A/HRC/29/15 7. The head of delegation acknowledged the advance written questions of some countries, and stated that the Democratization Package of September 2013 enabled political campaigning and propaganda, as well as education in private schools, in languages and dialects other than Turkish. The ban on women wearing headscarves in the public service had been lifted. Hate crime was included in the Turkish Penal Code and the penalty for the offence of discrimination and hatred had been increased. A comprehensive AntiDiscrimination and Equality Law had been drafted, the action plan on preventing violations of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms had entered into force on 1 March 2014, and the number of pending applications before the European Court of Human Rights against Turkey had been reduced considerably. On 27 September 2011, Turkey became a party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) and ratification was under way for the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), signed in 2009, and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure, signed on 24 September 2012. 8. Turkey’s priority was institutionalization in the field of human rights. In 2010, the right of individual application to the Constitutional Court had been introduced, followed by a noteworthy body of case law. 9. The office of the Ombudsman had become operational in December 2012. A draft amendment its founding law had been prepared, with a view to ensuring the implementation of more recommendations and the settlement of complaints in a more effective way. In addition, the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) of Turkey had been established in 2012 in accordance with the criteria set out by the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles). Efforts were under way to enable the Institution to apply for accreditation. The NHRI was additionally designated as the national preventive mechanism to perform tasks under OP-CAT. 10. Legislative work was in progress for the establishment of a law enforcement oversight commission, which was to function independently from law enforcement bodies to examine and investigate allegations of ill-treatment made in respect of law enforcement officials. The Law on Ending Terrorism and Strengthening Social Integration had entered into force on 16 July 2014. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 11. During the interactive dialogue, 116 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 12. The United States of America expressed concern about restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, and interference in the judiciary, among other things. 13. Uruguay urged Turkey to strengthen the NHRI and improve access to education, particularly by girls. 14. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela welcomed the establishment of the NHRI. 15. Yemen commended achievements benefiting women and children and elderly and disabled members of society; it noted the adoption of various legislative amendments. 16. Zimbabwe noted the amended Constitution, the establishment of the NHRI, awareness-raising and training programmes and the extension of compulsory education to the age of 12. 4