A/HRC/14/37 censorship were directed against publications that criticize the Government. The law promulgated by the President in July 2009 restricted editorial activities and freedom of expression on the Internet. Reporters sans Frontières stated that there was also a restrictive law on protection of private life, which had drastically worsened conditions for investigative journalism. 330. The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network welcomed Kazakhstan’s acceptance of the recommendations 39 and 40 in paragraph 95 of the Working Group report, and urged the Government to take steps to prevent HIV infection in prisons. It commended Kazakhstan for developing anti-discrimination legislation, and encouraged it to include sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds of discrimination. It urged Kazakhstan to apply international best practices, in particular the Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity to recognize the rights of transgender people to change gender and name in official documents in accordance with their self-defined identity. It asked Kazakhstan what measure might assist the Government to reach a favourable conclusion to recommendation 2 in paragraph 97 related to joining the declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity. 4. Concluding remarks of the State under review 331. The delegation stated that many recommendations made during the review had been included in the 2010 report on the human rights situation prepared by the national commission of human rights in close cooperation with civil society. Furthermore, the national commission had submitted a recommendation to relevant State bodies to take relevant steps for the decriminalization of libel and defamation in the media. The delegation also referred to Kazakhstan’s plan to establish a national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles. 332. In response to the statements on cases of torture, the delegation referred to the Government’s decision with regard to the implementation of the Committee against Torture and the Prosecutor’s decision to initiate a prompt and thorough investigation in respect to individual complaints on cases of torture. 333. With regard to the reform of the judiciary, the Government was considering the recommendations to improve national legislation and practice in this area made by the national human rights mechanism and a number of countries in the Working Group. Kazakhstan had already established a judicial system that comprised three levels of courts, and all judges and law enforcement officials participated in human rights courses. 334. The delegation assured that Kazakhstan had taken all measures to ensure the equal enjoyment of rights of migrants. In December 2009, Kazakhstan ratified the Convention on the Status of Migrant Workers of the Commonwealth of Independent States. A new law on migration had been drafted and presented to civil society for its feedback. 335. In its response to statements on the freedom of religion, the delegation stated that, taking into account the recommendations made during the universal periodic review, the Government was working on a new draft law on religious organizations and freedom of religion and belief. 336. The national commission on human rights, with the active participation of Government agencies and non-governmental organizations, continued to work to address issues related to the protection of the rights of journalists. 337. Regarding gender equality, Kazakhstan was currently implementing a State programme on gender equality, with the goal of ensuring that 30 per cent of decisionmaking positions were covered by women by 2016. GE.12-17781 99

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