A/HRC/25/17 Committee. While noting certain existing inequalities, it recognized actions to enhance women’s participation in the labour market and strengthen NCPE. It encouraged adopting the National Children Policy. It made recommendations. 77. Sierra Leone commended progress made since the first UPR cycle, including the appointment of a minister for civil liberties, the establishment of national institutions to protect vulnerable groups, and the signature and ratification of international instruments including CRPD and Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. It applauded efforts to combat racism and discrimination and address the right to development. It made recommendations. 78. Slovenia applauded the commitment to the UPR process and its efforts to improve the human rights situation since the previous UPR. It noted that Malta had ratified OPCRC-SC. Slovenia made a recommendation. 79. Spain commended the commitment to human rights at the national and international levels, including within the European Union framework, as reflected in the ratification of international instruments. It applauded efforts and policies to ensure greater participation of women in society, but noted steps should be taken to better protect and control genderbased discrimination. Spain made recommendations. 80. Sweden noted information about the policy of long-term detention of asylum seekers and threats to send migrants back without granting the opportunity to seek asylum. Despite some improvements on the matter, the European Court of Human Rights had recently ruled on human rights violations of asylum seekers. Sweden asked whether there was a need to review the asylum policy, and what the most urgent issues were. Sweden made recommendations. 81. In response to a number of comments on the establishment of a national human rights institution, the delegation reiterated that the Government would be extending the mandate of NCPE to transform it into a national human rights institution to function in accordance with the Paris Principles. Malta would be in a position to report on progress in that regard during its next review. 82. As for the detention of migrants, the delegation confirmed that the detention requirement did not apply across the board, as vulnerable persons, including unaccompanied minors, parents with children, families, disabled persons and others had not been subject to detention. Medical checks had been systematically carried out for every immigrant upon arrival. Vulnerable migrants were provided with alternative accommodation and any special attention that they might need, including access to health care. Minors were entitled to the same rights as Maltese minors, including the right to attend public schools. 83. In response to comments on hate speech, the delegation stated that the Government condemned hate speech. All offences in the Criminal Code had an aggravation of punishment if made with racial or xenophobic motivation. 84. Responding to comments in relation to anti-trafficking measures, the delegation stated that Malta had strengthened its legislation to combat human trafficking and that it had started to implement its second Action Plan on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for 2013–2014. 85. The Immigration Act provided for a possibility of challenging decisions on detention of migrants. Furthermore, the Government had taken steps to amend its legislation to further strengthen the legal right to appeal decisions on detention. Measures had also been taken to ensure that the Immigration Appeals Board and the Refugee Appeals Board reached their decisions more expeditiously. 12