A/HRC/19/18 cases of torture perpetrated in police custody and by members of the armed forces. Austria made recommendations. 23. The Russian Federation stated that poverty, unemployment and the absence of social protection for vulnerable groups of the population were a reality in the Republic of Moldova. Of special concern were the restrictions on the rights of ethnic minorities to use their mother tongue. The authorities were attempting to limit the use of the Russian language in all spheres of life. Over the last two years, a number of schools teaching Russian were closed and Russian studies were removed from higher education. The Russian Federation made recommendations. 24. Nepal commended the Republic of Moldova‟s improvements to the human rights normative and institutional framework, including through the National Action Plan on Human Rights 2011-2013. Nepal noted the Government‟s initiatives in ensuing gender equality, preventing and combating violence against women and guaranteeing the rights of the child, electoral rights and the rights of persons with disabilities. The Republic of Moldova had made remarkable progress towards institutionalizing democracy. Nepal made three recommendations. 25. Canada noted remaining challenges in combating human trafficking and discrimination, particularly against the Roma. Canada encouraged the Republic of Moldova to continue pursuing reforms relating to the protection of religious minorities, gender equality, liberty and security of the person and administration of justice, including impunity and the rule of law. Canada was concerned at the numerous allegations of ill-treatment of arrested and detained persons by security forces in Transnistria and the excessive control exercised by the Transnistrian authorities over the media and civil society. Canada made recommendations. 26. Bulgaria commended the Government for the elaboration of the second National Human Rights Action Plan 2011-2014 and looked forward to its implementation. It noted with satisfaction the stated policy on non-discrimination, as well as the respect enjoyed by minorities. Bulgaria requested to be further informed about progress in the area of education and the measures to safeguard the right to choose the language of education. It asked about the reform of National Public Broadcasting Company. Bulgaria made a recommendation. 27. Estonia commended the Republic of Moldova for the increased efforts to protect children‟s rights by establishing the Ombudsman for Children, implementing the National Plan of Action on Protecting Children without Parental Care, reforming the juvenile justice system by introducing alternatives to detention and providing access to basic education to all children by 2015. Moldova was commended for being increasingly attentive to the issues of gender equality and non-discrimination and for recent efforts to improve freedom of expression. Estonia made a recommendation. 28. China commended the efforts of the Republic of Moldova in addressing human trafficking, in the progress made on gender equality, and in protection of the rights of women and children as well as of minorities. China noted with appreciation that Moldova had made the implementation of its strategy of social integration for persons with disability 2011-2013 a national priority. China encouraged the Republic of Moldova to further the measures to protect the equal rights of Roma and other minorities. 29. Qatar stated that the Republic of Moldova‟s Constitution gave priority to human rights and that human rights were at the heart of public policy. Despite the fact that the Republic of Moldova was going through a period of transition, as well as serious economic problems, there was progress in the sphere of human rights, which demonstrated Moldova commitment to improving the human rights situation. Qatar welcomed Moldova‟s efforts in 6