A/HRC/10/83 Page 6 22. Religious freedom is enshrined in the Constitution and is being supported by the state policy of religious tolerance. In Uzbekistan there are more than 120 ethnicities and 16 religious denominations. The right to freedom of religion is being implemented. 2,229 religious organizations are registered in Uzbekistan, such as Muslims, Christians, Russian Orthodox, Baptists, Evangelists, Seventh Day Adventists, Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Armenian Apostolic, Protestants, Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as eight Jewish societies, Hare Krishnas, Buddhists and Baha’is. The Koran been translated into Uzbek as have the New Testament and other religious texts, also Koran in Braille. Much attention is paid to religious education. The Tashkent Islamic University is providing such education. All religious festivals are celebrated in Uzbekistan. Many Uzbeks had opportunity to travel to Saudi Arabia for the hajj. Tashkent was proclaimed by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as the City of Islamic Culture for 2007. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 23. A total of 55 delegations participated in the interactive dialogue. 24. Many delegations commended Uzbekistan for its commitment to the universal periodic review and the dialogue with the Council. They welcomed the participation of its high-level delegation, its thorough and comprehensive presentation and the answers to the written questions. The national report submitted was noted with satisfaction as reflecting the progress made in the democratic renewal of the country. 25. Reference was made to the significant step by Uzbekistan to bolster the role of Parliament, political parties and civil society in the promotion of human rights, its ratification of several United Nations conventions, the second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and ILO Conventions 138 and 182 concerning the prohibition of child labour and the adoption of a 2007-2011 national programme to enhance children’s wellbeing, the special 2007 law on guarantees of children’s rights, and legislative and practical measures to combat trafficking in persons. 26. Reference was made to the tireless efforts of Uzbekistan to promote and protect human rights, despite numerous difficulties and challenges. It was noted that Uzbekistan continues to make efforts to eliminate discrimination against women and children, increase the impact of women in decision-making processes, promote the right to education and spread a culture of human rights through human rights awareness campaigns, including the national action programme on the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 27. The cooperation of Uzbekistan with OHCHR and United Nations treaty bodies was noted with appreciation, as was the establishment of the Human Rights Commissioner of the Parliament and the national centre for human rights. Reference was made to the progress in ensuring civil and political rights and the adoption of various laws on political parties, NGOs, freedom of conscience and religious organizations and the media. The adoption of the new 2007 constitutional law was commended as strengthening the role of political parties. 28. Uzbekistan was also commended for its declaration that it will spare no effort to establish a judicial framework enabling the effective punishment for acts of torture. It was noted that Uzbekistan has made commendable efforts following the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment after his visit in 2002.