A/HRC/10/77 Page 5 the Office of Equal Opportunity and the Commission as well as the activities carried out by the National Preventive Mechanism established under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. With these different mechanisms in place, the Government does not intend to establish a general human rights institution. 14. Liechtenstein stressed that the Gender Equality Act, with its special focus on the workplace, had been modelled on similar laws from neighbouring countries as well as on relevant European Union legislation. A large number of amendments to various laws have also been adopted in order to promote gender equality in all other spheres of life. Liechtenstein therefore does not deem it appropriate to adopt an overall legislation that would address in a single text all these issues, some of which are of a rather technical nature. The mandate of the Office of Equal Opportunity covers, however, all spheres of life and thereby provides the necessary coordination and overall approach that is the focus of a relevant recommendation by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. 15. Equality of women and men at the legal level has almost been completely achieved, as indicated by the delegation. However, action is still needed with regard to de facto equality and the Government continues to address this issue. Effecting a change in awareness is a long process, to which the Government is lending its active support. The many projects launched by the Office of Equal Opportunity cover areas such as education, work, compatibility between family and job responsibilities, violence against women and politics. The focus of the action plan for the period 2008/2009 is on the participation of women in political life. The next opportunity to measure the effect of activities undertaken will be the 2009 parliamentary elections. Currently, women account for 24 per cent of members of the national Parliament. 16. Liechtenstein indicated that an independent research institute is currently elaborating a concept for the improvement of data collection for the fight against racism and evaluation with regard to different forms of discrimination. The disaggregation of personal data in a country of only 35,000 inhabitants is however relatively sensitive with respect to violations of the right to privacy. In addition, this could sharpen the perception of ethnic and other differences and provide an additional breeding ground for discrimination. 17. As indicated by a question submitted in advance, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe recommended that the Government consider reducing further the residency requirement for naturalization as well as the system of voting by communities for the granting of citizenship. However, a large majority of participants in the broad consultation procedure leading to the adoption of the new Naturalization Act did not favour any change to the existing legal regime on either issue. 18. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance recommended that Liechtenstein extend voting rights to long-term residents in local elections. In that regard, the delegation stressed that neither the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights nor the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms stipulate a right to vote for non-citizens. The delegation added that municipalities enjoy a very strong position in economic and political terms, and that participation in local elections would entail the right to participate in popular referendums. There are, however, many instances in which non-nationals play an active role in various advisory commissions at the local and national levels. 19. Liechtenstein also indicated that it has considered the recommendations issued by the European Committee on the Prevention of Torture very seriously and has taken the necessary