A/HRC/14/37 304. At its 22nd meeting, on 9 June 2010, the Human Rights Council considered and adopted the outcome of the review on Kazakhstan (see section C below). 305. The outcome of the review on Kazakhstan comprises the report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (A/HRC/14/10), the views of Kazakhstan concerning the recommendations and/or conclusions, and its voluntary commitments and replies presented before the adoption of the outcome by the plenary to questions or issues that were not sufficiently addressed during the interactive dialogue in the Working Group (see also A/HRC/14/10/Add.1). 1. Views expressed by the State under review on the recommendations and/or conclusions, its voluntary commitments and the outcome 306. The delegation thanked the States that had participated in the review of Kazakhstan for their impartial assessment of the human rights situation in the country. Kazakhstan had accepted 121 recommendations, or 95 per cent of all recommendations made. It was not in a position to accept seven recommendations (1–4, 10, 12 and 19) in paragraph 97 of the Working Group report. The delegation reiterated Kazakhstan’s willingness to comply with the recommendations regarding the protection of human dignity, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, protection of the economic, social and cultural rights, and the strengthening of national human rights institutions. 307. The protection of parenthood and childhood remained a key priority of social policy. The delegation cited ongoing measures and new plans in several areas, including development, education, health care, law enforcement, juvenile justice, domestic violence and human rights education. The national human rights plan of action for the period 2009– 2012 and the Legal Policy Concept for the period 2010–2020, which were highly valued during the universal periodic review, would allow the continuation of the stage-by-stage implementation of strategies protecting all human rights. 308. The delegation referred to Kazakhstan’s intention to continue to adhere to international human rights treaties. Taking into account financial resources and a need for change in law and practice, Kazakhstan intended to ratify instruments gradually, the first step of which was the acceleration of the ratification process of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The ratification in March 2010 of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption would allow the country to cooperate with other States to protect the rights of children from Kazakhstan adopted by foreign citizens. 309. Kazakhstan would continue to accept regular visits from the special procedures mandate holders of the Human Rights Council in accordance with its extended standing invitation. It referred to the upcoming visit of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing. 310. The reforms in the judiciary and law enforcement system would continue, taking into due account the recommendations made during the review. The delegation referred to its plans and the steps taken to improve the penitentiary system and reducing the prison population. In April 2010, the Government had approved a separate plan of action to modernize legislation and law enforcement to prevent torture, and drafted a bill on the national torture prevention mechanism. 311. The delegation highlighted Kazakhstan’s acceptance of all recommendations regarding cooperation with non-governmental organizations, protection of human rights advocates and journalists, and the reinforcement of the role of the ombudsman. In that regard, the delegation shared the plans to, inter alia, introduce the draft bill on the reinforcement of the status of the human rights ombudsman to Parliament in 2011 and possible amendments to the legislation on public associations and, specifically, on the taxation of non-governmental organizations. The delegation also cited its continuous efforts GE.12-17781 95