A/HRC/18/3 10. Specific legislative and other measures had been taken to combat all forms of discrimination, including discrimination on the grounds of gender, the national concept of “race”, religion, sexual orientation and disability. 11. Women’s and children’s rights were also an important concern, as reflected in the launch of a national reform programme which included measures to promote gender equality in the labour market and in the recent establishment of a parliamentary commission to investigate the sexual abuse of minors in the Church. 12. The Minister described at some length the problems associated with prison overcrowding and the shortage of facilities for asylum-seekers, as well as the action being taken to resolve those problems. 13. He concluded by stressing that Belgium’s national report had been drawn up in close cooperation with civil society. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 14. During the interactive dialogue, 49 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. A number of delegations welcomed the participative approach in drafting the national report and the commitment showed by Belgium to the UPR mechanism 15. India took positive note of initiatives mentioned in the national report. It inquired about steps taken to address concerns regarding discrimination against foreigners and minorities; the observation that foreigners received more severe sentences in the penal system; the lack of official recognition of minorities and the lack of a provision declaring illegal organizations that incite racial discrimination; and a restrictive definition of child pornography. India made a recommendation. 16. Algeria welcomed the launch of a National Action Plan against Racism and congratulated Belgium for its efforts towards the ratification of most international human rights instruments. It inquired why the 59 measures included in its federal plan to combat poverty did not succeed in improving the situation. Algeria made recommendations. 17. Canada stated that Belgium could make further improvements to combat sexual exploitation of children. Canada also believed that Belgium should continue its action to combat violence against women. It was aware of the concerns raised by the Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe and the European Commission over racism and intolerance, particularly discrimination based on language in the Flemish region. Canada made recommendations. 18. The Republic of Moldova welcomed the activities of the Centre for Equal Opportunity and Action to Combat Racism. It recalled that the Committee on the Rights of the Child encouraged Belgium to pursue its international cooperation aimed at preventing and punishing sexual exploitation of children. It welcomed the establishment of the National Commission for the Rights of the Child and recalled the recommendations by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on gender equality. The Republic of Moldova made recommendations. 19. The Russian Federation stated that the information collected by the United Nations demonstrated the concerns of treaty bodies regarding racist/anti-Semitic activities and statements of an Islamophobic nature. There was also a dimension of discrimination against foreigners and representatives of national and ethnic minorities, migrant workers and members of their families, members of Muslim societies and the Roma. The Russian Federation made recommendations. 4 GE.11-14583