A/HRC/14/4 speed up procedures for the establishment of the national institution for human rights, which would ensure the promotion and protection of human rights. 79. In response, Italy emphasized that, with regard to the crime of torture, its legal system provided for sanctions for all criminal conduct covered by the definition of torture, even if that crime was not specifically defined in the Penal Code. The introduction of a specific provision was currently under debate in Parliament. Italy also stated that corporal punishment was unlawful. 80. With regard to the identification of persons belonging to the Roma community, Italy stated that fingerprinting was not a regular procedure, but a measure of last resort. 81. On gender equality, Italy highlighted a new constitutional provision on the principle of equal access to public office, and noted that this principle had been implemented in, for example, regional elections. 82. Italy stated that extensive human rights programmes were in place for different police forces. In relation to the problems of minors, in particular those of migrant background, in penitentiary institutions, in the past four years, there had been a significant decrease in the number of imprisonments and that alternative, non-custodial measures had been developed. Regarding the reform of the judiciary, a debate concerning the problem of the excessive duration of judicial procedures was ongoing in Parliament. 83. Italy concluded by underlining the positive role and potential of the universal periodic review mechanism for further improvements in the area of human rights, and for continuing dialogue with all States and civil society. The recommendations that will be accepted will help Italy draw a road map for its future work in the field of human rights. II. Conclusions and/or recommendations 84. The following recommendations will be examined by Italy, which will provide responses in due time, but no later than the fourteenth session of the Human Rights Council: 1. To become a party to remaining human rights instruments and consider withdrawing its reservations, in particular to International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Pakistan); 2. To consider, possibly within the framework of a desirable re-orientation of European policy, ratifying the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, even if initially with reservations (Algeria); to consider ratification of the International Convention (Azerbaijan, Chile, Egypt, Islamic Republic of Iran, Mexico, Philippines); 3. To ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua,); 4. To ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture , in order to permit the Subcommittee for Prevention to conduct visits to places of detention, including reclusion centres for migrants and asylum-seekers, as well as those with the populations originating in national minorities in order to help the Government improve conditions in these centres (Mexico); to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (Azerbeijan, Czech Republic); to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and take the measures necessary to comply with its provisions (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); 13