A/HRC/8/52 page 148 democracy, with a multicultural, multi-ethnic and multilingual population, should be commended on its efforts at achieving remarkable success in guaranteeing human rights and civil liberties for its citizens. It commended the Indian Government on its deliberate policy to strike a much needed balance between the human rights agenda and development issues and expressed hope that the universal periodic review will afford India an opportunity to periodically review the implementation of its human rights obligations for the benefit of all its citizens. 402. The Netherlands, highlighting its role as a troika member during the review of India, congratulated India on the professional way in which it conducted its review. The Netherlands expressed gratitude for its responses during the session and suggested that India, before the next review in four years time, voluntarily undertake to inform the Council on the progress made on the recommendations agreed to during the Working Group as well as, where appropriate, developments regarding the recommendations that it did not agreed to, or could not yet agree to, as is the case for recommendations Nos. 7 and 9 and the signing of Conventions Nos. 138 concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment and 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour of the International Labour Organization, as well as regarding the reservation to article 32 to the Convention of the Rights of the Child. 403. The United Arab Emirates welcomed the adoption by the Government of India of the conclusions and recommendations made during the review. It commended India on allowing national civil society to participate in the follow-up to these conclusions and recommendations, which shows India’s spirit of democracy and transparency. It also commended India on its decision to ratify a number of human rights treaties and its openness to international monitoring and to recommendations made by agencies in the field of human rights, in particular regarding the rights of women and children. The United Arab Emirates also noted that India is a vast and multicultural country, which may constitute a challenge for the promotion of human rights. It called on the Council to appreciate all the efforts made by India to preserve its deep-rooted democracy, eradicate poverty, improve economic and social circumstances and further promote education and development. The United Arab Emirates hoped that India will find all the necessary support and assistance from the Council to implement all the recommendations. 404. Qatar expressed its appreciation for India’s cooperation with the Council and the steps taken for the promotion of all human rights and for the implementation of the recommendations, in spite of the challenges faced. Qatar stated that India, after accepting most of the recommendations presented by the Working Group, has taken measures aiming at signing and ratifying some international instruments. It has accepted to implement article 16 of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and of the Optional Protocol thereto. India is one of the first signatories of the Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and is determined to ratify it. It is working on the elaboration of a national plan of action on human rights, in particular in relation to the rights of women and children, and on the ratification of the Convention against Torture and the International Labour Organization Conventions Nos. 138 and 182. This series of reforms demonstrates the commitment of India to all human rights. Qatar reiterated its appreciation for the achievements accomplished and called on India to continue the reform process for the benefit of all its citizens.