A/HRC/14/37 Kazakhstan’s decision to accelerate the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 318. Indonesia appreciated Kazakhstan’s cooperative engagement within the Working Group, and commended the Government for its achievements in the field of economic, social and cultural rights and the remarkable results in education, health and social welfare. It also commended Kazakhstan for its efforts to modernize the judiciary, trial procedures and detention conditions. Kazakhstan should continue to pursue the total eradication of torture and the upgrading of all legislation relevant to the reform of the judiciary, to promote unrestricted freedom of the media and to intensify its measures regarding the rights of women, children and the disabled. An upgraded human rights commission would contribute to that endeavour. 319. Qatar welcomed the additional information provided by Kazakhstan. It noted that Kazakhstan had accepted many recommendations, including the recommendation made by Qatar. It welcomed Kazakhstan’s achievements, in particular the implementation of Millennium Development Goals, the enhancement of human rights and the improvements of the economic and social situation. 320. Belarus welcomed the detailed information provided by Kazakhstan regarding the recommendations made during the Working Group session. The universal periodic review had provided the Government with the opportunity to assess its successes in the areas of social, economic and cultural rights and the improvement of its national legislation and to identify areas that might require further attention. Belarus welcomed Kazakhstan’s determination to continue implementing universal periodic review recommendations. Belarus appreciated Kazakhstan’s readiness to step up measures to protect the rights of children, combat domestic violence and develop human rights education. 321. The United States of America commended Kazakhstan for the adoption of its national human rights plan of action and its plan to end torture by 2012, and encouraged Kazakhstan to implement both plans. It hoped that Kazakhstan would carry out, in close cooperation with civil society, the recommendations calling for the establishment of an independent monitoring mechanism to prevent torture. The United States appreciated the acceptance of recommendations regarding the protection of women’s rights, particularly through the enactment of the law on domestic violence, the rights of children, including children with disabilities, and the elimination of child labour. It reiterated its support for the recommendations calling for measures to ensure an impartial and independent judiciary. It was concerned that the Government did not see the need to decriminalize libel. 322. Iraq highly valued the Government’s efforts in preparing the national report. It highlighted Kazakhstan’s achievement in securing reconciliation among the ethnic and religious groups that peacefully coexisted in the country. It commended Kazakhstan for its economic growth achieved to reduce poverty and increase the prosperity of its citizens, its reform of public policies, and for having become a party to many international human rights treaties. 323. Norway noted that a significant number of recommendations had been accepted by Kazakhstan. The recommendations made by Norway regarding human rights defenders and journalists, fair trial, implementation of international treaties by courts and freedom of expression were regarded as implemented or in the process of implementation. At the time of proposing those recommendations, Norway was not aware of the advanced stage of their implementation and would continue to follow them up closely. Norway welcomed the acceptance of the recommendations to counter the practice of repression of free speech by easing the restrictions on web-based media. However, it regretted that Kazakhstan had not accepted to reconsider the rules for registration of religious groups and to take steps to promote interfaith harmony for those faiths considered to be non-traditional in the country. GE.12-17781 97