial and ethnic hatred, and to ensure that manifestations of racial, ethnic and religious hatred are promptly investigated and prosecuted. 41. Noting the Government’s emphasis on dealing with HIV/AIDS, Malaysia enquired about measures taken in improving access of HIV/AIDS patients to health services. It noted with encouragement the existence of various mechanisms to protect children’s rights and welfare, congratulated the Government on the significant decline in cases of crimes committed by juveniles, and asked whether the Government considers establishing a juvenile justice system in the near future. 42. Mexico recommended Ukraine to redouble its efforts and ratify the Rome Statute, the ICRMW, the Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons of 1954 and the 1961 Convention to Reduce Statelessness. It welcomed the legislation in force against torture but noted the concern expressed by CAT regarding cases of torture and ill-treatment during detention and regarding the lack of appropriate measures for rehabilitation of victims and compensation. Mexico asked information on measures taken to date to address these concerns. It also noted that CESCR expressed concern that more than 400,000 children under 15 are working in the informal economy and it recommended to Ukraine to intensify efforts combat child labour. CESCR also recommended