A/HRC/18/13 9. Greece stated that it had been severely affected by human trafficking. Greece is currently implementing with success a legal framework for combating trafficking and is determined to become a frontrunner in the fight against trafficking. 10. On the fight against discrimination, a law adopted in 2005 sets out a general framework for implementing the principle of equal treatment regardless of racial or ethnic origin, religious or other beliefs, disability, age or sexual orientation. This law designates or establishes three relevant monitoring bodies, the Greek Ombudsman, the Labour Inspectorate and the Committee for Equal Treatment of the Ministry of Justice. Since 1979, criminal legislation punishes, inter alia, incitement to acts which may result in discrimination, hatred or violence on the grounds of racial or national origin or religion. It criminalizes the expression in public of offensive ideas against any individual or group of individuals, and provides that charges may be pressed ex officio. However, this criminal legislation, implemented by the courts with no Government interference, has had a limited application in practice. Greek society is not immune to extremist ideologies and groups and the authorities have to stay vigilant. There is a need to combat possible attempts by fringe groups who might wish to exploit legitimate concerns of large segments of the population. The relevant legislative framework will be updated and strengthened. 11. On the situation of Roma from 2002 to 2008, an Integrated Action Plan had as its priority segments housing rehabilitation and the provision of supplementary services in education, health, employment, culture and sports. A new strategic framework is to be planned for Roma. Regarding the education of Roma children, further focused action has been taken to increase enrolment and school attendance and to remedy any instances of exclusion of Roma students. 12. On the rights of persons belonging to minorities, the Muslim minority in Thrace consists of three distinct groups whose members are of Turkish, Pomak and Roma origin. Each of these groups has its own spoken language, cultural traditions and heritage, which are fully respected by the Greek State. Persons belonging to the Muslim minority in Thrace are free to declare their origin, speak their language, exercise their religion and manifest their particular customs and traditions. There is no denial of the ethnic identity of these groups. 13. A 1991 law sets out a transparent procedure for the selection of the religious leaders of the Muslim minority, who are subsequently nominated by the State to the three Mufti Offices. The Government is currently considering ways to meet more effectively the needs of the Muslim minority in this field through an open consultation process respecting at the same time the international standards on freedom of religion. 14. On the right to education for persons belonging to the Muslim minority, the Government stands ready to improve the functioning of the existing minority schools and to accommodate the preference for the public educational system increasingly shown by the Muslim minority. 15. Sharia law may be applied in Thrace for the members of the Muslim minority on certain matters of family and inheritance law to the extent that its rules are not in conflict with fundamental values of the Greek society and the Greek legal and constitutional order. As a consequence, the three Muftis in Thrace are bestowed with judicial authority on these matters. Members of the Muslim minority do have the option to take their legal cases on these matters to the local Civil Courts. 16. Greece has been and continues to be committed to strengthening the substantive review by domestic courts of the relevant Muftis’ decisions as to their conformity with the Constitution and international human rights standards, and it is ready to consider and study possible readjustments. 4