A/HRC/18/13 Australia expressed concern about reported cases of Roma peoples being unable to register to vote. It encouraged Greece to take further action to remove impediments to accessing Government-held information. Australia made recommendations. 57. Guatemala commended Greece for having ratified most of the main international human rights instruments and hoped for the prompt accession to those still pending. It acknowledged Greece’s cooperation with the human rights mechanisms and its financial contribution to OHCHR. Guatemala regarded the National Action Plan for the Management of Migratory Flows and the measures for social integration as a good first step in order to guarantee the rights of migrants. Guatemala made a recommendation. 58. The Netherlands noted that the current economic crisis seems to exacerbate, inter alia, gender disparities, especially regarding unemployment and salary gap. It underlined the situation of Muslim women in Thrace, who can choose between the regular Greek legal system and the intervention of State-appointed muftis who, in the past, had applied a conservative version of sharia law. The Netherlands also expressed concern at the fate of unaccompanied minors after being released from detention centres. It made recommendations. 59. Albania welcomed the reforms made within the framework of the National Action Plan to improve the asylum system and the management of migratory flows. It noted with satisfaction the adoption of legislative measures, which endeavour to improve the system for acquiring citizenship and political rights. These amendments will favour and further social integration of migrants, including Albanian migrants living in Greece. It made recommendations. 60. Brazil noted recent legal reforms aimed at eliminating discrimination against women and promoting gender equality. It encouraged Greece to continue pursuing measures to mitigate the potential negative impact of the current financial situation on the enjoyment of human rights, particularly of the most vulnerable. Brazil was concerned over reports of increasing ill-treatment by law enforcement officials and racist violence. Brazil made recommendations. 61. Austria commended Greece for taking effective steps to prevent human rights abuses by the police and law enforcement officials and asked whether there were any additional measures planned to counter the persistence of this problem. It also asked Greece to outline the follow-up to the recommendations made by the independent expert on minority issues after her visit in 2008. Austria asked what further measures Greece intended to take to fully implement the law on domestic violence. Austria made recommendations. 62. Spain congratulated Greece for the signature of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the National Action Plan for the Management of Migratory Flows. Spain asked when the Parliament would vote on the bill for the establishment of an office, within the Ministry for Public Order, responsible for receiving individual complaints on arbitrary acts committed by security forces. Spain made recommendations. 63. Slovakia acknowledged the challenges faced in the area of irregular migration. It commended the equal treatment of asylum-seekers and refugees as Greek citizens regarding work permits. It noted that in 2007, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) expressed concern about the trafficking in women and girls and about the insufficient enforcement of relevant legislation. It noted concern at allegations of discrimination against members of religious minorities. It made recommendations. 64. Mexico acknowledged Greece’s efforts to improve its legal and institutional framework. Measures to eliminate women’s discrimination and to offer equal labour conditions to asylum-seekers were just a token of this commitment. At the same time, it 10

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